​Li’l Ronnie And The Grand Dukes are one of the hottest swing en jump bands how create a sound that find a mixture between the fifties R&B, West Coast, Chicago Blues and vintage rock-’n-roll. Ronnie are looking forward to play on the Europian Bluesfestivals. Who will bring these partyband to Belgium ? Li’l Ronnie And The Grand Dukes are the real deal 

​This year is the 25th Anniversary of Al Basile's Sweetspot label, and B's Time is it's 20th release. B's Time is a career retrospective, featuring 17 songs from Al's solo CDs, remastered using the most up-to-date technology by Glenn Halverson at his Sonic Hill Studio in Ooltawah, Tennessee. The songs have never sounded so good, and many are from releases early in Al's career, before he became much better known following his 8 Blues Awards nominations starting in 2010. Though they originate from a 25 year span, they sound completely contemporary, showing that Al's work is timeless, and that his output has been remarkably consistent since the beginning.

​With her first new album in ten years, Shakura is back with Hold on to Love; this time in the producer chair alongside co-producers Donna Grantis (Prince/3 rd Eye Girl), Keb’ Mo,’ and Roger Costa (Jeff Healey). The new album features collaborations with international artists, including Eric Gales, Lee Oskar, Terra Lightfoot, Kyla Charter, Larnell Lewis and more

​Born in the oil swamps of Beaumont, TX, and raised on the blues, Ole Lonesome is a rock & roll band with its ear tuned to the past and boots to the future.  With their love of tone and electric live performances, Zachary Feemster, J. Wesley Hardin, Gregory Mosley, Jimmy Devers, and Greg Achord look to recreate the colors of decades gone and take their music through the stratosphere.  Ole Lonesome’s debut album “Turn It On” is also available on all streaming platforms and on Vinyl and CD at olelonesome.com. Just like this great album ‘Tejas Motel’….!

The majority of the album's tracks are Tommy's original compositions, crafted in tandem with fellow musicians. He's supported by The Buckingham Blues Band, a seven-member ensemble featuring Tommy Lee Cook, along with Harry Cassano, Ray Gunn, Arne England, Scott Kamener, T-Bone Funk, and Rex Bongo.
This authentic and laid-back album promises to bestow tranquility, catering to the yearnings of many seeking solace. For those who have already embraced it, the music is bound to captivate listeners' souls in ways beyond the ethereal.

​“SoulFunkn’BLUES’ is an eleven-track tribute to all the trailblazers and all the ancestors and forgotten tribes who taught the Blackburn Brothers the importance of history, blues, soul, groove, rhythm, and life.” writes Shakura S’Aida in the album’s liner notes. Blackburn Brothers received the Maple Blues Award for Best New Band in 2010, and a Juno nomination for Blues Album Of The Year in 2016, with numerous award nominations and accolades following. The Blackburn Brothers – Duane (lead vocals, organ, piano, vocorder), Brooke (guitar, bass, background vocals), Cory (drums percussion, background vocals), Robert (guitar, background vocals), and cousin Nathan (bass guitar) – evoke comparison with the great funky, bluesy soul groups of the past, adding their signature touches that make them totally unique.

​Although a young man relatively new to the scene, it would be wrong to think Dom Martin hasn't paid his life and musical dues. Brought up in the often tough, but community driven streets of Belfast Northern Ireland, Dom traded his craft for a time locally without a (self confessed) clue how to break into the (international) music business and possibly with too much humility to try.

​Idrissa Soumaoro pays tribute to the small Mali town of Diré with messages of hope and love.  Influenced with western music the album shines in skilled glory.

​And for our sixth visit in the 'Rockin' Rollin' USA' series, Canada is still 'the place to be'. In the fifties and sixties of the last century, the country had a lot to offer musically. In addition to the records that were imported from the USA, there were also own recordings that certainly deserve the label 'rock 'n' roll'. The album starts with 'Boom Boom Baby', an imported song from Crash Craddock. Although American by birth, he enjoyed his first major success in Australia. A song that reduces rock 'n' roll to its most essential is certainly 'Hangout' by Lloyd Arnold and his Rockin' Drifters. Straight-forward rock 'n' roll at its best! This also applies to the next track, 'Bonnie Jean' by Andy Dio.
In addition to the lesser-known artists, a number of big names also grace this compilation. The first one we meet is Buddy Holly. Together with his Crickets he performs 'Tell Me Now' in true Holly style. And 'the man in black' is also present. Johnny Cash and The Tennessee Two recorded 'There You Go' in 1957 for Sam Phillips' Sun label. Also from the Sun label is the recorded here 'Go! Go! Go!' by Roy Orbison and Teen Kings. Lonnie Mack would later make a career as a blues artist. Here you hear him in 'Baby What's Wrong', a song from 1963 and a composition by Jimmy Reed. And pay special attention to Mack's heavenly guitar work. That rock 'n' roll doesn't have to be averse to some yodelling, you can hear in 'Cool Papa' by Alan Freed and his orchestra.
A frequently covered classic is 'Louie Louie'. Original by Richard Berry, but here you get the not bad version by Rockin' Robin Roberts. Another classic is 'Lover Please'. It was written by Billy Swan and first recorded by The Rhythm Steppers in 1960. The song was made famous by Clyde McPhatter. Dennis Turner's version appears here. For the title track 'Rough And Bold' we go to Andy Dio. Song that clearly still contains the seeds of sublime rhythm & blues. Canadian guitarist, singer and songwriter Jack Bailey provides some country influences in 'The Bad Apple'. Gary Cooper and The Triads serve up unadulterated Canadian rock 'n' roll in 'Come On Pretty Baby'.
Who can best provide beautiful harmony singing? Of course the women's group The Bobbettes. No 'I Shot Mr. Lee', but the even more rocking 'Have Mercy Baby'. You can hear beautiful harmony vocals that were recorded in Canada in 'My Blue Heaven' by The Crew Cuts. Also recorded in Canada was The Hi-Lites' 'Friday Night, Go Go'. More fine vocal work comes with Bonie Lou with Chorus in 'Bo Weevil'. Song written by Dave Bartholomew and Fats Domino and also recorded by the latter. Carl and Jay Perkins also perform together at top vocal levels in 'Lend Me Your Comb'.
Closing the album is reserved for Billy Mason with a cover of Bobby Vee's hit 'Night Has A Thousand Eyes', here delivered by Mason in his native language as 'Car Mon Coeur'.
The formidable rock 'n' roll on this album comes from labels such as Apex, Barry, Rodeo, Record-O-Rama and Zirkon. In addition, The Pan American Recordings gave permission to include a number of lesser known and perhaps even completely unknown tracks on this album. In short, enjoyment is the message again!

And with our seventh visit in this series we are still in Canada. Once again we get 28 songs that were successful in the country in the fifties and early sixties. The labels we are presented with here are Aragon, Banff, Chateau, Delta, Rock-A-Tune, Zirkon and The Pan American Recordings. The album starts and will also end with Bunker Hill. The first track is 'Hide And Go Seek (pt.1) and we close with the second part of the song. Bunker Hill was a gospel singer and recorded this single with Link Wray and The Raymen. Hill puts his gospel experience into the song, while Link and his companions provide an extremely tight rhythm. A song full of ambiance! Slim Harpo presents more than formidable blues in 'Don't Start Cryin' Now'. Harpo is followed by The Count Victors featuring Danny Harrison. Together they beautifully cover the Bo Diddley song 'Road Runner'. The Cosmos deliver a fine example of rocking rhythm & blues with Andy Wilson at the microphone in 'My Love, My Love'. Berry Gordy was co-writer of Jackie Wilson's 'Reet Petite' and he also co-wrote Tony Spade's 'What's Gwyne On' and you can hear that too. You get 'Canadian made rock 'n' roll' through 'Get A Move On' by The Prowlers. They opened the 1956 Canadian performance of Bill Haley and The Comets. And Barry and The Deans also came from Canada. They rock sophisticatedly on 'Rock With My Baby'. More Canadian rock 'n' roll is coming with 'Lindy Lou' by Kenny and The Be-Bops. 'White Cliffs Of Dover' was immortalized by Vera Lynn. The Robins made an exciting doo-wop version of it. Beautifully done by the way! A nice song that drifts towards pop is 'Love Me To Pieces' by Jill Corey. Jill was discovered when she was 17 and 5 years later she recorded this song. Evan Kemp's Trail Riders deliver wonderful guitar-driven instrumental work with 'Midnight Rider', including a beautiful performance on the steel guitar. Fans of solid country rock are at their beck and call by Ted Self. His '(Little Angel) Come Rock Me To Sleep' was released on no fewer than 3 different labels. Rudy Rivers was a World War II Royal Canadian Air Force veteran. He is said to have written no fewer than 490 songs in 56 years. If they all have the level of the country-like 'Let The Train Whistle Say My Goodbye', then you can only respect that. Country is also the keynote for Ted Daigle's 'Ballad Of A Teenage Queen'. A very cool song sure is 'Watch Your Step' by singer and guitarist Bobby Parker. Song that has a nice mix of rhythm & blues and soul. Buster Brown was an American singer and harmonica player. He shows that he was extremely talented both vocally and on the Mississippi saxophone on 'Don't Dog Your Woman'.
As you can see, there is once again sublime rock 'n' roll and rhythm & blues to be discovered on volume 7 in the 'Rockin' Rollin' USA' series. 'Rockin' Rollin' USA' is once again a series that is more than worth purchasing and don't say you didn't know about it.

​With songs that explore life’s murky corners and shadowy characters, Ben de la Cour’s music occupies the intersection between gothic Americana and dark, gritty folk. It’s a sound fueled by the stories and struggles of its creator, a lifelong searcher who’s never been afraid to shine a light on his own demons. A dark, soulful middle ground between Nick Cave and Steve Earle, Ben de la Cour pulls no punches and always manages to dig deep into the most battered firmament with a voice that sounds like the American Heartland witnessed through the window of a car going 80 mph.

​Foot stomping rhythms and raucous slide guitar interweave with soulful gospel roots and balladry. The Southern Gothic sound of Jhett Black draws from years of  experience on the road with underground folk rock band, Gleewood, and his passion for American roots music.

In the 1950s, Mac Curtis achieved his first rockabilly successes. However, his military service interrupted his musical career and when he was allowed to say goodbye to the army in 1960, the heyday of rockabilly was over. Mac then found work as a presenter at local radio stations, but in the meantime he still went into the studio sporadically. The work he recorded at that time was more in the country direction. But Mac Curtis still managed to get his rockabilly career back on track. Together with Ray Campi, he was not only able to save the genre from certain death, but Mac and Ray also unleashed a real rockabilly revival in the seventies, resulting in many European performances.
It is therefore entirely appropriate that the German Bear Family dedicates an edition in the 'Rocks' series to Curtis. Even more, this compilation is almost the first to pay attention to all the record labels for which Mac recorded. In addition, this album contains some extremely rare songs, such as the previously unreleased 'No' by Le Cam, the unreleased King rocker 'Goosebumps' and an alternative version of 'Say So'. And this is not all. In addition to all this beauty, you also get 3 tracks from Curtis' 1998 Japanese vinyl album 'Rockabilly Ready', which he recorded together with The Rimshots. As an extra, John Lewis and his Rock 'n' Roll Trio perform 'Flat Top Cat' as a tribute to Mac Curtis.
From the first track 'Wake Up Rock 'n Roll Rock-A-Baby' you are sucked into the purest form of rockabilly. Powerful songs, excellent musical accompaniment and Mac's impressive vocals are the best tools you can think of for this.
This compilation proves once again that Mac Curtis was one of the greatest artists in rockabilly. All his 'fifties bop songs' that he recorded for the King label, as well as his wildest material that he recorded for Ronny Weiser's 'Rollin' Rock label, can be found here. Let that slappin' bass do its thing and if you want to feel how it was to be 'young, wild and free' in the heyday of rockabilly, then I can't recommend no better release than this 'Mac Curtis Rocks'. Keep on rockin' and enjoy!

​The release  'Feeling Is Good Enough' is the debut album for Nick Wade. He takes us immediately to that deep Delta, we settle down on a front porch and enjoy his musicianship in many varied Prewar and country blues songs. Master guitarist Nick Wade comes from a musical family and continues the tradition with this strong album of classic and original acoustic blues. 

​Beaux Gris Gris & The Apocalypse is the musical creation of Greta Valenti and Robin Davey. The pair met when their respective bands crossed paths on YouTube, having already established themselves as performers and musicians. When LouderSounds preaches “Let Beaux Gris Gris & The Apocalypse twist yer melons and remind you of the wonder of life” it might be because the band vibe is easier to pin down than their unique take on the roots genres. Rockshot Magazine elaborates “This extremely entertaining collective is a New Orleans-inspired, American blues-folk-soul band, who refuse to be pigeon-holed”

​Sticks & Strings features the EG Kight Trio in a simple, acoustic setting. EG and her “boys”, as she affectionately calls them - Gary Porter and Ken Wynn - offer a wide variety of blues/roots music with these songs, nine of which were written or co-written by Kight. 

​BluesShack, a band from the Netherlands, will bring some hot tunes to the dance floor! BluesShack is six-member band with a piano/hammond player from Sweden and a bluesharp player from England. They love to play a varied slow and medium tempo blues repertoire, such as from Etta James, Alberta Hunter, Muddy Waters and Bonnie Raitt. Just like on this release…! 

​Consecutive days when the rain is pouring down can provide a general refreshment, but they can just as easily have a profound effect on your mind. It may seem contradictory, but to suppress this melancholic feeling, 'rain songs' can work wonders. Fortunately, you don't have to spend hours browsing through your undoubtedly immense record collection, because the German Bear Family has released the soundtrack of your dreams with the album 'The Rhythm Of The Rain'. 30 timeless tracks in various music genres ensure that the rain also puts a smile on your face. Naturally, you will find a number of 'all time classics' here, such as Dion with 'Drip Drop', 'Just Walking In The Rain' by Johnnie Ray, Carole King's 'It Might As Well Rain Until September', B.J. Thomas with 'Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head', Gene Vincent with 'Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain' and The Everly Brothers with 'Crying In The Rain'. Ray's 'Walking In The Rain' later closes the album in a doo-wop version by The Prisonairs. But before we get that far, there is still a lot to enjoy. It immediately hits the spot with the soulful 'Raindrops' by Dee Clark, a song from 1961. Successor Irma Thomas immediately sets the tone for a game of wonderfully compelling rhythm & blues with 'It's Raining'. Even more rhythm & blues at top level follows later with 'Raining' by Jerry Byrne and certainly with Christine Kittrell who even adds a pinch of jazz to 'Ain't Never Seen So Much Rain Before'. Big Maybelle's rhythm & blues 'Rain Down Rain' sounds rather raw. Billy 'The Kid' Emerson is full of emotions in 'When It Rains It Pours'. Song that is certainly not inferior to his 'signature song' 'Red Hot'.
A beautiful slow blues is presented by El Pauling and Royal Abbit with 'Raindrops Keep A-Fallin''.
Country & Western is on top via Bill Wimberley & The Country Rhythm Boys with 'It Rains Rain', 'Sittin' Home Prayin' For The Rain' by Bobby Lord and 'So What! Let It Rain!' by Lefty Frizzell. This also applies to George Jones, who even adds a bit of Latin to 'Rain Rain (Rain Keeps Falling)'.
The Royal Jokers provide a doo-wop highlight with 'September In The Rain'.
Skiffle takes shape again in 'Face In The Rain' by The Chass McDevitt Skiffle Group with formidable vocals by Nancy Whiskey. For a jazzy feel you can go to the instrumental 'Rain' by Red Garland Trio. Other fine instrumental work follows later with The Hap-Cats and their lead guitar-driven 'Raindrops'.
Less known but beautifully performed by 'Cile Turner is 'Drizzlin' Rain'. Another gem is 'The Rain Comes Down' by Johnny Burnette's eldest brother Dorsey Burnette.
You automatically link 'Over The Rainbow' to Judy Garland because she introduced it in the 1939 film 'The Wizard Of Oz'. Twenty years later, Little Anthony and The Imperials revived the song. Which, as you can hear here, they did successfully.
'30 Melodic Drops For Cloudy Days' is the subtitle of this release. We couldn't say it better. Maybe one more tip…………you really don't have to wait for the rain to enjoy this album. There was a heat wave while writing this review, but with this compilation I already was able to enjoy the first upcoming rain shower. Recommended!

​Bianca's debut album, released on August 4th 2023, is contemporary take on classic international sounds - drawing from American and British 1960s styles infused with Motown, Soul, and modern Pop. 

A Texas guitar “gun slinger”, vocalist and song writer following in the footsteps of T-Bone Walker, Lightning Hopkins, Albert King and many others. This music is the kind of real Texas soul, all mixed up with classic R&B, country, blues/funk that grows from the Texas soil. 

Most rock fans know Buddy Miles as Jimi Hendrix’ drummer on his album ‘Band of Gypsys’ (1970), but are often unaware of Buddy Miles the singer and song-writer and also of the successful music he made before teaming up with Hendrix – think ‘Them Changes’ and ‘We Got to Live Together’.
Anyway, BGO Records have just released remastered versions Miles’ 1971 solo albums ‘Live’ and ‘Message to the People’. I prefer the live album in the sense that concerts allow Miles and his ten-piece band to expand on a song, stressing the rhythm, inserting jazzy improvisations, interacting with the audience and showing everything he’s capable of as a showman too.
Miles is soul, funk and rock all rolled into one unstoppable drive, with a humane message and daring covers, like his take on Neil Young’s ‘Down by the River’.
If you still think of him as a good drummer, listen to this two-for-one double CD and discover a great singer and very fine composer. No wonder Mike Bloomfield wanted him for Electric Flag and Hendrix recruited him to play on his albums! 
Radio 68 plays choice tracks in Rock On!, Wednesday 13 September 2023 from 12 noon till 12 midnight CET, 11 a.m. till 11 p.m. GMT. 

​Although a young man relatively new to the scene, it would be wrong to think Dom Martin hasn't paid his life and musical dues. Brought up in the often tough, but community driven streets of Belfast Northern Ireland, Dom traded his craft for a time locally without a (self confessed) clue how to break into the (international) music business and possibly with too much humility to try.

​For the new release in the 'Destination' series, we move to Baghdad and Istanbul and the world of sheiks, harems, oases, red-hot Sahara sand and Ali Baba. The 32 tracks on this album clearly show that these items can be performed perfectly musically. Titles such as 'Ali Baba', 'Pasha', 'Shish Ka Bob Rock', 'Ali Ben Ghazi', 'Hari's Harem' and Sands Of Arabia' speak for themselves.
With Bill Haley, Art Neville, Dinah Washington, The Fendermen, Preston Love, Johnny and The Hurricanes and Jerry Reed you already get a number of resounding names. The latter immediately kicks off with 'Rockin In Bagdad'. The song immediately puts you in the right mood and already lets the sweltering heat work on you. Song that also has a nice Eastern feeling intro.
So make sure you already have an ice-cold drink within reach, because you shouldn't expect cooling from this compilation. Reed is followed by The Champs. 'Tequila' is without a doubt their 'signature song', but the instrumental 'Ali Baba' is certainly not inferior to that. And The Polk Brothers also do it instrumentaal with razor-sharp lead guitar on 'Caravan Rock'. Later you will also hear the versions of this Duke Ellington classic by The Fendermen and Bobby Christian. Sax is 'the leading instrument' on the also instrumental 'Oasis - Part 1' by The Majestics. More beautiful atmospheric instrumentals follow with, among others, 'Hari's Harem' by The Slaves, 'Camel Walk – Part 1' by The Saxons, 'Ali Baba's Boogie' by alto saxophonist Preston Love and his orchestra, Leroy Holmes with 'In A Persian Market', 'Sands Of Arabia' by The Teentones, Ganimian and His Orientals featuring 'Come With Me To The Casbah' also known by Los Straitjackets' version, 'Ali Baba' by Dave & The Customs, The Big Sound Of Don Ralke in 'Zooba !', Johnny and The Hurricanes and 'Sheba', as well as 'Istanbul' by The Renegades.
Lots of instrumental work on this album. Not surprising because how can you better represent the Eastern atmosphere. But vocals are also scored here.
Like by the great rhythm & blues artist Big Maybelle. You might not immediately expect her here, but 'That's A Pretty Good Love' fits in perfectly. Another great lady is Dinah Washington. She does it nice swinging on 'One Arabian Night'. 'Twistin' Jack Hammer, who once recorded for the Belgian Ronnex label, is present with 'Ali Ben Ghazi'. That Ferlin 'Husky was at home in many markets, he shows in 'Aladdin's Lamp', which has both rockabilly and country & western in its genes. In 1958, Bobby Freeman recorded the original ‘Do You Want To Dance’. Song that got a high score in Cliff Richard's version. Freeman is present on this compilation with the rocking 'Sinbad'. Art Neville provides a bit of New Orleans rhythm & blues with 'Arabian Love Call'. Formidable doo-wop is featured in 'Ali Baba' by The Sandpipers.
True to tradition, Sheik Bill Dahl guides you through all tracks through the extensive liner notes.
'Destination Desert' is a nice sequel in the 'Destination' series. An album that makes you dream away.

​Arno and duets, it's a great mess. Great stories. Beautiful encounters. Feminine and masculine. Never ordered, often improbable, always benevolent and guided by instinct. Les Duettes brings together eighteen duos. As it is often the case with Arno, these duets were born in a hurry. No fuss, no muss. But Arno has put his heart, passion and Arno into them... Under the artistic supervision of Mirko Banovic, Arno's musical director, the album Les Duettes is also a reminder that there have never been any barriers with the charming singer from Ostend. 

​If you don’t understand the poetic lyrics, just enjoy the energetic and rich music of Yemen Blues. A wonderful mix of western and eastern music. 

​Raw song, tight backing and Jon's whiskey-drenched vocals form the basis for their appropriate tunes. Reigning from Southern California, Robert Jon & The Wreck take the Southern rock sound from the east coast and make it their own. Since their inception in 2011, these native Californians; Robert Jon Burrison (lead vocals, guitar), Andrew Espantman (drums, background vocals), Henry James Schneekluth (lead guitar, background vocals), Warren Murrel (bass) and Jake Abernathie (keyboards) have been electrifying audiences all over the world with their soaring guitar leads, rich vocal harmonies, and memorable tunes.