​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’….!

​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.

​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…! 

​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.

​After many projects with fellow artists, Corritore has another project with his 'Friends' collection. Bob put another brilliant all-star blues showcase together. Sixteen great songs and exciting performances, captured during several recording sessions. And that delivers pure, unvarnished and unadulterated blues. Bob is a master of modesty on his blues harp. His production work and expressive "serve the song" harmonica style is of excellent divergence. The release ‘Somebody Put Bad Luck On Me’ is Bob Corritore's latest masterpiece collection of recorded songs featuring a spectacular array of contemporary blues artists. Bob's brilliant harmonica work forms the common thread, but always at the service of the songs. Great! 

​The release’ Smoke Burst’ is Mario Rossi's highest point. The best, most mature and accurate point of his career. Released independently, his fourth studio album is the perfect illustration of what his musical vein is like. In the case of his new release, the special spice is the fact that the material was all recorded live in the studio. Besides, the band that brought Smoke Burst to life took the album to another level of quality. Brazilian singer and guitarist Mario Rossi continues his legacy of creative, heavy blues with his third album, Smoke Burst, which shows he was born with the blues in his veins. He discovered his musical passion when, in 2013 and then 2015, he joined the band that accompanied the American bluesman John Primer in Brazil.

​Monster Mike Welch’s ‘Nothing But Time’ is a must-have for any electric guitar blues fans. In 2023, Monster Mike Welch has embarked on the next phase of his career with his signing to Gulf Coast Records to make new music. “I have been a fan of Monster Mike Welch for 25 plus years,” said Gulf Coast head Mike Zito in making the announcement. “He is one of the absolute finest blues artists/guitarists of our time and I am thrilled to be working with him. I am hopeful for some free guitar lessons.” Highly recommended! 

​This new album turns the spotlight on Sover as a true triple-threat – already known for his world-class guitar work, he is now blossoming as both a soul/R&B singer and a songwriter with 8 of the 10 self-produced tracks original compositions. Greg Sover is not just a blues performer but a true purveyor of rock n’ roll/Americana music, ready to both accept the torch from those who came before and pass it on to those following him.

​‘Get Your Back Into It!’, and it’s jammed with fourteen fresh, original songs inspired by the spirit of classic blues of the 1940s, ‘50s and ‘60s. Master guitarist/vocalist Nick Moss and harmonica giant/vocalist Dennis Gruenling have created new melodic concepts and contemporary lyrics that perfectly fit their vintage sound. In every song, you can hear the near-telepathic communication within the band, and feel the pure pleasure everyone had making this music. The release was co-produced by Nick and another vital member of the band, Brazilian bassman Rodrigo Mantovani, and recorded at Nick’s own studio. Throughout the album, the musicians joyfully create the classic Chicago “conversational” ensemble sound. ‘Get Your Back Into It!’ is the real stuff! 

​On the second volume, which is a sequel to 'Boy, You Got More Blues Here' (BAF14031), about the early recordings of Chester Burnett aka Howlin' Wolf, we get 10 songs that the Wolf recorded in 1951 and 1952. The recordings were made by Sam Phillips at the famous SUN studios. Recordings that were not released at the time. The reason why they are only now seeing the light of day is because the masters and alternate versions were not discovered until several decades later. Undeniably, Howlin 'Wolf is one of the greatest of the Chicago blues. Not only literally because of his impressive stature, but especially because of his extremely powerful voice and ditto harmonica playing, which went together fantastically with the raw and hard sound of Willie Johnson's electric guitar.
These first recordings of Howlin' Wolf were made when he was already over forty years old. Sam Phillips was not afraid to take risks and was the first to see the potential in Wolf. Never before had he had someone in the studio with such a powerful and dynamic voice. Phillips sold the recordings to Chicago-based Chess Records, which achieved a national rhythm & blues hit with the first single ‘How Many More Years’. The song reached number four on the charts. Howlin' Wolf stayed with Sam Phillips for 2 years. As you can hear on the album, he took the time to evolve and perfect his singing style. Howlin' Wolf takes care of the vocals and the harmonica. On 'Decoration Blues', 'Well That's All Right', 'Dorothy Mae' and 'Color And Kind', he leaves the instrument to James Cotton, who later also built a successful solo career. He is accompanied on guitar, drums, piano and occasionally on sax and trombone. In addition to the Wolf's sublime performance, the accompanying musicians also deserve a heartfelt round of applause, in particular guitarist Willie Johnson and pianists Albert Williams, L C Hubert and Bill Johnson.
By digitizing the original sources and remastering them, using state of the art studio technology for the vinyl release, these 2 volumes sound fantastic. Moreover, both releases form the cornerstones of the development of post-war electric blues
British blues expert Martin Hawkins provides all the information about the recordings on the beautifully executed 7-page booklet. Booklet that also contains a number of beautiful photos.
‘Boy, You Got More Blues Here, Originally Unreleased Tracks, Vol. 2' definitely belongs in the collection of every blues lover. Recommended!

Tracy Nelson, one of the most powerful voices in American music, has emerged from a lengthy recording hiatus with the album of a lifetime, a musical self-portrait spanning her entire career. Life Don’t Miss Nobody  (BMG; release date June 9th) is a 13 track collection that stretches back to her start as a guitar-picking Wisconsin teen playing coffeehouses through an unparalleled career, now in it’s sixth decade, singing blues, country, New Orleans R&B and gospel, and performing in such storied music meccas as 1960s San Francisco and 1970s Austin in her epic, genre-busting musical journey.But this is no nostalgia trip. The title song is a brand-new composition from the woman whose “Down So Low” has become a modern standard. She’s kept busy performing and recording with long-time musical friends in projects like Corky Siegel’s Chamber Blues and with the freewheeling all-star Blues Broads – Angela Strehli, Annie Sampson and Dorothy Morrison. Even so, roots lovers have waited a long time for a new Tracy Nelson album, and no one’s more excited than Tracy. Highly recommended! 

Soulful Femme presents a one-of-a-kind show, playing a mixture of blues, soul and rock like you have never heard before! These womens of a certain age and aren't quite ready to hang up our instruments…We still have a lot to say and we’re determined to say it in the here and now! That’s especially evident with their new album, the aptly titled ATTITUDE. Recorded at Fat Rabbit Studies in New Jersey, it was produced by blues great Albert Castiglia and engineered by Grammy nominated Dave Gross. It also features an impressive array of special guests, with Castiglia contributing guitar, the great Tommy Castro guesting on “Talkin' Loud and Sayin' Nothing,” and multiple award-winning singer and guitarist Kevin Burt dueting on “Insane Asylum.” The other musicians include Michael Bram (formally of Jason Mraz’s band on drums), Matt Raymond on bass, Doug Woolverton on trumpet, Mark Earley on tenor saxophone, and Dave Gross on Hammond organ and percussion.

​Genre bending and award winning Finnish bluesrock band Micke Bjorklof & Blue Strip will release new studio album ‘Colors Of Jealousy’ on Friday 16th June on Hokahey! Records and distributed in Europe by Continental Record Services. Boasting 11 original songs ranging from killer opening track “Highway Highway” classic blues rocker led by Billy Gibbons influenced riff with layered guitars and wailing Hammond organ to dramatic americana flavoured countryblues, resonator guitar driven title track “Colors Of Jealousy” with bit of Ennio Morricone vibes. You get a good sense of the range the album covers from these first two singles released.

​Introducing ‘FAR ENOUGH STORIES & SONGS’, a captivating exploration of Jimmie’s 13th album that takes you on a journey deep into the heart of each song.  If you love hearing the stories behind the songs, as I do then you will enjoy not only the music that is included with the book but also their stories. With Eric Stark, Jimmie’s longtime friend and writer, as your guide, you’ll discover the intricate process that went into creating each of these amazing songs.  You’ll gain a unique insight into the minds and hearts of these talented songwriters, and you’ll come away with a deeper appreciation for the music that you love. Far Enough Stories & Songs are more than just a collection of tracks.  It’s an immersive experience that brings you closer to the music and the artists behind it.  So why not take the plunge and discover the hidden depths of Jimmie’s 13th album? Order you copy of Far Enough Stories & Songs today and embark on a journey that will stay with you for years to come.  This would also be the perfect gift for someone who loves blues-rock music and has yet to believe.

​Lady J Huston is a well-decorated though sparsely recorded woman who sings, writes, plays trumpet and flugelhorn, arranges, and produces. Her debut full length studio album, ‘Groove Me Baby,’ is a reflection of all that Huston is (singer, songwriter, trumpeter, music director, arranger, and producer) and has accomplished in her career that began as a child dancer on shows with her mother Loyce Huston and led to an array of awards and high-profile appearances.

​Gypsy Soul features a diverse pallet of influences capturing various genres on this release such as Rock, Blues, R&B, and a dash of funky undertones. This album is reminiscent 60s and 70s vibe music melted into a pot of contemporary Blues-Rock. Written and produced by Jennifer Lyn and bandmate Richard Torrance, Gypsy Soul showcases the pair's compositional and lyrical progression as a writing team.

​Johnny King's music ranges from blues, roots, rock, reggae, bluegrass, country, motown, gospel, funk, Latin, ragtime, New Orleans jazz, jam band, and psychedelic southern rock. He calls it the "Baptism of Sound!"  

Jan James honed her powerful vocals in a church choir, and learned guitar licks from a Tennessean named Catfish. She made her way from a family-run fishing resort in central Michigan to downtown Chicago to become one of The Windy City’s most enduring female artists. Her creative partnership with Craig Calvert is a decades-old exploration of roots music of all kinds – rock n’ roll, soul, country, and of course, the blues. The path to ‘Time Bomb,’ the newest record, took them from the Midwest to Europe, through the studios of notable producers, onto stages with the biggest names in music. And it all started in a small café near Michigan State University.

​Still playing and touring the World, Li’l Jimmy Reed is the last of the original Louisiana bluesmen. The blues was born in the deep South, a wild outcry against segregation, poverty and hard, back-breaking work. Sadly most of the great musicians who created this vibrant, influential music have passed on, leaving only their recordings to testify to their genius. However, one man, whose career stretches back to the time when rhythm ‘n’ blues was just bursting onto the popular music scene, is still with us and playing better than ever. When two-time Blues Music Award nominee and budding music historian Ben Levin (age 23) first contacted Lil' Jimmy Reed (Leon Atkins, age 84), the two bluesmen, at very different times in their lives and careers, discovered that their musical synergy was effortless. It was soon clear to Levin that producing the capstone album of this treasured icon who epitomizes the Louisiana down-home blues style was an important contribution to recorded blues history. Lil' Jimmy Reed's powerful harmonica playing, stinging guitar, and commanding vocals are showcased in a mixture of covers and original songs written by Ben Levin, his father Aron Levin, and Lil' Jimmy.

​2021 Independent Blues Award Winner Grainne Duffy returns with her fifth album and Blue Heart Records debut, a collaboration with multi-GRAMMY-winning producer Chris Goldsmith. A musical exploration of Delta Blues traditions and their extension into 70's blues rock yields a fine contemporary blues result, gently infused with tasty Celtic lines. Duffy supplies, in one unique mix, Irish mysticism, soulful vocals, an amazing groove.

​Nic Clark learned early on in the recording of Everybody’s Buddy to not count himself out, which turned out to be the name of one of the tracks (“Don’t Count Yourself Out’). He’s lived a hard life battling an eating disorder since he was a young kid. In his teens and ‘20s, Clark weighed upwards of 400 pounds. It’s a daily struggle for Clark, though he admits that his life is not all that different from many Americans. If you’re ever in need of a friend, simply put on the new studio album, ‘Everybody’s Buddy’, by Mexican-American musician Nic Clark and let his uplifting and honest songs pass through those tough life moments.

‘Back In Style’ is the fourth album by Chicago’s 'triple blues threat'. It delivers a blistering fusion of traditional and contemporary blues harp & slide guitar! Recorded in Chicago by Grammy & Blues Award winning Producer/Engineer Michael Freeman, 'Back In Style' features standout performances by some of the 'Windy City's' finest blues musicians! The 12 original songs on this new album build upon Mack’s lineage as a musician, songwriter & record producer, featuring high-quality production, while embracing the honesty of the blues!

​Radiating The Soulful & Energetic Appeal of the Blues  Lady Adrena Creates Pure Magic with EP ‘Recipe for The Blues’. Her stunning new EP is a depiction of all the learning, techniques and style learned over the years which she has acquired. As an adult, life’s priorities started to change and her everyday struggles began to take precedence over the music, but in her heart, Adrena knew her musical calling. Unknown to Adrena, life was providing her with the right kind of tools, skills, and the lyrics and stories to craft her future songs. Stream Lady Adrena’s spellbinding new EP, ‘Recipe for the Blues’ and delve into her world of riffs and melodic tunes.