Following the chart-topping success of their debut Blood Brothers, blues-rock powerhouses Mike Zito and Albert Castiglia return with Help Yourself — a fiery, soul-drenched studio album that captures the raw chemistry, camaraderie, and explosive energy of their live shows.

Fresh off the road, the band laid down Help Yourself at Shock City Studios in St. Louis, delivering a masterclass in contemporary electric blues with a fearless rock & roll edge. This isn’t just an album  it’s a high-voltage session that puts listeners right in the room with two of the genre’s most revered voices and their all-star backing band.
“It was great to capture the band live in the studio, just like onstage,” says Zito. That live-wire energy courses through every track from the swagger and sharp wordplay of the title cut “Help Yourself” to the soul-baring ballad “Alive,” a deeply personal anthem born from grief and healing.

“Alive is about my girl Jackie,” Zito explains. “After the tremendous loss of my wife Laura, I thought love was over. But God had another plan  Jackie came into my life and made me feel alive again.”

Castiglia brings his signature grit and authenticity, especially on “Can’t Be a Prophet,” a wry reflection on life on the road and the sobering contrast of homecoming. “It’s based on our real experiences,” he says, “being treated like royalty on tour, then coming home to little fanfare.”

The band — Scot Sutherland (bass), Lewis Stephens (keys), and the dual-drum attack of Matt Johnson and Ray Hangen delivers with groove, soul, and relentless precision, elevating every track with dynamic power and finesse.

From the after-hours strut of “Soulard Serenade” and the vintage warmth of “Ol’ Victrola” to the urgent drive of “Running Out of Time,” Help Yourself is both a tribute to blues tradition and a bold step forward.

“The camaraderie comes through in every note played. I love this band!” Castiglia says.
Currently on tour with none other than Bill Murray, and lighting up legendary stages like Red Rocks, Sony Hall, and The Ryman Auditorium, Zito and Castiglia aren’t just keeping the blues alive  they’re setting it ablaze. Help Yourself cements Blood Brothers as torchbearers of modern blues-rock: raw, real, and relentlessly passionate.

Tracks:
01. Help Yourself (Zito)
02. Can’t Be A Prophet (Castiglia)
03. Alive (Zito)
04 . Soulard Serenade (Zito, Castiglia, Sutherland, Stephens, Hangen, Johnson)
05. Low Down (J.J. Cale)
06 . The Best I Can (Zito, Castiglia)
07. Prove My Love (Zito)               
08 . Ol’ Victrola (Castiglia)
09 . Running Out Of Time (Zito)
10. Do What You Gotta (Castiglia)

Website: 
mikezito.com

The Third Mind – Right Now!
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Release date: September 19, 2025
​

​Driven by instinct and the magic of real-time improvisation, The Third Mind returns this autumn with their third studio album, Right Now! a bold, intuitive exploration of spontaneous collaboration. “Everything about this record is intuitive,” says co-founder Dave Alvin. “It’s five musicians walking a tightrope, improvising in dialogue with each other and discovering the songs as they go.”

The striking album artwork, created by Lou Beach, sets the tone for Right Now!, a project rooted in the spirit of discovery. The Third Mind originally began as an experimental studio collaboration between Alvin and bassist Victor Krummenacher (Camper Van Beethoven, Cracker, Monks of Doom, Eyelids), inspired by the boundary-pushing improvisations of Miles Davis. Over time, it evolved into a powerhouse supergroup featuring guitarist David Immerglück (Counting Crows), drummer Michael Jerome (Richard Thompson, Better Than Ezra, John Cale), and vocalist Jesse Sykes (Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter), whose haunting voice, Alvin says, grounds the band’s swirling explorations. “To me, Jesse’s vocals are the glue that holds this whole thing together,” he explains. “Her voice is so unique, and she sings with such intense introspection that it just pulls you in.”

Like its predecessors, Right Now! draws deeply from the rich soil of 1960s music, reimagining classics with raw energy and interpretive freedom. Standout tracks include Elizabeth Cotten’s Shake Sugaree, inspired by Fred Neil’s 1966 version, and the traditional murder ballad Pretty Polly, rendered in a style somewhere between The Grateful Dead and Neil Young & Crazy Horse. While Right Now! isn’t a concept album, Krummenacher notes, “there’s a darkness that flows beneath the surface of everything including Lou Beach’s brilliant collage on the cover.”

The Third Mind follows a few simple yet radical rules: no rehearsals, no written arrangements, no overthinking just show up, follow a loose map of songs and keys, and surrender to the moment.
​
The first taste of Right Now! comes in the form of the lead single, a deeply felt version of The Youngbloods’ Darkness, Darkness, released in tribute to Jesse Colin Young.
​

Tracks:
01. Shake Sugaree
02. Pretty Polly
03. Before We Said Goodbye
04. Reno, Nevada
05. Reap What You Sow
06. Darkness, Darkness
07. The Creator Has a Master Plan


Website: 
thethirdmind.net

Zoals steeds gaat het festival door in het hart van Wespelaar – letterlijk naast de kerk – op de Grote Baan, 3150 Wespelaar.
De toegang is volledig gratis!

Swing Wespelaar brengt een brede waaier aan blues – van bekende namen tot verrassende ontdekkingen – met als doel zowel de doorwinterde bluesfan als de nieuwsgierige nieuwkomer te verrassen en te beroeren. Muzikale kwaliteit, authenticiteit en een gezonde dosis verrassing: het zit in ons DNA, ook al staat het niet letterlijk in de statuten.

Dit jaar verwelkomen we onder andere grote namen als DeWolff (exclusief in grote bezetting), Take Me To The River All-Stars New Orleans, en Chambers DesLauriers. Daarnaast staan ook hedendaagse toppers uit de VS en het VK op het programma. De Belgische scene schittert met onder meer David Ronaldo & The Dice, Doghouse Sam & His Magnatones en Big Dave & The Dutchmen.

Vorig jaar werd Swing Wespelaar bekroond met de Belgian Blues Award voor Beste Festival, mede dankzij onze reputatie om nieuwe artiesten te introduceren. Ook dit jaar presenteren we acht bands die nooit eerder in België te zien waren.

Mis het niet – drie dagen vol topblues, sfeer en gratis muziek in openlucht!

Vrijdag 22 Augustus
    19:00 - 20:15  David Ronaldo & The Dice (BE)
    20:45 - 22:15  Dom Martin & Band (UK)
    22:45 - 00:15  DeWolff  (NL)
 
Zaterdag 23 Augustus
    13:30 - 14:30  Mojo Hand & Luca (NL)
    15:00 - 16:00  Jesse Redwing  (AUS)
    16:30 - 17:30  Noa & The Hell Drinkers (ES)
    18:00 - 19:00  Mississippi MacDonald (UK)
    19:30 - 20:45  Eric Johanson (US)
    21:15 - 22:30  Shawn Pittman & The Özdemirs (US)
    23:00 - 00:30  Chambers DesLauriers (US)
 
Zondag 24 Augustus
 13:30 - 14:30  La Ratte (NL)
    15:00 - 16:15  Doghouse Sam & His Magnatones (BE)
    16:45 - 18:00  Big Dave & The Dutchmen (BE)
    18:30 - 19:45  Jovin Webb (US)
    20:15 - 21:30  Sheryl Youngblood Band (US)
    22:00 - 23:30  Take Me To The River All-Stars New Orleans (US)
 
More Info:
swingwespelaar.be

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​ZZ Top Brings the Fireworks This July 4 with From The Top (1979–1990) – A Limited Rhino Hi-Fi Vinyl Collection

Celebrate Independence Day with a rock 'n' roll bang as ZZ Top drops From The Top (1979–1990), a limited-edition vinyl box set from Rhino High Fidelity (Rhino Hi-Fi). This sequel to last year’s sold-out release captures the Texas trio’s explosive rise to global fame, spotlighting five of their most iconic albums from their peak years.

The collection includes Degüello (1979), El Loco (1981), Eliminator (1983), Afterburner (1985), and Recycler (1990). Each album was AAA-cut directly from the original stereo master tapes by renowned mastering engineer Kevin Gray and pressed on 180-gram heavyweight vinyl at Optimal.

Packaged in a deluxe faux-leather slipcase, this collector's edition is limited to just 3,000 individually numbered copies. From The Top (1979–1990) is available now for pre-order exclusively at Rhino.com and select WMG retailers worldwide.

ZZ Top’s legendary journey roared out of Houston with the powerhouse trio of Billy Gibbons (vocals/guitar), Dusty Hill (bass), and Frank Beard (drums). With a sound steeped in electric blues, Texas boogie, and irreverent humor, the band carved a reputation through tireless touring and a steady stream of bold, increasingly confident albums. From The Top (1979–1990), the new limited-edition vinyl collection from Rhino High Fidelity, captures the band as they entered a pivotal new era—one defined by sonic evolution, MTV superstardom, and the ever-growing length of their iconic beards.

The collection opens with Degüello (1979), a funkier, freer record that marked ZZ Top’s return after a brief hiatus. “Cheap Sunglasses” became a standout with its rhythmic punch and singalong swagger, while their fiery cover of Sam and Dave’s “I Thank You” remains a fan favorite. “Our cover emerged unabashedly with a one-take stab onto the tape machine,” Gibbons recalls in new liner notes by James Austin. “The tale was told—and remains a recurrent request on stage and radio to this day.”

1981’s El Loco kept their blues roots intact while hinting at the band’s future direction. “Tube Snake Boogie” and “Pearl Necklace” delivered raw, cheeky energy, while early experiments with synths and drum machines on tracks like “Groovy Little Hippie Pad” paved the way for what was to come.

That future arrived in 1983 with Eliminator, the band’s commercial breakthrough and a cultural phenomenon. Fusing slick production, synth textures, and sharp hooks, the album yielded enduring hits like “Gimme All Your Lovin’,” “Sharp Dressed Man,” and “Legs.” Its futuristic hot rod imagery and unforgettable music videos made ZZ Top unlikely but undeniable MTV darlings. Eliminator was certified Diamond and spent over two years on the charts, catapulting the band to global fame.

Afterburner (1985) pushed further into the digital age, layering even more synths and studio wizardry over the band’s blues-rock backbone. Radio staples like “Sleeping Bag,” “Rough Boy,” and “Velcro Fly” drove the album to #4 on the charts and earned five-times platinum status in the U.S. “So many wacky gadgets suddenly seemed to appear in the studio,” Gibbons notes. “The temptation of experimentation took us all in... and some satisfying mayhem unfolded.”

The final chapter in this trilogy, Recycler (1990), brought the sound full circle. Tracks like “My Head’s in Mississippi” and “2000 Blues” returned to gritty, rootsy blues, while “Doubleback”—featured in Back to the Future Part III—gave the band another crossover hit. Certified platinum and a Top 10 success, Recycler closed out the era with a bang.
From The Top (1979–1990) presents these five pivotal albums--Degüello, El Loco, Eliminator, Afterburner, and Recycler—AAA-cut from the original stereo master tapes by Kevin Gray and pressed on 180-gram vinyl at Optimal. Housed in a deluxe faux-leather slipcase and limited to 3,000 individually numbered copies, this box set is available now for pre-order exclusively at Rhino.com and select WMG retailers.
​
Rhino High Fidelity continues to celebrate timeless music with meticulously crafted releases, honoring each album’s sonic and visual legacy with unmatched care and precision.

DE JEUGD VAN TEGENWOORDIG 
'20 ZOMERS'
NU UIT
​

"20 zomers diep lang en breed in de velden. 100.000 nachten kapot gemaakt met bloed zweet en tranen. En Vooruit deze keer met Spanker! Het is immers feest.” - Faberyayo

De Jeugd van Tegenwoordig bestaat twintig jaar en viert dat op 4 juli met de release van de nieuwe single '20 Zomers'.

De track is geproduceerd door Spanker, bekend van zijn werk met onder anderen Frenna, Idaly en Jonna Fraser. Het is bijzonder dat De Jeugd met een externe producer werkt; doorgaans produceren ze hun muziek met hun vaste man Bas Bron. Alleen in 2007 maakten ze bij hoge uitzondering een uitstapje, met Reverse op de single Shenkie.

2025 staat volledig in het teken van het twintigjarig jubileum van De Jeugd van Tegenwoordig. Eerder dit jaar brachten ze al hun acht studioalbums opnieuw uit op vinyl en openden ze een pop-up store in Amsterdam.

De release van 20 Zomers valt samen met hun jubileumshow op Down The Rabbit Hole dit weekend. Verdere jubileumshows vinden plaats op Pukkelpop, drie avonden in oktober in de Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam, en in de Lotto Arena in Antwerpen.

En nu is er dus ook nog eens nieuwe muziek. 

Luister Hier:

New Orleans-based songwriter and slide guitar roots artist Chris Vincent returns with “Midnight After All,” the gritty, haunting second single off his forthcoming album Good Crook, due out August 1st. The track arrives Monday, July 14th on all major platforms.

Cut live in a single take with zero overdubs, autotune, or studio polish, “Midnight After All” is a perfect embodiment of Vincent’s defining musical philosophy: “Blues as it could be, roots as it should be—hand written, hand played, vitally human music without a whisper of AI anywhere in sight.”

Featuring the legendary New Orleans drummer Johnny Vidacovich, Vincent’s performance is anchored by his signature slide guitar work on Gloria, his 1947 Gibson L7. The chemistry is palpable—Vidacovich’s subtle but powerful drumming locks in with Vincent’s percussive, relentless guitar style, creating a sound that is both vintage and electric with urgency.

Lyrically, “Midnight After All” tells the tale of a bad situation spiraling fast, its central line--"Needles spin backward, but you pray that they don’t"—drawing a hard boundary between Vincent and the “paint-by-numbers” blues artists he leaves in the dust. It’s storytelling with teeth, full of grit, edge, and hard-earned truth.

As with all of Good Crook, the track was recorded live at The Rhythm Shack in New Orleans, with Grammy-winner Jake Eckert at the helm. The album also features standout performances from bassist Dean Zucchero.

To accompany the single, a companion music video will also be released on July 14th, featuring New Orleans’ iconic St. Louis Cathedral, filmed after midnight in the sweltering French Quarter summer heat. The moody, atmospheric visual captures the city’s haunted stillness and late-night soul, perfectly echoing the spirit of the song.
​
Chris Vincent continues to carve his path as a true American original—a master storyteller and musician who values soul over polish and substance over spectacle. “Midnight After All” is more than a song—it’s a statement.

​Chris Vincent Social Media Links
 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrisvincentmusic?igsh=MWRjNHVoYTlreGYzZg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1EvY97yLW2/?mibextid=wwXIfr
 
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@chrisvincent?si=GxQRrh45V5JK4SbD
 
Website:  ChrisVincentNewOrleans.com
​

​
​Recorded at Russian Hill Recording in San Francisco and The Record Plant in Sausalito, Boom Boom captures John Lee Hooker breathing new life into timeless tracks like “Boom Boom” and “Bottle Up and Go,” delivering them with renewed passion and soul. The sessions are elevated by an all-star lineup of blues legends Jimmie Vaughan, Robert Cray, Albert Collins, and Charlie Musselwhite whose performances ignite the music with both fire and reverence. The album earned a Grammy® nomination for Best Traditional Blues Album in 1993.

This project stands as a powerful testament to Hooker’s lasting impact on the blues. Boom Boom is more than a nod to his legacy it’s a dynamic reaffirmation of it.

Celebrated worldwide as the “King of the Boogie,” John Lee Hooker remains one of the most iconic figures in blues history a master of cool whose influence has shaped generations of musicians. His raw, emotionally charged songs resonate across cultures and continents. Throughout a constantly evolving career, Hooker attracted new fans with each passing decade. And as he entered his 70s, he experienced an extraordinary career resurgence, touring and recording with undiminished energy right up to his passing in 2001.

TRACKLISTING:
CD
    Boom Boom (feat. Jimmie Vaughan)
    I'm Bad Like Jesse James
    Same Old Blues Again (feat. Robert Cray)
    Sugar Mama
    Trick Bag (Shoppin' for My Tombstone)
    Boogie at Russian Hill (feat. Albert Collins)
    Hittin' the Bottle Again
    Bottle Up and Go
    Thought I Heard (feat. Charlie Musselwhite)
    I Ain't Gonna Suffer No More
    Dimples (Bonus Track)
    Ain’t No Love In This House (Bonus Track)

LP

Side A
    Boom Boom (feat. Jimmie Vaughan)
    I'm Bad Like Jesse James
    Same Old Blues Again (feat. Robert Cray)
    Sugar Mama
    Trick Bag (Shoppin' for My Tombstone)

Side B
    Boogie at Russian Hill (feat. Albert Collins)
    Hittin' the Bottle Again
    Bottle Up and Go
    Thought I Heard (feat. Charlie Musselwhite)
    I Ain't Gonna Suffer No More

Website:
johnleehooker.com

Southern California rockers Robert Jon & The Wreck return with “Keep Myself Clean,” the final track to be released ahead of their forthcoming studio album Heartbreaks & Last Goodbyes, due out August 22nd via Joe Bonamassa’s Journeyman Records. Produced by Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, Jason Isbell, Rival Sons), the single is available now on all major streaming platforms.
 
“Keep Myself Clean” is a grimy, slow-burning rocker that finds the band digging into their heaviest themes yet. With gritty guitar tones, a swampy groove, and a vocal delivery packed with hard-earned truth, the song delivers a raw warning against the destructive pull of fast living.
 
“‘Keep Myself Clean’ came together in Savannah from a few different ideas, with Dave Cobb’s brilliance shaping an entirely new concept,” says guitarist Henry James. “It was raw, menacing, and powerful—Dave even plays a few guitar tracks on it. We rolled tape with that energy still fresh in our fingers.”
​
​

Na een overweldigend succes in Brazilië komt het Braziliaanse muziekproject 'Dominguinho’ naar België! Op 25 maart 2026 staan João Gomes, Jota.pê en Mestrinho op het podium van La Madeleine in Brussel. Wat begon als een spontane ontmoeting tussen vrienden groeide uit tot muzikale poëzie vol ritme, gevoel en Braziliaanse flair. 

Tickets zijn te koop vanaf donderdag 3 juli om 10u00 via greenhousetalent.com.


Het project werd opgenomen op de historische site van Olinda en bundelt 12 nummers: bekende hits van het trio, het nieuwe nummer "Flor" van Mestrinho en Erivaldo Júnior, én frisse herwerkingen van bestaande songs. Denk aan een verrassende medley van "Mete Um Block Nele" en "Ela Tem", of een ingetogen versie van "Pontes Indestrutíveis" van Charlie Brown Jr. 


Met bijna 1 miljoen streams per dag zijn ze uitgegroeid tot een van de grootste muzikale verrassingen van het jaar. De tournee start in São Paulo en trekt vervolgens de wereld rond.

SPOOK lanceert nieuwe single ‘Movie Girl’ op 1 juli
Gastbijdragen van Leif de Leeuw en Sem Jansen | Albumrelease gepland op 1 november 2025
​

​De Nederlandse band SPOOK van tekstschrijver en componist Marijn Ooijman brengt op 1 juli 2025 de nieuwe single ‘Movie Girl’ uit op alle streamingdiensten. Het nummer is een opgewekte, uptempo track met een aanstekelijk refrein en een herkenbaar thema: verliefd worden op een filmster. “Dat is iedereen wel eens overkomen”, volgens Marijn Ooijman.
 
De single is de eerste release van het aankomende studioalbum, dat op 1 november zal verschijnen. Op dat album zijn meerdere gastmuzikanten te horen.
Movie Girl is alvast een smaakmaker die laat horen welke frisse richting SPOOK is ingeslagen.
 
Leif de Leeuw en Sem Jansen als muzikale gasten
Voor Movie Girl kreeg SPOOK versterking van Leif de Leeuw, meervoudig award-winnend gitarist, en gitarist/zanger Sem Jansen, op akoestische gitaar en uiteraard ook met zijn expressieve, soulvolle stemgeluid. De bijdragen van het duo geven het nummer extra zeggingskracht en een verfijnde muzikale gelaagdheid, zonder dat het spontane karakter van SPOOK verloren gaat.
 
Opname en productie
De single werd opgenomen in de intieme en hoogwaardige omgeving van Natural Records Recording Facilities, en werd geproduceerd door Bo Brocken. Zijn productiestijl brengt de scherpe randjes en warme melodieën van de band perfect in balans.
​

Over SPOOK
SPOOK is een band die zich niet laat vangen in genres. Hun muziek beweegt zich vrij tussen alternatieve pop, rock, americana en poëtisch singer-songwriter werk. Alles uit de pen van Marijn Ooijman. Movie Girl is illustratief voor hun nieuwe koers: toegankelijk, verrassend en met een onweerstaanbare glimlach.
 
SPOOK
Marijn Ooijman – Zang / Akoestisch gitaar
Jeffrey Hurkens – Akoestisch en Elektrisch gitaar
Pieter Wielaard – Basgitaar
Robbert Plette - Drums
Armein Broer van Dijk - Percussie
Reinier Groenendijk - Toetsen

Website: 
spooktheband.nl