Author Archives: Mike

Sons of the blues Mud Morganfield, Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith team with players from fathers’ pasts on latest releases

We’ve talked here plenty of times before about the numerous second generation bluesmen and women doing their parts to help keep their fathers’ music alive. So we were of course delighted to learn of separate new projects involving two true … Continue reading

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Heritage Music BluesFest 2014 in photos

We’ve posted more than 250 photos from last weekend’s Heritage Music BluesFest to our BluesPowR Gallery, including new folders spotlighting Ana Popovic, Lurrie Bell & Billy Branch, Jarekus Singleton, Matt “Guitar” Murphy and the Nouveaux Honkies, and Damon Fowler, as … Continue reading

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Heritage Music BluesFest 2014 recap

If you follow us on Twitter or Facebook, you know that we spent much of the past weekend at the annual Heritage Music BluesFest in Wheeling, WV, now in its 14th year, the line-up for which included Tab Benoit, Robert … Continue reading

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Ladies sing the blues: hot new releases from Janiva Magness, Kelley Hunt

Among the new releases that have showed up in our mailbox recently have been the latest recordings from two pretty terrific female vocalists, the much-acclaimed Janiva Magness and a somewhat lesser-known – but arguably no less talented – Kelley Hunt. … Continue reading

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Summertime Blues edition

“Monday again, I can’t face another day…”: Janiva Magness captures the start of the workweek perfectly with this opening line from the song “I Need a Man” off her new album Original, but hopefully we can help you through the … Continue reading

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International Blues Music Day is coming!

Last summer, we told you about the inaugural International Blues Music Day (IBMD) established by New York musician and blues society leader Johnny Childs and friends to help promote and celebrate the genre around the world. With the first Saturday … Continue reading

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Celebration of Pittsburgh blues artists continues on Blues from the Burgh 4

We don’t get the chance to write about local blues acts as much as we’d like these days, so we’re always glad when the Blues Society of Western Pennsylvania (BSWPA) gives us a good reason to do so with another … Continue reading

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True to the Blues until the very end, guitarist Johnny Winter dead at age 70

A spokesperson for Johnny Winter has confirmed the death of the Texas guitar legend yesterday in Zurich, Switzerland. Earlier this year, Columbia/Legacy Records released the box set True to the Blues: the Johnny Winter Story in conjunction with the guitarist’s 70th … Continue reading

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Old time rock & roller Forrest McDonald back with some Turnaround Blues

It’s hard to believe that the guy who played lead guitar on Bob Seger’s late-’70s hit “Old Time Rock & Roll” wouldn’t have become a household name at some point, but unless the name of Forrest McDonald is one that’s … Continue reading

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Wrapped Up and Ready for your listening pleasure, The Mannish Boys’ latest CD is another winner

The blues supergroup known as The Mannish Boys has done some pretty terrific stuff over the years, so to say that their newest CD Wrapped Up and Ready (Delta Groove Music) may just be their best yet is no small … Continue reading

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