Out now!
Issue 267: March 2024
“I’ve always looked for female role models, the women who expressed themselves through the guitar as far back as the 1920s. They’re the trailblazers and visionaries whose footsteps I walk in.” So says Sue Foley, the Canadian born guitarist who’s certainly a trailblazer herself, relocating to Austin in her early twenties, taking the tough Texas bluesmen on at their own game. She’s subsequently released thirteen albums and garnered several awards, including Traditional Female Artist of the Year at The Blues Music Awards in Memphis, and she talks to Blues In Britain about her new album, One Guitar Woman.
It’s said that the music of Dion Francis DiMucci has long represented a special time and place, reflecting moments when a song could mean so much, when a singer could encompass what it meant to be young, in love and on top of the world. And it still does. The man who in 1958 had three Top Forty hits and earned a Grammy in 2008, now releases his third album of recent years, Girl Friends. David Robinson talks to the King Of The New York Streets.
Having honed his craft playing around the world with Jeff Healey while still in his teens, Philip Sayce has spent his adult life thrilling audiences. Born in Wales, raised in Toronto and now based in Los Angeles, this phenomenal performer now has eight solo albums under his belt and the release of The Wolves Are Coming is an invitation for Blues In Britain’s Liz Medhurst to take shelter in the sheer power of Sayce’s music. Run like the wolf!
Enriched by rich vocal harmonies and gospel-like organ, Eddy Smith & The 507 is recognised as a growing attraction on the UK’s live circuit, their leader’s infectious melodies and soulful song-writing drawing comparisons to Joe Cocker, JJ Grey and Marcus King to name a few. Reminiscent of a sound from way before their time, the debut full-length album Right Up ‘Til Now is an irresistible blend of Americana, blues, soul and country. John Mitchell sits down with Eddy Smith over coffee…
Four Grammys (three for Buddy Guy, one for Keb’ Mo’) ain’t a bad haul in the long run, not counting sterling work with Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram, but even with that weight on his mantelpiece, producer Tom Hambridge still prefers to be known as a drummer and a singer – and that’s from someone who’s worked with Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley! The Blues Music Association Percussionist Of The Year fronts his own band, is a prolific songwriter and has now released his first album since 2018, the sparkling, star-studded Blu Ja Vu. Steve Morphew talks to the man Buddy Guy calls “the white Willie Dixon.”
Just under two years from The Hammer Falls, Jack J Hutchinson is back with Battles, an intense rollercoaster ride of immaculate heavy blues. Surviving train delays, blustery conditions and heavy rain, Liz Medhurst arrived in London just in time to chat to Hutchinson before he and his band took to the stage for the album’s showcase launch at the O2 Academy, Islington.
Described memorably as “Bonnie Raitt jamming with Led Zeppelin in an Everglade moonshine joint,” Bex Marshall is the real deal, her unique guitar style drawing comparisons to Memphis Minnie and J.J. Cale with its back-porch slide, ragtime and finger-picking, all evident on her stunning new album Fortuna. Nicholas John talks to Marshall on a line to Mexico, after her band’s recent festival appearance: Bex-Mex anyone?
Beaux Gris Gris & The Apocalypse were certainly one of the highlights at February’s UK Blues, Rhythm & Rock festival held at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens. Indeed, their slot on the bill reflects the workload and the mileage the band has put in on the UK live scene over the past few years. It’s paying off for sure. Singer Greta Valenti and guitarist Robin Davey are in buoyant mood, looking forward to the release of new album Hot Nostalgia Radio.
Greig Taylor is not just one of Scotland’s hardest working musicians, but one of the UK’s finest blues-styled vocalists. During his time as the lead singer and co-songwriter with blues band GT’s Boos Band, Taylor built himself a large following, one that’s enthusiastic over Taylor’s fifth full-length studio album The Light, recently released under the collective Greig Taylor Band name. Simon Green gets an entertaining, whistle-stop run down of his career to date.
PLUS: Becc’s Blues by Rebecca Downes, Out & About, the IBBA chart and your monthly album and gig reviews.
JOE BONAMASSA plus
ERROL LINTON, MIKE ROSS, KIRK FLETCHER, THE 251s, MARK HARRISON
October 2020 - 226
KING KING plus
ERJA LYYTINEN, CONNOR BRACKEN, SAMANTHA MARTIN, SCOTT ELLISON, SYLVIE SIMMONS
November 2020 - 227
WHEN RIVERS MEET plus
CATFISH, ALLMAN BETTS BAND, SUSAN SANTOS, JUSTIN ADAMS, RUZZ GUITAR
December 2020 - 228
CHARLIE MUSSELWHITE plus
MARCUS KING, NORMAN BEAKER, CHRIS SMITH, GRAHAM PARKER, BONNIE BISHOP
January 2021 - 229
GRAINNE DUFFY plus
GEORGE THOROGOOD, JOHN MAYALL, DANA GILLESPIE, THE CADILLAC THREE, KATIE BRADLEY
February 2021 - 230
JOANNA CONNOR plus
KIM WILSON, RONNIE GREER, SHAUN MURPHY, MUDDY MANNINEN, TREV TURLEY
March 2021 - 231
BAI KAMARA plus
SELWYN BIRCHWOOD, IMELDA MAY, MIKE SANCHEZ, LAURA B, NICK WATERHOUSE
April 2021 - 232
THE DAMN THRUTH plus
KAI STRAUSS, GARY MOORE, WILL JOHNS, ARIELLE, BRAVE REVIVAL
May 2021 - 233
ELLIS MANO BAND plus
DR. FEELGOOD, CURTIS SALGADO, STEVE CROPPER, DAVE SPEIGHT, FIVE POINTS GANG
June 2021 - 234
ELIANA CARGNELUTTI plus
MIKE ZITO, MOBY, HITMAN BLUES BAND, JULIAN TAYLOR, SCOTT McKEON
July 2021 - 235
TROY REDFERN plus
BERNIE MARSDEN, TITO JACKSON, CLARENCE SPADY, WATERMELON SLIM, SUITCASE SAM
August 2021 - 236
RORY GALLAGHER plus
ERIC BIBB, BERNIE MARSDEN, CONNOR SELBY, ROBERT JON, PAPA GEORGE
September 2021 - 237
JOE BONAMASSA plus
JOANNE SHAW TAYLOR, TERESA JAMES, REV. GARY DAVIS, JIMMY REGAL & THE ROYALS, BRIGITTE DeMEYER
October 2021 - 238
WHEN RIVERS MEET plus
DION, SUE FOLEY, COLIN JAMES, MARK PONTIN, MISSISSIPPI MACDONALD
November 2021 - 239
KENTUCKY HEADHUNTERS
plus
SNOWY WHITE, DANNY BRYANT, THE COLD STARES, WARREN HAYNES, MARK HARRISON, MISTY BLUES
December 2021 - 240
SAMANTHA FISH
plus
ERJA LYYTINEN, GUY KING, WALTER PARKS, STEVE GIBBONS, REBECCA DOWNES, THE JIVE ACES
January 2022 - 241
ELLES BAILEY
plus
ERIC GALES, JOHN MAYALL, CHRISTONE KINGFISH INGRAM, WILLE & THE BANDITS
February 2022 - 242
DAN PATLANSKY
plus
BETH HART, JETHRO TULL, STEVE BAILEY, THE 251s, ADAM NORSWORTHY
March 2022 - 243
DOM MARTIN
plus
EDGAR WINTER, THE BLUES BAND, THE CINELLI BROTHERS, LARRY McCRAY, DAVE KELLY
April 2022 - 244
ROBIN TROWER
plus
ROBERT CRAY, EMMA WILSON, BRAVE RIVAL, BEAUX GRIS GRIS, THE LOVE LIGHT ORCHESTRA
May 2022 - 245
THE BAD DAY
plus
CATFISH, KARA GRAINGER, MATT PEARCE & THE MUTINY, VANEESE THOMAS, THE TERRAPLANES BLUES BAND
June 2022 - 246
BERNIE MARSDEN
plus
WILKO JOHNSON, ANDY FAIRWEATHER LOW, LAURA EVANS, XANDER AND THE PEACE PIRATES, TINSLEY ELLIS
July 2022 - 247
TROY REDFERN
plus
BONHAM-BULLICK, DELBERT McCLINTON, ROBBEN FORD, KIRK FLETCHER, SUPERSONIC BLUES MACHINE
August 2022 - 248
TOMMY McLAIN
plus
WALTER TROUT, BAD LUCK FRIDAY, THE MILK MEN, JO HARMAN, BEN HEMMING
September 2022 - 249
250th ANNIVERSARY ISSUE
with
LAURENCE JONES, PETER FRAMPTON, SUNJAY, JIMMY HALL, ALBERT CASTIGLIA, DAVE THOMAS, MALAYA BLUE
October 2022 - 250
ERJA LYYTINEN
plus
LARKIN POE, DON McLEAN, JASON RICCI, THE COMMONERS, OLIVER DARLING, STEVE HILL
November 2022 - 251
JOANNE SHAW TAYLOR
plus
RORY BLOCK, CLIMAX BLUES BAND, DONNA HERULA, JOHN VERITY, ROB KORAL, JO CARLEY & THE OLD DRY SKULLS
December 2022 - 252
TYLER BRYANT & THE SHAKEDOWN
plus
REBECCA DOWNES, CAROLYN WONDERLAND, GERRY JABLONSKI & THE ELECTRIC BAND, TREVOR BABAJACK STEGER, PETE SEARS
January 2023 - 253
MISSISSIPPI MACDONALD
plus
AYNSLEY LISTER, JARED JAMES NICHOLS, BOB ANGELL, THE CADILLAC KINGS, ANGELA STREHLI
February 2023 - 254
CONNOR SELBY
plus
ERIC BIBB, MARCUS KING, RUTHIE FOSTER, THE COLD STARES, MARC BROUSSARD
March 2023 - 255
KEEPING THE BLUES ALIVE AT SEA
plus
GA-20, MARY STOKES BAND, THE ZOMBIES, HENRIK FREISCHLADER, ARIELLE, GERAINT WATKINS
April 2023 - 256
SAMANTHA FISH and JESSE DAYTON
plus
ANA POPOVIC, MARK HUMMEL,JIM KIRKPATRICK, MARTIN McNEILL, JOHNNY MARS & THE COLD HEART REVUE
May 2023 - 257
LUKE MORLEY
plus
PAUL JONES, CHRIS DUARTE, MIKE ROSS, THE STUMBLE, DOUG DEMING
June 2023 - 258
LAURENCE JONES
plus
GRAINNE DUFFY, STEFAN REDTENBACHER, JIMMY REGAL & THE ROYALS, BISON HIP, ASHLEY SHERLOCK, IVY GOLD
July 2023 - 259
WHEN RIVERS MEET
plus
ROBERT JON & THE WRECK, RUBY TURNER, FANTASTIC NEGRITO, IVAN NEVILLE, STEVE ‘WEST’ WESTON, SUGAR RAY NORCIA
August 2023 - 260
DOM MARTIN
plus
ALBANY DOWN, BETTYE LAVETTE, LAYLA ZOE, DEBBIE BOND, DADDY LONG LEGS, BRYN HAWORTH
September 2023 - 261
JOE BONAMASSA
JOE BONAMASSA
plus
DANNY BRYANT, COCO MONTOYA, ERJA LYYTINEN, JO ANN KELLY, DAVE ARCARI, DUST RADIO
October 2023 - 262
KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD
KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD
plus
ROBIN TROWER, EMMA WILSON, HEAVENLY CREAM, JO ANN KELLY (pt.2), BILL WYMAN, CRUISE REVIEW!
November 2023 - 263
TAJ MAHAL
plus
BOBBY RUSH, BLACKBURN BROTHERS, GRAHAM NASH, SEAN TAYLOR, GREG SOVER, NICK MOSS
December 2023 - 264
NINE BELOW ZERO
plus
FOGHAT, CAT SQUIRREL, BOB HALL, THOMAS HEPPELL, LONG ROAD HOME, ROBERT HOKUM
January 2024 - 265
WALTER TROUT
plus
JO HARMAN, BAD TOUCH, BOB MARGOLIN, HANNAH WICKLUND, TONY HOLIDAY, SARAH BROWN
February 2024 - 266