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Issue 246: June 2022

From Dawn ‘Til Dusk…these are exciting times for The Bad Day, as their new self-titled release hits the streets, riding a wave of celebratory reviews. Despite jettisoning the “Blues Band” from their name, this forward-thinking British blues rock act claims to “always have the blues” at its core, a point well-proved on tracks such as the exuberant ‘Wake Up Carolina’ and ‘Devil’s Lullaby’. Simon Green talks to the band’s driving force, Adam Rigg and begs the question “What on earth is a blues band doing making a concept album?” It just may be worth your while finding out.

And talking of blues bands, Bristol’s The Terraplanes Blues Band are quite happy with things just as they are. Stepping Stones is their first full-length album and it is something of a corker. Hard graft and a “play anywhere” approach has seen this West Country outfit making big strides further afield on the UK scene. Nick Scrase and Eduardo Allen talk to Pete Clack.

You’ll have seen the ads – The Soul Food Store is now open! Matt Pearce Eats To The Beat, talking  about his new album, one we alluded in our album review as being something of a game-changer in modern blues. Unafraid to throw the proverbial kitchen sink at as many walls as he can spot, Pearce wears his influences (all several dozen of them) on his sleeve and is unapologetic for taking the “more is more” approach.

Catfish were one of the bands who embraced livestream technology at an early stage of the pandemic, thus keeping their ever-expanding fanbase happy, even if forced to watch the boys from the sofa at home. Never ones to stand still (and just back from a lengthy European jaunt), their new Bound For Better Days EP is an acoustic reworking of some of their favourite songs. Paul and Matt Long explain all to David Robinson.  

Soul sister and daughter of the great Rufus Thomas, Vaneese Thomas loves Memphis. Fact. “How could those traditions not seep into my veins?” she asks Clive Richardson, while just a hundred miles up the interstate or so, Nashville is home to Kara Grainger, the globe-trotting slide player who starts a UK tour this month and is set to, er, set the blues scene alight. “There’s always plenty to keep me busy!” she tells Lee Connolly.

Plus: album and gig reviews, Slim Butler and the blues scene in Finland by Russ Cottee, ‘On Your Radio’ with Clive R,Trevor Hodgett’s ‘Reconsider Baby’ and much more. June is bloomin’ alright!