British writer and musician John Phillpott digs deep in the Mississippi mud and unearths the legacy of W. C. Handy, the legendary Father of the…
W. C. Handy… Father of the Blues
Tag: blues
A Step Well Taken: Roomful Of Blues ‘Steppin’ Out!’
Roomful Of Blues — Steppin’ Out! (Alligator Records, 2025) Roomful of Blues returns with Steppin’ Out!, the band’s 20th album and the first to feature…
Remembering the Great Bluesman Cool John Ferguson
(headline image: “Cool John” Ferguson – Photo by Tim Duffy) Blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter John W. “Cool John” Ferguson died in his hometown on…
Guitar Hero Samba Touré’s, Pacesetter of Songhoy Traditions
(headline image: Samba Touré – Photo by Karim Diarra) Malian singer, guitarist, and composer Samba Touré is one of the foremost torchbearers of Songhoy blues.…
Crown Jewels Anthology Celebrates Koko Taylor’s Legacy
Alligator Records is set to release Crown Jewels, a new compilation that features some of the finest performances by the legendary Koko Taylor, known worldwide…
Lowell Folk Fest Drops First 2025 Lineup
The 2025 Lowell Folk Festival has unveiled the first wave of performers, set to appear from July 25–27 in downtown Lowell, Massachusetts. As one of…
Wonderland: The Truth Hits Hard
Carolyn Wonderland – Truth Is (Alligator Records, 2025) Carolyn Wonderland cements her place in modern blues music with Truth Is, her latest album on Alligator…
Porch Perfect: Taj Mahal and Keb’ Mo’ Harmonize on a Family Affair
Taj Mahal and Keb’ Mo’ return with “My Darling My Dear,” a soulful new single from their forthcoming collaborative album, Room on the Porch, out…
Blues Master Joe Louis Walker Dies at 75
Guitarist, singer, and songwriter Joe Louis Walker, a leading figure in electric blues, died on April 30, 2025. Walker was born in San Francisco in…
The Carolyn Wonderland Story: A Blues Guitarist’s Rise to Icon Status
(headline image: Carolyn Wonderland – photo by Mary Bruton) Carolyn Wonderland, born in Houston, Texas, in 1972, developed her musical identity at an early age.…