blues – World Music Central

Artur Menezes playing electric guitar live, wearing sunglasses.

Awards

Blues Musician Artur Menezes Wins Unsigned Only Music Artist of the Year Award

Artur Menezes won the Unsigned Only Music Artist of The Year Award with the song “Once Again.” He is a Brazilian-born, Los Angeles-based guitar player,…

Conferences Events

Folk Alliance International Announces 140-Plus Artists for 2027 Chicago Conference

World Music Central News Room August 22, 2026 No Comments Adriano Sangineto Alash Alela Diane Alexis Jade and the Gemstones Alice Hasen & the Blaze Alicia Kayley Amber Rae Dunn featuring Mulberry Jam and special guest Anna Sharpe Amelia Day American Patchwork Quartet Americana Ammoye Amy Speace Ana Everling Andy Rubal Ani Mari Anne Heaton Trio Anthony da Costa Appalachian music Ashley E. Norton Avery R. Young & De Deacon Board Bandits on the Run Beauxmont Bluegrass blues Bobby Alu Braden Lam BRÍDÍN Buddy Red Caamaño & Ameixeiras Cajun Carrie Newcomer Cécilia Celeigh Cardinal celtic Celtic music Crow and Gazelle CRYS + The Fever Dreams Cyrena Wages Damir Imamović Dead Goat Debutants Disterbenz Divka Doctor Nativo Don Ross and Julie Malía Dorsten Duane Andrews and the Hot Club of Conception Bay É.T.É El Khat Eliza Marshal Emily Scott Robinson Erin Mckeown Ernest Aines Farayi Felicity Dowd Flamy Grant Floyd Mercantile Folk Alliance International Fugu Dugu Gabrielle Hope Georgia Ruth global roots GoldenOak Goldpine Good Morning Bedlam Great Aunt Henry Wagons High Horse Hip Horns Brass Collective How I Became A Wave Humbletown Imogen Clark Jacques Surette Jared Rabin Javier Jara Jenna Nicholls Jimbo Scott Jonavo Julián Pujols Quall and Mamey Julian Taylor Junior Brother Kate Prendergast Keenya Creates Keith Secola Kelly Hunt Ken Whiteley Kim Yang LaOx Las Guaracheras Le Diable à Cinq Lennie Gallant Louie Lou Louis Lucy Clearwater Making Movies Mama Said String Band Manuela Sánchez Goubert Mathias Lattin May Erlewine with Packy Lundholm Michela Musolino with Rosa Tatuata Mira Lazuli Mireya Ramos and the Poor Choices MoonShroom Morganway Mzaza Nagata Shachu Japanese Taiko and Music Group Nat Myers Nikki D & The Sisters of Thunder Noah Guthrie Oakland Rain old time On the Lash On the Trail Paula Boggs Band Paula Fong Polky Polly Paulusma Radio Free Honduras Raye Zaragoza Reg Meuross Robin Barnes Roisin Gowen Rosalba Valdez RÜNO Ruth Theodore Sam Robbins Sam Shackleton Sammy Brue Saraswathi Ranganathan Sariyah Idan Shakura S’Aida Shane Alexander Sihasin Sones de México Ensemble Sophie Lukacs South for Winter Susan Werner Tafa Mi Soleil Tall Poppy String Band tar Tautumeitas The Clements Brothers The Glass Hours The Honey Badgers The Lubben Brothers The Pairs The Pegwells The Rebel Eves The Sullivan Sisters The Texpats Timbreroots Trio Mandili Tuvergen Band Vance Gilbert Vincent Schmidt Whorled Will Varley world fusion world music Zoë Aqua Zydeco

Folk Alliance International has announced the Official Showcase artists for its 39th annual conference, set for Jan. 27-31, 2027, in Chicago. The roster includes more…

Morgan Freeman’s Symphonic Blues Experience cover artwork. The album title as a neon sign with blue and red colors.

Music videos

Morgan Freeman’s Symphonic Blues Experience Reveals Taj Mahal’s “Death Letter Blues”

World Music Central News Room July 22, 2026 No Comments blues Morgan Freeman Morgan Freeman’s Symphonic Blues Experience Taj Mahal world fusion world music

Academy Award-winning actor Morgan Freeman will release Morgan Freeman’s Symphonic Blues Experience on August 7 through Decca Records. The album’s first preview is “Death Letter…

Hamida Ag Fano Tansihay cover artwork. A photo of Hamida playing guitar, sitting on the ground with a desert landscape behind.

Music videos Single reviews

Desert Delight

Tom Orr June 2, 2026 No Comments blues desert blues Hamida Ag Fano Tuareg music world music

I’ve long agreed with the contention that blues music was born in Saharan Africa, and the most recent affirmation is courtesy of “Tansihay” by Hamida…

Lucy Woodward Always cover artwork. A blurry image of a table with candles, wine glasses and other objects.

Music videos

Lucy Woodward Releases New Single, “Always” a Meditation on Connection

World Music Central News Room May 13, 2026 No Comments Americana blues Lucy Woodward world music

English-American singer-songwriter Lucy Woodward has released a single titled “Always” on the GroundUP label. “Always,” a bluesy Americana song, is presented as a meditation on…

Dida Pelled - I Wish You Would cover artwork. A photo of a woman's boot on top of a woman's rear.

Album reviews

Dida Pelled Covers Blues Classics with Jazz Guitar and Soulful Vocals

Iliana Cabrera April 25, 2026 No Comments blues Dida Pelled Jazz world music

Dida Pelled – I Wish You Would (La Reserve, 2026) Brooklyn guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter Dida Pelled will release I Wish You Would on May…

Lil' Ed & The Blues Imperials - Slideways cover artwork. A photo of the band on stage.

Album reviews

Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials Return With Slideways

Ryan Emmert April 8, 2026 No Comments blues Lil' Ed & The Blues Imperials world music

Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials – Slideways (Alligator Records, 2026) Slideways, the grand new album from Chicago blues band Lil’ Ed & The Blues…

Todd Albright — Blues For Dexter Linwood cover artwork. A red and black photo of Albright playing guitar.

Album reviews

Todd Albright Makes Old Blues Songs Feel Fresh Again

Ryan Emmert March 28, 2026 No Comments blues Todd Albright world music

Todd Albright — Blues For Dexter Linwood (April 17, 2026 / Misfortune Records, 2026) Todd Albright’s Blues For Dexter Linwood finds the Detroit fingerpicker turning…

Selwyn Birchwood - Electric Swamp Funkin’ Blues cover artwork. A photo of Birchwood playing an arrow shaped guitar.

Album reviews

Selwyn Birchwood Plugs In Florida Blues For Electric Swamp Funkin’ Blues

Angel Romero March 27, 2026 No Comments blues Selwyn Birchwood world music

Selwyn Birchwood – Electric Swamp Funkin’ Blues (Alligator, 2026) Guitarist, vocalist, and composer Selwyn Birchwood will release Electric Swamp Funkin’ Blues on Friday, March 27,…

Bryan Sutton Blue Night cover artwork. A blue cover with an image of a leafless tree.

Music videos

Bryan Sutton And Joe Bonamassa Light Up “Blue Night”

World Music Central News Room March 14, 2026 No Comments Bluegrass blues Bryan Sutton Joe Bonamassa world music

Bryan Sutton has enlisted Joe Bonamassa for “Blue Night,” the latest release in Sutton’s From Roots to Branches guitar duets series. When Sutton introduced the…