Mavis Staples was among the ten Solo Living Artists inducted. Part nineteen of our FARHOF series ..read more

John Mayall stood above the British Invasion superstars. The Rolling Stones, Animals, Yardbirds, and Cream may have used blues as inspiration for their rock music, but John stood alone among them. While they had a dotted line connection to the American blues legacies, John had a solid line connection ..read more

Anyone who has lived in or traveled through a city has encountered street musicians. Singers, often accompanying themselves on guitar or other instruments, playing the sidewalks, parks and subway stations. Perhaps you’ve tossed a quarter, or a dollar bill, or even $5 into the tip jar or open guitar case. But did you ever wonder who these people are – why they opted to make the streets their stage, and whether any of them had gone on to make it in the music industry? Some of the performers he features – Lucinda Williams, Billy Bragg, the Violent Femmes – went on to become international stars; o ..read more

Kevin Gordon, Nashville-based singer-songwriter and poet, will be releasing his new album The In Between on September 13. During the recording of the album, Gordon was diagnosed with throat cancer. With guitars, drums, and bass completed for most tracks but vocals for only one or two, the sessions had to go on indefinite pause while Gordon underwent radiation and chemotherapy.  It’s as though Gordon’s journey through cancer treatment profoundly influenced the recording process and likely brought a heightened emotional depth as he reflected on life and his own mortality, translating into r ..read more

“I’ve had a very interesting life,” blues legend John Mayall once told American Blues Scene. “And I think, being a musician, you are able to put your experiences into music. That’s the nice thing about the blues is you can tell your stories through words and music. You know, there’s never any shortage of things that happen to a person. And you can put those experiences into music.” The death was confirmed in a statement on Mr. Mayall’s official Facebook page that read, “It is with heavy hearts that we bear the news that John Mayall passed away peacefully in his California home yesterday, July ..read more

Kingdom, the third studio album by Amanda Fish, was written over a six year gap and is heavily influenced by the events of the pandemic, riots, and government corruption, seen through the eyes of a new parent and frontline healthcare worker. A journey of faith, redemption, and hope against a backdrop of chaos and upheaval, Kingdom returns time and again to its message of truth and love. Kingdom features a core group of musicians including Terry Midkiff, Dom Knott, Dylan Farrell, Glen James, and Paul Niehaus IV, along with friends Mama Moo, Billie Baumann, Bob Walther, the a ..read more

Cindy Cashdollar was 13 when the Woodstock Festival changed everything in 1969. “Actually, my family was renting in Phoenicia. We were building a new house, and I went into Woodstock just to see who was coming in. I remember it was very crowded and a lot of people looking very wild with bed rolls.” The idea that she might end up playing steel guitar with everyone from Bob Dylan to Van Morrison was the furthest thing from her mind. “I remember seeing Jimi Hendrix sitting in a parked car somewhere on Tinker St., but mother would not let me – of course, I was on lockdown that weekend. I had older ..read more

Today, The Allman Betts Family Revival announced 2024 tour dates and initial lineup for their 8th annual celebration honoring Gregg Allman, Dickey Betts, and The Allman Brothers’ enduring music and legacy. The tour begins on November 30 in Saint Charles, IL, and concludes December 21 with a return to the historic Fillmore in San Francisco. In addition to returning to familiar cities, the tour will visit several new locations, including Minneapolis, Seattle, and Kansas City. We are so excited to continue on to the eighth year of this wonderful celebration of our father’s music. It’s a high ho ..read more

Gospel icons Blind Boys of Alabama and Blues Hall of Famer Bobby Rush have collaborated on a recording of the sacred soul classic “99 ½ Won’t Do,” with proceeds to support the Mid-South Food Bank in Memphis, TN. The traditional song has been recorded by Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Mavis Staples with Ry Cooder, Steve Cropper, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Hezekiah Walker, Wilson Pickett, and Eddie Floyd. Both Rush and the Blind Boys won GRAMMY Awards this year; the Blind Boys appeared on the Today Show in April, sat in recently with Tom Jones, and are set to receive an Americana Music Award Lifetime ..read more

Blues artists HeavyDrunk and Watermelon Slim are combining forces for a UK tour and a new record, Bluesland Theme Park, to be released in 2025. HeavyDrunk and Watermelon Slim each have quite a repertoire individually (26 albums between the two), so it’s intriguing to think about how their styles will blend together on their first joint effort. The duo’s first single, “Watermelon Girl,” premieres today on American Blues Scene. “Broke out for long Delta miles/ As I staggered along/ A friendly melody beckoned me on.” With its smooth, steady Caribbean current – steel drums, pedal steel guitar ..read more