John Mayall has sadly passed, aged 90, peacefully at home with friends/family around him. When the tragic news first reached us at Blues Matters a few hours following his death, it came with a request to keep it under wraps till the family themselves were ready to post it publicly. John was always known as the ‘Godfather of British Blues’, a moniker he shrugged aside and wore lightly despite his immense importance to the music globally. We had the good fortune to both know and admire the guy and until he retired from the road a few short years ago, often spoke about his remarkable career and t ..read more

Blues-rock virtuoso Joe Bonamassa and GRAMMY Award-winning band Train are thrilled to unveil their latest collaborative masterpiece: a powerful cover of 38 Special’s classic hit, “Hold On Loosely.” This release marks a significant fusion of talent, passion, and mutual admiration between two giants of the music industry. The magic of this collaboration lies in the organic synergy between Bonamassa and Train’s frontman, Pat Monahan. Pat’s distinctive, soulful vocals intertwine effortlessly with Joe’s masterful guitar riffs, injecting fresh energy into the iconic track. The result is a rendition ..read more

Might this only UK show on their current and ongoing Elevation tour be ZZ Top’s swan song to these isles? Maybe, maybe not. Well, only time will tell, and time is something it seems that, as a group, they must gradually be aware is finite. WORDS: Paul Davies Thankfully, they are back and at the business end of tonight’s triple bill. They were set up firstly by Those Damn Crows who banged out a thirty-minute set of get out of your seats tuneful hard rock to the gathered glee of this slowly filling arena. Following which and rising to the occasion in the main support slot, Rival Sons registered ..read more

Legendary South African blues rock, country, and Americana singer-songwriter and guitarist Steve Louw will release the double single “Killers”/”Streets of Rain” on Friday, 12 July 2024. Both tracks are taken from his highly anticipated third solo album, “Between Time,” set to be released by BFD Records on 6 September 2024. The songs will be available on all streaming platforms. “Killers,” an intense, guitar-driven track, reflects the chaos of war and was inspired by the early weeks of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Producer Kevin Shirley praises the track, saying, “World-class musicians toge ..read more

Renowned guitarist, singer, songwriter, and entertainer Big Boy Bloater is set to embark on a mini UK tour this July, promising a series of electrifying performances that showcase his unique take on roots and R&B. Bloater will bring his dynamic energy and impressive musical talent to three cities: Fri 12th July – The Lexington, LONDON  TICKETS HERE Sat 13th July – Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Fest,  SCOTLAND (with The LiMiTs)  Tickets Here   Sun 14th July – The Continental, PRESTON (with The LiMiTs)  Tickets Here   Big Boy Bloater has earned a ste ..read more

Buy tickets for the Commoners 2024 UK Tour here Following universal praise and rave reviews, Canadian roots rock band The Commoners release their highly anticipated third studio album, Restless. The album is available for purchase at www.thecommoners.ca/store. To celebrate the release, the Toronto-based five-piece—comprising Chris Medhurst (lead vocals), Ross Hayes Citrullo (lead guitar), Ben Spiller (bass), Miles Evans-Branagh (keyboards), and Adam Cannon (drums)—will tour the UK from July 19 to 28. They will be joined by special guest Madison Galloway, the hotly-tipped Canadian guitarist and ..read more

Legendary guitarist, producer, and songwriter Steve Cropper, now in his 80s, shows no signs of slowing down. Recently nominated for his first solo GRAMMY, Cropper is set to release his highly anticipated new album, ‘Friendlytown,’ on August 23rd via Mascot Label Group/Provogue. Teaming up with Billy F Gibbons from ZZ Top, Queen’s Brian May, and country-rock artist Tim Montana, Cropper promises a guitar heaven experience. “If your booty isn’t shaking in the first two bars, you’re already dead in a chair,” jokes Cropper about the new album packed with radio hooks. The first single, “Too Much St ..read more

Celebrated blues rock guitarist and singer-songwriter Joe Bonamassa, in association with J&R Adventures and N&P Touring, is thrilled to announce five UK arena concerts set for April 2025. Fans can get early access to tickets through a 48-hour pre-sale starting at 10am GMT on Wednesday, 26 June, exclusively on PlanetRock.com. General ticket sales begin at 10am GMT on Friday, 28 June, available at www.jbonamassa.com/tour-dates and www.gigantic.com. Backed by a stellar band of legendary musicians, Bonamassa’s set list will feature new songs alongside career-spanning favourites. Known for ..read more

Blues-rock titan Joe Bonamassa has just dropped his latest live album and film, “Live at the Hollywood Bowl With Orchestra,” out today via his J&R Adventures label. This remarkable release captures Bonamassa’s monumental performance at the iconic Hollywood Bowl, where he was joined by a 40-piece orchestra to create an unforgettable musical experience. The album’s latest music video, “Prisoner,” is a standout track. Originally covered by Bonamassa on his 2011 “Dust Bowl” album, “Prisoner” was famously recorded by Barbra Streisand in 1978 for the film “Eyes Of Laura Mars.” This slow-burning ..read more

Amanda Fish announces the release of her third studio album, Kingdom, through VizzTone. Known for her powerful blues sound, Fish continues to impress with this latest work. Fish’s debut album, Down in the Dirt (2014), earned her the “Sean Costello Rising Star” Blues Blast Music Award. Her second release, Free, reached the Top Ten on the Billboard Blues Chart and won a 2019 Blues Music Award for Best Emerging Artist Album. Kingdom was written over six years and draws inspiration from the pandemic, social unrest, and Fish’s experiences as a new parent and frontline healthcare worker. The album ..read more