Author: michelle

On Friday, June 20, Louisiana-born blues phenomenon D.K. Harrell, will release his Alligator Records debut album, Talkin’ Heavy. The guitarist, vocalist and songwriter is one of the most formidable young stars of the current blues resurgence. This Blues Music Award-winning guitarist, vocalist and songwriter has a well-earned reputation as a mesmerizing live performer. Talkin’ Heavy continually surprises with twelve instantly memorable self-penned songs filled with Harrell’s biting guitar work and authoritative, church-born vocals.

The new video for the first single from the album, “Grown Now”, premieres today. Of the song, Harrell states, “‘Grown Now’ is about remembering my days of being without. And now I’m proud and happy that I’ve overcome those hardships and I feel more responsible, taking care of business. And ladies love a man who takes care of business.”

Pre-order the new CD today! https://lnk.to/DKHarrell

ACL & Antone’s Celebrate 50 yrs of Antone’s with an ACL LIVE Blues taping on Monday, 4/28 at The Moody Theater in Austin Texas. Lil’ Ed Williams will be performing along with other Blues Greats; Jimmie Vaughan, Sue Foley, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Charlie Sexton, Big Bill Morganfield, Grace Bowers, Bobby Rush, and Lurrie Bell. These blues all-stars will be backed by an incredible 14-piece house band featuring legendary players, including ACL Hall of Famer Chris Layton, Steve Bell, Joe Sublett, and more—all under the musical direction of Zach Ernst.

“’Make It’ is a monster of a single. Parker Barrow have their own sound and, in Megan Kane, one of the hottest vocalists on the scene at the moment. I get the feeling that we are going to be hearing a lot from Nashville’s Parker Barrow (taken from Bonnie Parker & Clyde Barrow – the infamous Bonnie & Clyde) in the near future.” ~ Music News.com

“’Make it’ captures the band at their irrepressible best, laying down one hell of an addictive groove with added cowbell, all of which is guaranteed to get the audience moving. With talented singer Megan (part Warren Haynes, part Tina Turner) raising hell behind the microphone and a brilliantly soulful chorus that’ll have you singing along in no time, if ‘Make It’ is a sign of things to come, then the band are aiming high indeed.” ~ Sonic Abuse

“Parker Barrow’s new single ‘Make It’ announces itself with some very loud guitars… shaking to the decidedly Zeppelin honey-dipped swagger. Megan Kane’s gonna melt your heart with her impressive rock ‘n soul holler, especially over the female backing vocal assisted speedier wanton choruses that repeat licentiously. Put on repeat.” ~ RAMzine

“‘Make It’ is the Southern Rock shot of adrenaline we’ve been waiting for. With its hook-heavy riff, fierce vocals, and a band firing on all cylinders, this single solidifies Parker Barrow’s place at the top of the modern southern rock revival. ‘Make It’ is southern rock revivalism done right – fierce, fearless, and full of fire.” ~ Rock News

“Parker Barrow steals your heart and soul with their charged and thrilling take on bluesy Southern rock’n’roll. Megan Kane’s soulfully, expressive voice soars in over the top of the riff and lifts things to even greater heights. Her delivery is rich and full, the perfect Southern storyteller heading into a rip-roaring chorus interspersed with harmony backing vocals.” ~ Screaming Riffs

“Park Barrow’s rootsy vibe doesn’t exclusively lean on the past: there’s a vibrancy and vision about their work that takes on the very best that 2025 has to offer. Meanwhile Megan Kane’s teasing vocals are like a shot of your favourite Tennessee whiskey — hot, with a kick and leaving you wanting more.” ~ Rush on Rock, Track of the Week

“With a tingling ‘n’ clambering riff and a clanking jatter, this thrill-ride comes rushing to life with Megan’s roiling, velvety, firelit vocal.” ~ Raw Ramp

“If ‘Make It’ is anything to go by, it won’t be long before Nashville’s Parker Barrow becomes a household name on both sides of the Atlantic. The song has a driving rhythm, searing guitar riffs, and a thick Southern swagger that conjures echoes of vintage rock titans, but Parker Barrow never feels like a throwback act. ” ~ MNPR Magazine

With explosive live shows and southern-bred authenticity The Cold Stares have been rocking crowds for over a decade.  Now their latest album, The Southern Part 2, is available for pre-sale starting today!

Check out their new single “Hurting Side of Love“

“Our version of the South is different,” says Chris Tapp. “When Brian and I were young, we would sit in with these old guys at the local lodge, at the time they were still playing the old hits by Bad Company, Robin Trower, and AC/DC mixed in with country and southern rock—artists like the Allman Brothers Band and Lynyrd Skynyrd. When I heard Free’s ‘All Right Now‘ I thought they were from Georgia!”

On Friday, May 16, Alligator Records will release Truth Is, the ear-opening new album from Texas’ award-winning, guitar-slinging, straight-from-the-soul singing Carolyn Wonderland. She’s known for her formidable songwriting as much as for her singing and playing, and with Truth Is, she delivers a timeless album for these times. Truth Is will be available on CD, maroon vinyl LP and at all major streaming services.

The roof-raising first song from the album, “Sooner Or Later”, premieres today on all digital service providers. “Sometimes a melody just comes creeping out of the instrument,” Wonderland says of the song’s inception. “Maybe that’s why you gotta spend time listening to what your instrument wants to say instead of shoehorning your will on it, I suppose. The slight melancholy of the lonesome lap steel led me to the lyrics. Hard to say who’s the protagonist when you’re trying to walk in everyone’s shoes, but I felt a longing for connection with these neighbors and adversaries. Can we change when we find we are wrong? Can we make peace with the ghosts of our pasts? I guess we’ll find out sooner or later.”

Southern California rock powerhouse Robert Jon & The Wreck return with their brand-new single, “Long Gone”, a fiery, emotionally charged track co-written with the legendary John Oates (Hall & Oates) and produced by Grammy Award-winning producer Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, Rival Sons, Brandi Carlile). Now available on all major streaming platforms, “Long Gone” showcases the band’s ability to fuse raw, bluesy storytelling with the kind of soaring melodies and rock-and-roll grit that have made them a force in the modern rock landscape.

“Long Gone” is a gripping blend of blues, soul, and high-octane rock, and the latest installment in what has already been a monumental year for Robert Jon & The Wreck, following the high-energy release of
“Sittin’ Pretty” and the introspective “Ashes in the Snow”. Each single has revealed a new side of the band’s ever-evolving artistry, setting the stage for their highly anticipated new studio album this summer.

After having fun hanging with Kat Riggins and her partner, Victoria, on the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise, John Nemeth invited Riggins to join him onstage for a few songs. The sparks were flying. Later, on the flight home while listening to Robert Cray’s “Nothing But A Woman,” Nemeth was inspired to sing it as a duet, and instantly thought of Riggins as a great pairing. Touring in Florida, where Riggins lives, with his band The Blue Dreamers, presented the perfect opportunity to record it. Nemeth decided to shake things up by replacing the horns on the original version with Anne Harris on violins instead. The chemistry at the session was powerful, and in only two takes, this fabulous ode to feminal forces was completed and ready for celebrating International Women’s Day 2025!

https://john-nemeth.bandcamp.com/track/nothing-but-a-woman?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR02k_ybet6R27x1oC5_l7OnntFacdgSS5dtdb3zWdcdAyKnpwH8h-tzGFA_aem_9rMlVa-9Cy4dSLQCsnOQ7w

Intrepid Artists Int’l Wants You to Get Out & Vote for the 2025 Blues Music Award Nominees!

We especially want you to get and vote for the Artists listed below, but regardless of who you vote, for get out and vote.

Voting ends this Friday, February 28th

To cast your vote click here

*You must be an active member to vote**

Album of the Year
Fine By Me, Curtis Salgado

B.B. King Entertainer
Mr. Sipp (Castro Coleman)
Sugaray Rayford

Band of the Year
John Németh & the Blue Dreamers

Best Emerging Artist Album
Drifter, Jovin Webb

Blues Rock Album
Life is Hard, Mike Zito
Righteous Souls, Albert Castiglia

Blues Rock Artist
Albert Castiglia
Mike Zito

Contemporary Blues Album
Good Intentions Gone Bad, Chris Cain

Contemporary Blues Female Artist
Carolyn Wonderland

Contemporary Blues Male Artist
Chris Cain
Mike Zito
Mr. Sipp (Castro Coleman)

Instrumentalist – Drums
Tony Braunagel (Phantom Blues Band)

Instrumentalist – Guitar
Chris Cain

Instrumentalist – Horn
Jimmy Carpenter

Instrumentalist – Vocals
Curtis Salgado

Song of the Year
“Blues For My Dad”
performed and written by Chris Cain
“Mama, I love you”
performed by Albert Castiglia and written by Albert Castiglia, Kevin Burt, & Jerry Jemmott

Soul Blues Album
Fine By Me, Curtis Salgado
Human Decency, Sugaray Rayford

Soul Blues Female Artist
Annika Chambers

Soul Blues Male Artist
Curtis Salgado

The Swamp Blues are alive and well in Louisiana and what better source to report on the Blues than Louisiana’s very own multi-Blues Music Award-winner and Grammy nominee Kenny Neal, who’s releasing his new single, “Devil’s In The Delta”, along with his son, Micah Willis, on February 28th from Verdict Music. “Devil’s In The Delta” is being distributed by The Orchard.

If you’re a fan of gritty Swamp Blues laments that feature prominent harp and tasteful tremolos on wanky guitar, give this one a listen: but a word of caution…the Devil comes to life on this track and he’ll want to make a deal – so don’t let him!

Every once in a while a really special talent comes along that crosses all boundaries and can’t be pigeon holed into a category. That’s the case with Jovin Webb. It’s hard to define him. He can sing just about anything, from Blues to Country to Rock ‘n’ Roll. We think after listening to him you will agree that Jovin is a Generational Talent that’s gonna blow up on the music scene.

In 2020 he was a top 10 finalist on season 18 of American Idol and since then has signed a record deal with Blind Pig Records and put out an amazing debut record, Drifter, nominated for a Blues Music Award for Best Emerging Artist Debut! We question why he is not nominated for Best Contemporary Blues Album.