The months of March and April are going to be great for releases of new contemporary blues music!! Walter Trout, one of the giants of modern blues rock, released a new recording this past Friday. And Dion, Taj Mahal, and the One Dime Band out of Boston will all issue new albums this coming Friday….can’t wait!!

Recordings Out Now – Albums

Walter Trout – Broken

By my count, this is the 25th album of new material by Walter Trout since he began his solo career in 1989. And, as happens with truly great blues and blues rock artists, he just keeps getting better as he strides through his seventies. Guest appearances by Beth Hart, Dee Snider (!!!), and Will Wilde add some spice to the recording…..mhmm…it’s a keeper!!

One Dime Band – Side Hustle

A roots and blues based duo out of Boston, this group first came to my attention with the release of their debut album, Gonna Take Time, back in 2017. Paul Gallucci’s gravely vocals and harmonica playing are a perfect mesh with the string wizardry of John Brauchler on electric and acoustic guitars, resonator, and banjo. They are backed on this recording by some great studio musicians and local area talent. Nice album to chill to when the last grasps of winter keep us inside this month.

Bex Marshall – Fortuna

This is the first new recording from Bex Marshall in 12 years. A gifted guitar player with a distinctive gritty vocal style, this recording is some perfect roadhouse blues and should help re introduce her as one of the great talents of her generation.

Dan Patlansky – Movin’ On

South African Dan Patlansky has been one of my favorite blues rockers for over a decade. He reminds me alot of Stevie Ray Vaughan on this new recording that is chocked full of some damn fine guitar licks! He has been rated one of the top guitar players on the planet and I hope this is the breakthrough recording for Dan…he deserves heaps more attention than he has gotten in the past here in North America!!

Steve Shive & the Urban Saints – Hard Bargain (EP)

Steve Shive & the Urban Saints are an indie blues group out of Pennsylvania. On this soul and R&B oriented EP, Steve (drums) gets two of my favorite artists to help out: Mickey Jr. on vocals for the entire recording and Victor Wainwright on piano on the tune You Can’t Take It When You Go….mhmm!

New Single Releases

2024 continues to be a banner year for singe releases…..hope you get a chance to check all of them out…..some blues, blues rock, and even a bit of retro acid blues!!

The Wicked Lo-Down – Toxic (Single)

Cedric Burnside – Closer (Single)

Vitor Bacalhau – Bruised and Howling (Single)

Fred Chapellier – I’d Rather Be Alone – Live (Single)

Joe Mansman and the Midnight Revival Band – Strange Ways (Single)

Lucid Evolution – The Seed (Single)

The Electric Sugar – Sugar High (Single)

Bad Temper Joe – Reinventing the Blues (Single)

Troy Redfern – The Calling (Music Video)

Due Out in March

Dion – Girl Friends (March 8th)

The Taj Mahal Swingin’ Sextet – Live at the Church in Tulsa (March 8th)

The Wicked Lo-Down – Out of Line (March 8th)

Sean Riley & the Water – Stone Cold Hands (March 8th)

Micheal van Merwyk – Blues Everywhere I Go (March 15th)

Steve Howell & the Mighty Men – 99 1/2 Won’t Do (March 15th)

The Black Crowes – Happiness Bastards (March 15th)

Rick Vito – Cadillac Man (March 22nd)

Altered Five Blues Band – Testifyin’ EP (March 22nd)

Gary Clark Jr. – JPEG Raw (March 22nd)

Shawn Kellerman – Kell’s Kitchen (March 29th)

Due Out in April

Marcus King – Mood Swings (April 5th)

Eric Bibb – Live at The Scala Theatre (April 5th)

Cedric Burnside – Hill Country Love (April 5th)

Ulrich Ellison -Vintage Salvation (April 5th)

Black Keys – Ohio Players (April 5th)

Mark Knopfler – One Deep River (April 12th)

Big Wolf Band – Rebel’s Journey (April 19th)

Judith Hill – Letters from a Black Widow (April 19th)

Upcoming releases in 2024

Joe Bonamassa – Live at the Hollywood Bowl (May 17th)

Troy Redfern – Invocation (May 17th)

Reverend Shawn Amos – Soul Brother No. 1 (In May 2024)

Joanne Shaw Taylor – Heavy Soul (June 7th)

Robert Jon & the Wreck – Red Moon Rising (June 28th)

Anthony Gomes – Praise the Loud (Sometime 2024)

Sue Foley – One Guitar Woman (Sometime 2024)