Year: 2015

There was no shortage of controversy surrounding Bessie Smith’s interaction with her record label. Find the fascinating, hidden decades-long fight over the Empress of the Blues’ music, some of the most powerful in blues history.

Kokomo Arnold’s birth, Find out something new about the celebrated Chicago blues genius Magic Sam, and much more!

Ellis has always delivered on the promise of music that has passion and heart. Ellis is the real deal, and always has been. Tough Love is his best work to date …

Young Will Shade was a Memphis-born musician who played a bunch of instruments. A serious harmonica player. He’d been dabbling for a while when he heard a recording of a new type of music by a group called the Dixieland Jug Blowers. Hearing that, Will knew he could make a living by rustling up some street musicians from his hometown. And so the Memphis Jug Band was born…

As a kid, Elmore James taught himself to play guitar by stringing up a broom wire on the side of his house. Fitting, that a broom wire would be the origin of what some say is the most recognizable lick in the blues…

This is really gratifying blues. Hatfield’s band is in top form, delivering on track after track, and his vocals are the icing on the cake.

It was a drama-filled Finals at the Orpheum, with twists, turns and surprises! The finalists were some of the most ferocious performers to hit the Orpheum stage in years!

This is not the official list yet, but here’s what’s coming from the runners. We’ll update as we can!  Betty…

This week in blues features Blues Brother “Joilet” Jake, Sleepy John Estes, and a huge move for B.B. King’s record collection, not to mention some giant music birthdays!

“I’m excited about what could happen in 2015,” says Josh Hoyer of the Shadowboxers. Nebraska is not a state normally associated with soul and funk music, but then talent as deep as Josh Hoyer’s is a rare find.