In this week’s installment of The Language of the Blues, we dig into the word “Captain”—once a title for plantation overseers, later adopted by white employers and prison wardens in the Jim Crow South. Through blues lyrics from Big Bill Broonzy to Son House, Debra Devi traces how this word carried the weight of control, resistance, and survival.
Year: 2025
Dedicated to safeguarding Albert King’s music rights and empowering youth through authentic blues education and community programs.
Blues royalty and rising stars converge in Eureka Springs for a weekend of unforgettable music starting tomorrow!
With Warren at the helm and standout performances from John Medeski, Terence Higgins, and Kevin Scott, the night delivered deep jams, emotional highs, and a crowd-lifting encore of “Soulshine.”
Live from Blues on Broadbeach, Eric Gales reflects on musical influences like B.B. King, the hunger ignited by Grammy recognition, and the deep personal meaning behind his upcoming tribute album. With dreams of collaborating with John Mayer and a fierce commitment to growth, Gales keeps pushing forward, inspiring the next generation to do the same.
Drawn from a 2009 interview, Rick Derringer candidly reckons with how he was perceived, how he saw himself, and how the blues shaped a career that refused to stay in one lane.
Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Bobby Rush offered a memorable night of music, humor, and soul in Phoenix—featuring their new album ‘Young Fashioned Ways’ and a setlist of well-loved songs. Stay tuned for our Scotland coverage in late July as the tour continues abroad!
With a voice that can shake the rafters and a story spanning seven Grammy nods, what she calls five careers, and one unforgettable life, Bettye LaVette is still singing like it’s the last song she’ll ever sing—wondering why the world’s only just catching up.
What happens when one of the UK’s finest blues singers takes on a lost Willie Dixon track? A Spoonful of magic.
Go inside the haunted heart of Bentonia blues with Ryan Lee Crosby. American Blues Scene premieres the live-to-tape video for “I’ve Been Worried,” recorded at the legendary Blue Front Cafe—and takes a deep dive with Crosby on the spirit of the style, the wisdom of Jimmy “Duck” Holmes, and the making of ‘At the Blue Front.’