Billy Branch didn’t hear the blues until 18, but decades of experiences, influences, and collaborations make ‘The Blues Is My Biography’ (Nov. 7, Rosa’s Lounge Records) a fitting reflection of his life in music.

Country-rock, blues, and Zydeco collide: new releases, archival treasures, and live jams prove great music never loses its spark.

Regardless of how one celebrates Halloween, most can agree that there’s always a hint of darkness in the air at this time of year.

In this installment of Language of the Blues, author and rocker Debra Devi uncovers how the Wolof word jigen—once describing a sharp, worldly woman—evolved across continents and centuries into the modern slang chick.

Dave Specter ignites live, socially charged blues at Evanston’s SPACE.

Tommy Castro & The Painkillers turned 16 Toneladas in Valencia into a rare afternoon blues party—mixing fresh cuts from new release ‘Closer to the Bone’ with road-tested favorites.

Yates McKendree grew into the blues as naturally as breathing. A GRAMMY at 18 set the stage; his latest album, ‘Need to Know,’ reveals the heart and depth of an artist determined to keep the old-school sound alive.

Erin Harpe’s ‘Let the Mermaids Flirt with Me’ pays tribute to Mississippi John Hurt, intertwining intimate acoustic arrangements with her signature fingerstyle blues.

Tony Joe White’s 1980 album ‘The Real Thang’ returns, newly reissued under the direction of his son Jody White. The release features all eight original tracks plus 10 never-before-heard songs pulled from Tony’s personal archives — a treasure trove Jody only discovered after his father’s passing.

In this installment of The Language of the Blues, author and rocker Debra Devi highlights the checkerboard’s path from African ceremonial power to Chicago’s legendary blues corners.