Two decades after the VFW shows and suburban battle-of-the-bands, the bands that soundtracked a coming-of-age brought the same scrappy charm, and a little more wisdom, to Summerfest 2025.

American Blues Scene brings you a massive exclusive gallery and full recap of the 2025 Chicago Blues Festival—from the Ramova Theater kickoff to Kingfish’s electrifying Saturday-night finale.

Influenced by author George Saunders’ philosophy—“If it’s not fun, don’t do it”—Scheffler embraced a new creative rhythm and rediscovered his voice after two decades away from music.

In this concert review from the 2025 Dave Koz & Friends at Sea cruise, Jonathan Butler’s Uplifted: Gospel at Sea show brings powerful gospel performances, smooth jazz stars, and heartfelt testimony to the World Stage aboard Holland America’s Rotterdam.

With unflinching honesty and poetic force, Ruth Lyon’s debut album, ‘Poems & Non-Fiction’ is a soul-searching odyssey through heartbreak, disability, identity, and resilience. Set to haunting strings, jazz-tinged brass, and intimate piano, Lyon weaves personal pain into songs that confront silence, celebrate survival, and find fierce beauty in imperfection.

Jorma Kaukonen brought his quietly profound presence to Rochester, offering an evening of stripped-down, soul-deep music with longtime friend and collaborator John Hurlbut. Together, they summoned the spirit of Fur Peace Ranch—storytelling through strings, memory through melody.

A lost chapter of Florida music history comes alive through a 25-track journey into Tampa Bay’s mid-century R&B and blues underground.

Joanne Shaw Taylor’s ‘Black & Gold’ explores desire, doubt, and the sting of letting go—woven tightly with a rich blues pulse that grounds every heartfelt confession.

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.”

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!

What happens when one of the UK’s finest blues singers takes on a lost Willie Dixon track? A Spoonful of magic.

Rebecca Downes continues to impress with her latest single “These Days,” the first from her upcoming album due October 2025. Rebecca—an independent artist and mentor—pushes blues-rock forward with co-writer Steve Birkett and her band. The striking video, filmed at a disused Greek railway, illuminates her artistic vision beyond industry norms.