So, what are the best blues rock bands ever? In addition to the buoyant title track, stand outs include the inspirational One Thing Every Day and Beys stunningly poignant cover of John Lennons Imagine. The Georgia-born singer may be gone, but the music he left behind will undoubtedly inspire an army of future blues fans. For all his obvious skill as a songwriter, his resonant tenor rattles the soul just as much. Uncivil War is a staggeringly ambitious album and because Shemekia Copeland has the skills to see it home, it may be the years best blues album. Some amazing talent here, I cant wait to dig deeper. Congratulations to all of these fine rocking blues musicians! See here for Top 20 Blues, Rock & Roots Albums of 2019. Plan to check out We Fly Free and One Shot also. 109 listeners. Nothing complicated here, just good old fashioned blues you can shuffle to. Will Johns is one of those artists that can take all the known elements of blues and rock, understand them, respect them, and then apply his own creativity to uplift them. The Album sizzles most when it charges at full-speed, keeping up with rock and soul, but never leaving the blues behind. Hometown: Seattle, Washington. It proves that, even when steeped in a century of tradition, the blues is as fresh as this mornings snow fall. forms: { Sugaray Rayford This is as lowdown and real as it gets and is a functional cure for the plastic-hearted music we all hear far too much of. We also learn that the wounds of his upbringing, far from killing his spirit, has fueled it. She made a big. This is their first release together, but 100 years sounds as effortless and organic as something youd expect from friends with a decades-long history of collaboration. Take me Back does just that. British blues groups and artists are shown below along with any additional genres in which their music belongs. In time, it may rank as one of the very best blues songs of all time. All Rights Reserved, Top 20 Blues, Rock And Roots Albums of 2020. Robert Cray is a name and a sound well known to any true lover of the blues. It sure would be at or near the top of my personal top 20 list of albums released in 2020. Blues Artist of the Year - sponsored by Blues in the South Blues Instrumentalist of the Year - sponsored by Digital Blues callback: cb For anyone who suspected they were a mere novelty, The Juice provides the most vibrant evidence to the contrary. Review of My Blues Pathway Review of Wild and Free Fans voted in record numbers. My Blues Pathway is a celebration of the blues and blues masters. As a vibrant collection of songs, All My Dues are Paid continues to fuel it even beyond the singers passing of roughly five months ago. The classic Hellhound on my Trail gets the album off to a rousing start, but things only get richer and more alive from there. ABOUT THE AWARDS READ THE RULES THE 2023 FINALISTS NOW LIVE It seems to work every time, it rarely works better than it does here. To anyone concerned with the current state of the blues, Whitney Shays latest release Stand Up could have been delivered with you in mind. Dom Martin After all, what could be more heartbreaking than a man facing the demise of his car. Review of Last Light On The Highway My favorite on the list was Bless Your Heart. Song Starter Kit: 12 Gauge from A Savage Life, Blues On The Bay from A Savage Life, Hell For You from Spain to Italy. Troy Redfern Fleetwood Mac. Castiglia is a dominant guitarist, a strong singer, and a compelling entertainer who is creating his own legend now, in real time. ); [38] A portrait of Peter Green, guitarist and co-founder of rock band Fleetwood Mac, c. 1968. Picking standout tracks is tricky. If you buy it, enjoy at its best, but prepare for a release that doesnt always stay there. Born in the unlikely city of Paris, France at a time (1965) when the blues seemed to be in commercial decline, Bernard Allison may not have been the blues hero we were expecting, but if his latest album is any indication, hes on a mission to prove himself capable of the job. Song Starter Kit: Ride from Ride, Far Off Galaxy from Along The Trail Of Tears, Moonshine Blue from Moonshine Blue. Known as The King of Slydeco, Mississippi-born, Louisiana-reared guitar legend Sonny Landreth is the rare blues musician who truly sounds like no one else. Christine Perfect (McVie) Keef Hartley. Larkin Poe website, Southern rock and roll band Robert Jon & The Wreck have been releasing albums since the bands inception in 2011, collecting multiple awards along the way. Rock and Blues Muse, LLC. The 2020 FORM UKBlues Awards virtual presentation event took place on Sunday 17th May 2020 - and if you missed it or want to enjoy it again we have the link at the bottom of this page. When Rivers Meet website, Expanding on Marcus Kings Southern soul, rock and blues sound, El Dorado is Kings first solo album, produced by Black Keyes guitarist Dan Auerbach, out on Fantasy Records. Its a bold and beautiful set of rock music full of emotional honesty and tremendous performances by band members Alan Nimmo, Stevie Nimmo, Jonny Dyke, Zander Greenshields, and Andrew Scott. Mindi Abair & the Boneshakers (blues, blues-rock, R&B, funk, jazz) Saxophonist, singer-songwriter Video Website Josh Smith (blues, blues-rock, rock, funk, jazz) Guitarist, singer-songwriter, producer. Genre: Chicago blues, Electric blues & Blues; Nationality: United States of America. Trying to categorize it would be a waste of time. With a record-breaking number of votes from fans, from the Rock and Blues Muse Group, and our editorial staff, our faith in music fans has been reaffirmed. I purposely left off widely celebrated names such as Eric Clapton, Bonnie Raitt, Buddy Guy, John Mayall, and more. window.mc4wp.listeners.push( Song Starter Kit: Milk Drunk from Milk Drunk, Love Divine from Chukka Chukka, This Sweet Life from Chukka Chukka. Song Starter Kit: The Razors Edge from No More Worlds to Conquer, United State of Mind from United State of Mind, Tide Of Confusion from Coming Closer To The Day. A Gypsy Woman Told me is a truly stunning album. Having taken cues from the likes of John Lee Hooker and Little Feats Lowell George, his guitar playing also resonates with an untamed intensity. A master of making his instrument whisper and wail, Harley is virtually unmatched in the category of vocal guitar playing. This R&B nine piece band won the Best Live Band at the San Diego Music Awards in 2020. Its seems like only yesterday that Shemekia Copeland was hailed as a prodigy of the blues, an incipient star in a genre often neglected by those of her generation. Led by the illustrious Kim Simmonds on vocals, guitar and harmonica, Savoy Brown began in London 55 years ago and now based in New York. Martin Harley In times like these, its vital to get the occasional reminder of how fun the blues can be. All important, significant and iconic names in british blues music history deserve your votes, so make sure to choose wisely. Great list! Eric Clapton. The four-piece have managed to commit their on-stage vibrancy to record with great success, and whether youre hearing them through headphones or a cranked festival soundsystem, Wille and The Bandits make for fun listening every time. His unique blend of folk and blues could not possibly belong to anyone else and, for anyone unfamiliar with the legend, More From the Levee would be a wonderful place to start. Great list well done When Rivers Meet and everyone else. This is the blues. With a voice like hers, she rocks it with soul on One Shot, produced by Jamie Evans. Not that this blues bash ever threatens to slow down. She also used her platforms to pay it forwards with weekly showcase livestreams blues artists she's signed to her own Wild Heart Label, but we can't wait to see her back to hopefully touring properly again in 2021. Composite: Michelle Lotker/Enda Bowe Folk artists this year drew inspiration from China, south Asia and the. Their notable 2010s albums have been This is War, Love, Lust, Faith and Dreams, and America. Perhaps you didnt review John Nemeths new Stronger Than Strong album. It returns the listener to the vintage day of the blues, when all it took to get a juke joint jumping was a good man playing a great harmonica. As euphoric and full of joy as its title would imply, Iguanas Chicago Spectacular! MusicRadar is the number 1 website for music makers of all kinds, be they guitarists, drummers, keyboard players, djs or producers MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. G Loves sound isnt for everyone, but those who want their blues to go down with a side order of fun would have a hard time finding a better album than The Juice. Earns its titular exclamation point with rousing and energetic blues anthems that echo the very best of the genres piano pioneers. You can click on the british blues band names to see more information about that particular notable british blues group. } Veteran singer/songwriter Dion DiMucci has seen enough dramatic shifts in his careers direction to last a few lifetimes. Kindred Spirits may be a mixed bag for the fan of traditional blues, but for the fan ready to welcome a new approach, this album is an early Christmas present. Nearing his 80th birthday, Smithers voice shows wear, but this isnt a bad thing. Unemployment Highly Annoyed hints that The 48-year-old guitarist/vocalist isnt a happy man. Elvin Bishop website You may also want to check out Brave Rival who have just released their debut album. Sure, theres humor laced in this tale, but we get the feeling Smither means it. (HTTP response code 503). Each album is just as great as the other. English blues band, Savoy Brown has been proving this belief wrong since the mid-sixties. Still fairly new on the scene, its possible that theyll grow more consistent as time goes by. From the youngest member of the list onto, shall we say, the most experienced. If the late Frank Bey isnt familiar to you, the opening (and title) track of his final album serves as a fine introduction. Meanwhile, Hot refocuses the attention right back to Crays guitar playing as a scorching demonstration of his ability to set the fretboard ablaze. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); (function() { Especially since the bands at the top of the list will at the very least be the best choices if you're looking for a list of good british blues bands with which to start out. Megan and Rebecca Lovell on the endless possibilities of slide guitar and playing 21st-century blues. Another strong example is the dance track Sweep the Shack. Its a simple tale about a man whos eager to finish his day of work to get back into the arms of his beloved. Youre Gonna Need Me may be both the albums funniest and saddest track. Thanks to Rock & Blues Muse for including Anthony Gomes among these greats!! 41. Its a fine enough album closer to make you forget that Stronger that strong is at times a little uneven. Everybody knows the name . Their latest effort may suggest the outfit has gathered a little dust over the years. King, often come up. Far from being put on or a stylised affectation, her husky tones can be attributed in part, at least to when she contracted a serious bout of pneumonia in her childhood, resulting in her having to breathe through a tube for 17 days. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. British blues artists list, with photos, ranked best to worst by votes. Review of The New World Blues He is the only three-time inductee. Review of Blacktop Run Among the albums best tracks are the Howling Wolf cover Smokestack Lightening and the surprisingly sensitive Honey Bee, Sail on. For the Bobby Rush fan Rawer than Raw is essential. But What the Hell a challenge to current political/social polarization may be the albums standout track. This list is in no particular order. Just listen and let his sound wash over you. Namesakes Devon Allman and Duane Betts along with group members Berry Duane Oakley, Johnny Stachela, John Ginty, R Scott Bryan, and John Lum tracked it at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Alabama on two-inch tape, vintage style. The songs that most attest to this are The high-octane Groovy Goddess and the plaintive Many Worlds.. This is the voice that couldnt give witness to a lie if Smither wanted it to. 399 listeners. Nice List, but I think you are missing the latest from Song Starter Kit: Good Stuff from When the World Stood Still, One Way from Paths, Keep Your Head Up from New Breed. All the top british blues bands named on the list also have discographies on their pages if you click on the british blues band names themselves. The band formed in Dani Wilde, Victoria Smith, Samantha Fish 71 listeners We don't have a wiki here yet. Songs From The Road shows exactly why certain performances are meant to be captured live and in the moment. Page 2 of 11: The best blues guitarists of all time Intro + best rock guitarists The best blues guitarists of all time Early innovators early 1960s the British had developed a viable national music industry and began to produce adapted forms of American music in Beat music and British blues . Website Press here to watch video The Black Moods Based in Arizona, the band delivers a modern interpretation of rock and roll, a timeless sound of electric guitars, anthemic hooks and percussive stomp. There's the jazz end of the blues; folk blues; blues rock; straight forward, honest to goodness, down home blues; Chicago blues; British blues; country blues; as well as white men. With guest vocalists Chris Cote and Michelle Wilson, Blues Bash is as much fun as youd expect an album called Blues Bash to be. and "who is the greatest british blues musician ever?". It was a tough year for blues its players win hearts and minds the old way, on the stage. } Brox possesses and commands a vast vocal range and is also a highly accomplished flautist which works surprisingly well in a bluesy context. Good Times, as its title would suggest, pines for days gone by with a wistful, gentle breeze of a sound. He spent many years backing up classic rock legend Alan Parsons but Greenes time to shine on his own has most definitely arrived. And its hard to think of a more powerful opener than Bobby Rushs Shake it for Me. Nearing his 90th birthday, the Louisiana-natives voice and guitar have never sounded bolder and more vibrant. And the show-stopping closer Slide Master makes the listener wonder what a joy it must be to check Allison out live. Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE (born 30 March 1945), is an English rock and blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter. We only reviewed his new DVD, not the CD. The Blues Band was credited with kicking off a second blues boom in Britain, which by the 90s led to festivals all around the country, including The Swanage Blues Festival, The Burnley National Blues Festival, The Gloucester Blues and Heritage Festival and The Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival at Colne. Joe Bonamassa website, Grammy nominated roots/rock duo Larkin Poe released Self Made Man on their Tricki Woo Records and it rocks with powerful vocals, guitar and lap steel riffs, and a roaring rhythm section. More likely, youll be walking down the street, headphones in, and only become alerted to the fact your gaits developed an unusual slink because people have started staring at you. Blacktop Run is a much better album than it might have been years earlier. Savoy Brown. When people think of good blues rock, names of famous bands like Led Zeppelin, Cream, the Allman Brothers Band, as well as solo blues artists like the English powerhouse Eric Clapton, and American greats Stevie Ray Vaughn and B.B. Individuals [ edit] Ian A. Anderson Elles Bailey [1] Ginger Baker Long John Baldry [2] Chris Barber Norman Beaker [3] Jeff Beck [2] Duster Bennett [2] Graham Bond [2] Marcus Bonfanti [4] John Bonham [5] Geoff Bradford Jack Broadbent [6] Jack Bruce [2] Danny Bryant Eric Burdon If 2020 will be forever remembered as the year of a deadly pandemic, it can also be thought of as a year that demonstrated the undying spirit of the blues. Struggle for Grace offers the best showcase of the bluesmans pipes, demonstrating his range, his power and his warmth. List includes The Yardbirds, Eric Burdon & the Animals, more. Kyla Brox He went on to play a livestream from the Ryman in Nashville for the cause too before releasing one of his finest albums in October with Royal Tea and the 20th anniversary version of his debut. Blues infused Southern rock, the band self-produced this 11 track, all-original album thats fresh with contemporary, expansive sounds and pristine production. Here are the blues players you choose as 2020's standouts. Savoy Brown Website, Contemporary bluesman, guitarist, singer-songwriter Bernard Allison released Songs From The Road on Ruf Records. One cursory listen might lead you into thinking their sound is Southern rockthey are much more than that. 2020 Blues Albums Spotify Playlist If 2020 will be forever remembered as the year of a deadly pandemic, it can also be thought of as a year that demonstrated the undying spirit of the blues. 25 new blues artists you need to hear! Broadbents party trick is playing slide with a beat up hip flask, and it doesnt take too much imagination to figure out which creative stimulant likely played a big part in perfecting that skill. As admirable as Dions efforts are, his vocals, while pleasant, lack the sheer power needed to give these songs the sheer grit they deserve. Tickets will be on sale in the near future at UKBlues Federation. The track that grooves and swings the hardest is Aint Goin to Do It. Its the kind of song you play when the party slows down a little and needs a jolt to keep your friends from reaching for their car keys. More than anything else, he lets his soul lead the way. Remembering Fleetwood Mac Founder Peter Green, The Soulful Voice Of British Blues. The blues here can get a little gimmicky and cute from time to time, and Wainrights voice could use a greater sense of heft. { })(); 2023. The Gospel-influenced Burying Ground may be the albums best track because it reminds listeners of how much of Crays signature sound is rooted in his deep, resonant voice. Thankfully, Fletcher is happy to remind us again and again with solos that bend that mind as deftly as he bends strings. He began as a doo-op singer, peppering the pop charts with such hits as The Wanderer and Runaround Sue, then moved in the direction of folk with the 1968 smash Abraham, Martin and John.. This is very much the case with Elvin Bishop and Charlie Musselwhites deeply satisfying 100 Years of the Blues. Another of the albums standouts include Rocking in Louisiana. Fueled by a swamp-rock attack that Creedence Clearwater Revival would envoy, the track reminds us (as CCR did) that a true fondness for Louisiana blues can live in the hearts of those born and raised elsewhere. It features a good man feeling bad and sharing his anguish through both vocals and his harmonica. They are raw, unpolished and ragged. For your listening convenience, weve also compiled a playlist with every song mentioned in this article, which you can listen to HERE. Sonny Landreth website, The Allman Betts Band keeps the family flame burning brightly on 2020s Bless Your Heart on BMG Records. Heavy Mama 85 listeners Formed over 10 years ago while studying at Perth College, Heavy Mama toured across Scotland for several years, serving up a potent mix of blues, Ranking the best artists, groups, and songs of the musical form first hummed, hollered, and chanted by African Americans in the Deep South and the many subgenres that have sprouted from its roots into juke joints and playlists around the world. A great slice of blues rock that also has a touch of gospel here and a touch of soul there. Larkin Poe have developed a slide blues sound that takes classic values forward without falling down intro the retro traps so many others have. Robert Jon & The Wreck website, Slide guitar magic man Sonny Landreth lays it all on us on his 2020 record Black Top Run, a wonderful set of music released by Provogue/Mascot Label Group. His performances are passionate and intense, and while his style certainly references its delta blues roots, his delivery pulls it into the 21st century through a swamp of distortion and contemporary rock n roll aesthetics. Vote for the best artists to see them graduate to the top of the list. Anthony Gomes website, Britains own blues/rock hurricane King King dropped the bands most evolved record yet this year with Maverick, which was released on Channel 9 Records. Info-video All and all, Unemployed Highly Annoyed will do more than please you. Born Xavier Amin Dphrepaulezz in an orthodox muslim household, the eccentric artist whose stage name is Fantastic Negrito has a sound and musical approach all his own. Youre going to like what you hear. The same could be said of Watch Your Back, a darker form of satire than Zombies, but also clever and salient enough to the album the color it needs. Captured live at a packed music club in Germany, this live set is a raw and real set of blues mixed with rock, R&B, jazz and funk from Allisons collection since he began his solo career in the 1990s. 8. Foster soars above her own lofty standards with the big band behind her and showcases the finest female voice in todays roots music scene. A recent inductee into the Blues Hall of Fame, Bettye Lavettes name may not be as familiar to some as other greats, but make no mistake, this blueswoman is deserving of the highest praise available. When two time-tested veterans of the blues world combine forces, the results are often explosive, brilliant and reliably enjoyable. Despite the pandemic, 2020 brought so many outstanding blues, rock and roots albums. The name says it all. Wille and The Bandits Elles Bailey His work here is tasty, emotive and, at times, downright chilling. Walter Trout website, Guitar Superman Joe Bonamassa pays tribute to his British blues/rock heroes Jeff Beck, John Mayall and The Bluesbreakers, Eric Clapton, Led Zeppelin, and Cream on his epically cool record Royal Tea. King, Mick Jagger, Elton John, Joe Bonamassa, Jimmy Thackery, Tinsley Ellis, Kenny Neal, Lucky Peterson, Matt "Guitar" Murphy, Johnny "Clyde" Copeland, Double Trouble, Joanna Connor, Kim Simmonds, and more. In 2020, Robert Cray sounds as much like Robert Cray as he did in 1990. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, But somehow Zitos blues make us feel better. But the musicians who stood out for you still found a way to reach people in the pandemic with standout albums and performances. Son of Dave, or Benjamin Darvill as his mother named him, in fact hails from Winnipeg, Canada. Whether hes playing solo with nothing but his lungs and a road worn Resophonic guitar for amplification or backed by the slightly unusual arrangement of a double bassist and a duo of percussionists, the King Size Slim sound is all about rhythm and groove. The list includes all new british blues bands, and if there are any missing on the list, you can always add them yourself. Platypus Dipster may be the albums best track and the strangest. At just 17 years old, Toby Lee has already packed tonnes into his musical career. Along the way there was another Epiphone signature model, producing Eric Gales' forthcoming studio album, a film about his own remarkable career and Joe has even reversed roles to great effect interviewing his peers in the Live From Nerdville series (check it out here (opens in new tab) it's great). 40 years in the blues business have only made Ellis better and more eloquent, which rocks because he obviously still has a lot to say. And the albums other highlight is the soft, slow Rambling Blues. Much more than a platform of musical skills, this album reminds us how dark, dangerous and reckless the genre can become when done right. We know that the fans have been and are keeping the music we love alive and that theyll be there ready to jam when the pandemic has been contained and we can gather safely again. Shemekia Copeland website, British blues/rock duo, When Rivers Meet is made up of husband and wife outfit, Grace and Aaron Bond. Rise up features other demonstrations of this bands ability to revive the past, recognize the present and brace for an uncertain future.