It will inspire you to live a more full life. Another phenomenal young playing and vocal talent that assures us guitar is in great hands. Great list well done When Rivers Meet and everyone else. With the world of contemporary blues so dominated by guitar heroes (and to a lesser extend harmonica stars) its good to be reminded how expressive a blues instrument the piano can be with the right pianist at the helm. Even at his advanced age, he needs little to no enhancement to his sound to shine. And he's evolving fast; this year's El Dorado finds him really stretching out into soul and country under the production of Dan Auerbach (opens in new tab). Wille and The Bandits A strong opening track has a way of steamrolling the listener into submission. Song Starter Kit: Milk Drunk from Milk Drunk, Love Divine from Chukka Chukka, This Sweet Life from Chukka Chukka. Having gained a sturdy online following during lockdown, the dedication of When Rivers Meets fans has recently been proven in the real world as theyve played a string of jam-packed venues on their first ever UK headline tour. Robert Cray is a name and a sound well known to any true lover of the blues. All Rights Reserved, Top 20 Blues, Rock And Roots Albums of 2020. 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. But the albums most inspirational track may be Give God the Blues, a gospel/blues hybrid that simultaneously reminds the blues listener of the genres spiritual past and takes us to the present by asserting that the ugliness of humanity does not come from above. Thats a great thing, something we are all grateful for. To anyone concerned with the current state of the blues, Whitney Shays latest release Stand Up could have been delivered with you in mind. King Size Slim Troy Redfern These are truly the greatest british blues bands of all time, since the most famous british blues artists ever are listed, and the order is decided by actual fans of the best british blues music. Review of Containment Blues A portrait of Peter Green, guitarist and co-founder of rock band Fleetwood Mac, c. 1968. Songs from the Road will make a believer of you. In times like these, its vital to get the occasional reminder of how fun the blues can be. That brings us to his latest offering Thats What I Heard. The full-voiced tenor has created an album that has its share of weaker moments, but on balance, Take Me Back is a strong work and fine introduction to the fan whod never before experienced his output. Lady Day and John Coltrane pays homage to a pair of jazz greats in the most stylish way imaginable, combing jazz and the blues with a maturity you may have forgotten was possible in the blues. Take me Back does just that. Theres attitude by the fistful in everything the band has released to date, which is perhaps unsurprising when you consider that the heavily tattooed, Telecaster-wielding Barras is an ex-MMA cage fighter. If you are a WordPress user with administrative privileges on this site, please enter your email address in the box below and click "Send". But the old adage of if it aint broke, dont fix it applies very much to this legend. His work here is tasty, emotive and, at times, downright chilling. British blues groups and artists are shown below along with any additional genres in which their music belongs. King King website. A great slice of blues rock that also has a touch of gospel here and a touch of soul there. More from the Levee is just that stunningly good. The Album sizzles most when it charges at full-speed, keeping up with rock and soul, but never leaving the blues behind. If the title track doesnt send shivers up your spine, its time to have your spine examined. A toe-tapper that puts Johnsons guitar skills on vivid display with raucous rock and roll that doesnt leave the blues behind. Joanne Shaw Taylor Please Help Keep Rock & Blues Muse Alive, Cant You See What Youre Doing To Me (Live) ft. Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Marc Broussards New Single Features Joe Bonamassa Thats What Love Will Make You Do, Review: Feed the Wolf by Miss Velvet and The Blue Wolf. An emerging talent on the UK circuit, Kyla Broxs blues is tinged with jazz, soul, funk and pop elements. The band formed in Dani Wilde, Victoria Smith, Samantha Fish 71 listeners We don't have a wiki here yet. Call it the most unpredictable and challenging year yet and our number of albums fits right in. Nice list. It was a tough year for blues its players win hearts and minds the old way, on the stage. listeners: [], As euphoric and full of joy as its title would imply, Iguanas Chicago Spectacular! { Access from your area has been temporarily limited for security reasons. The result is a kind of authenticity that smacks of hard graft and a lifelong love affair with the music. We did and love John Nemeths album. Jack Broadbent Did we forget to mention that hes Eric Claptons nephew? A member of the same post-war generation that spawned the likes of Clapton, Beck and Page, Trowers ability to dream-up and release new material has never really waned over the years, and if anything its accelerated in recent times. The albums closer, Rock and Roll for the soul is just that. Rock and Blues Muse, LLC. For your listening convenience, weve also compiled a playlist with every song mentioned in this article, which you can listen to HERE. Savoy Brown. The Greatest Entertainers Of All Time. Sure, theres humor laced in this tale, but we get the feeling Smither means it. Gary Clark Jr. Gary Clark Jr. is another player who incorporates ostensibly alien elements into the mix and yet it's still the blues. They are raw, unpolished and ragged. Pushing boundaries, Self Made Man sees sister Rebecca and Megan Lovell sourcing their American Southern heritage, with their own modern day depiction of blues-based roots/rock in the 11 tracks. Since then, his YouTube channel has amassed millions of views, hes shared The Royal Albert Halls stage with Joe Bonamassa and been invited to join the Gibson Alliance a select group of musicians chosen to help shape the future of Gibson Guitars. If you're a fan of blues and blues/rock, some of these artists you know well. The album closer, Fathers Day, is a heartwarming song that wins the listener over completely. In 2020, Robert Cray sounds as much like Robert Cray as he did in 1990. Greg, 41. Why release one album in 2020 when you can put out two? The list includes all new british blues bands, and if there are any missing on the list, you can always add them yourself. Congratulations to all of these fine rocking blues musicians! Bath 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. More than anything else, he lets his soul lead the way. 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. For anyone who suspected they were a mere novelty, The Juice provides the most vibrant evidence to the contrary. Review of El Dorado Its may take me all year to sample and listen to your recommendations! window.mc4wp.listeners.push( })(); 2023. And it's vital in bringing the blues to new ears and carrying the fire forwards. Hometown: Seattle, Washington. Thanks to missmoke007 for the video Video Website Blue Poets (blues-rock, rock band) Led by Marcus Deml. 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. If you think you have been blocked in error, contact the owner of this site for assistance. 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. The most obvious example of a timely song is Blues for George Floyd. With a self-explanatory title, it pays gentle homage to a fallen citizen and victim of ignorance who has, for deeply sad reasons, been very much in the news of late. With guest vocalists Chris Cote and Michelle Wilson, Blues Bash is as much fun as youd expect an album called Blues Bash to be. You can also read the documentation to learn about Wordfence's blocking tools, or visit wordfence.com to learn more about Wordfence. Song Starter Kit: Dead Horses from Death Valley Paradise, Hail Mary from The Divine and The Dirty, Ignite (Light It Up) from Light it Up. These artists/bands are in no particular order. His guitar playing is both tasteful and energetic and he possesses a particularly wild vibrato, no doubt modelled on that of his hero, BB King. She'll be putting that back into action with live dates in her homeland next year . And in case youre wondering, Johnny Iguana is the right pianist. } 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. All Rights Reserved, Best of British: 15 UK Blues Artists to Check Out Today. Zitos guitar work shines most on the hard-driving Dont Touch Me, but the standout track may be the closing track, What it used to be a soft and poignant ballad at a time when such a thing is desperately needed. If you enjoy our site, you can help with a small donation. On El Dorado, King is backed by Gene Chrisman, Bobby Wood, and Dave Roe. callback: cb List of good british blues bands includes a filter so you can sort by the groupss label and what albums they've put out. Although Joanne Shaw Taylor has upped sticks and taken up residence in the US, shes an artist that the Brits are very proud to call their own. 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. 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. Tinsley Ellis website, Released on KTBA Records (Joe Bonamassas record label) Blues with Friends by Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Dion, features blues/roots contemporary artists Jeff Beck, Billy Gibbons, Joe Bonamassa, Samantha Fish John Hammond Jr., Sonny Landreth Jerry and Jimmy Vivino, Joe Louis Walker, Brian Setzer, Stevie Van Zandt, Bruce Springsteen, and more. See here for Top 20 Blues, Rock & Roots Albums of 2019. The 30 best British Blues Rock albums ever By Geoff Barton, Hugh Fielder, Sian Llewellyn, Paul Henderson, Scott Rowley ( Classic Rock ) published 19 February 2019 The best British Blues Rock albums: Direct from the Delta to Dartford and beyond, the Blues turned British rock on its head 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. Fascinating Stories From Stevie Nickss Love Life, The Best Bands & Artists That Start With Y, The Greatest Pop Groups & Artists of All Time, The Best Metal Guitarists and Guitar Teams, These Poetic Geniuses Wrote Your Favorite Songs of All Time. Big riffs and anthemic choruses are very much the order of the day here. } If you enjoy our site, you can help with a small donation. Kyla Brox 4,259 votes. If ever there was a bluesman suited for a bare bones recording style, it is Rush. When two extraordinary Chicago bluesmen combine efforts, the results are predictably breathtaking. Contemporary rhythm and blues, rock and roll and funky rhythms weave their way through most songs on One Shot, brought to life by superb musicians and an electrifying vocalist. A stunning solo debut. Although not quite aged enough to qualify for legendary status in the blues world, hes established himself as a reliable presence, releasing album after album of gems. In other words they know exactly where the blues lives. Genre: Chicago blues, Electric blues & Blues; Nationality: United States of America. and "who is the greatest british blues musician ever?". British-Jamaican singer/songwriter Celeste won this year's prestigious BBC Sound of 2020 prize for her satiny soul pipes and refined instrumentals perfect for a rainy Sunday. This band packs a powerful sonic punch that could fill any room. Led by vocalist/guitarist Robert Jon Burrison, whose voice is one of the most ear-pleasing today, the band includes Andrew Espantman, Steve Maggoria, Henry James and Warren Murrel. Altogether, Stand Up compares with the best work of the late Amy Winehouse. Song Starter Kit: Bringing It Home from Bringing It Home (single), Shake a Bone from Shake a Bone, Devil Take My Soul from O2. 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. It proves that, even when steeped in a century of tradition, the blues is as fresh as this mornings snow fall. Song Starter Kit: Cant You See What Youre Doing To Me (Live) ft. Kenny Wayne Shepherd from Blues From The Heart Live, Stop Messin Round from The Blues Album, The Best Thing from Reckless Heart. Review of Aint Done Yet Tickets will be on sale in the near future at UKBlues Federation. All and all, Unemployed Highly Annoyed will do more than please you. He is the only three-time inductee. This year, they performed a similar feat, claiming three more awards, including Blues Album of the Year for 2021's Saving Grace. Have you Lost Your Mind Yet is not for those who prefer their music blues or otherwise performed in a more straightforward, conventional manner. A listen to You Make Me Feel must provoke the listener to ask why he hasnt released more. A nightmare of a virus may have given us all the blues, but as usual, our favorite genre could be relied on to help ease the pain. We tried very hard to narrow our list down to Top 20 but we could not bring ourselves to cut one more album. We do not believe there is a best or least best. Joined by long-time band mates, Pat DeSalvo and Garnet Grimm, Aint Done Yet features well-crafted tracks with catchy hooks, Simmonds smooth vocals, and a band thats as tight as it can be. 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 . Theres so much energy and life to Bernard Allison and his crew of A-list band of musicians on this album that highlights some of his best cuts from several of his albums. Another home run Martine! Colin Cooper (vocals, harp) Pete Haycock (guitar, vocals) Derek Holt (guitar) ABOUT THE AWARDS READ THE RULES THE 2023 FINALISTS NOW LIVE Elles Bailey Perhaps you didnt review John Nemeths new Stronger Than Strong album. With a voice like hers, she rocks it with soul on One Shot, produced by Jamie Evans. 25 new blues artists you need to hear! It finds her making John Mayer (opens in new tab)'s Slow Dancing In A Burning Room and Rag N' Bone Man's Human her own, alongside the new song Here Comes The Flood that's sure to transfer well when she returns to the stage. Although shes since gone on to craft a style very much of her own, the lasting effect of this early exposure to the scene can be felt in charmingly autobiographical tracks like Bluesmans Child. 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 British blues/rock duo and husband and wife, When Rivers Meet have the kind of frenetic sound that the blues needs. As admirable as Dions efforts are, his vocals, while pleasant, lack the sheer power needed to give these songs the sheer grit they deserve. So theres 22. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); (function() { One of my favorites from this year was One of Those Days by Louisanas LeRoux because it was an album that blues fans and jam band fans could enjoy together. This isnt something for a listener seeking a lightweight piece of pop fluff. Here we have a slight interloper in the ranks. It sure would be at or near the top of my personal top 20 list of albums released in 2020. 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. 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. Please Help Keep Rock & Blues Muse Alive, Marc Broussards New Single Features Joe Bonamassa Thats What Love Will Make You Do, Review: Feed the Wolf by Miss Velvet and The Blue Wolf. If you buy it, enjoy at its best, but prepare for a release that doesnt always stay there. Its often said that every blues song is basically about a good man feeling bad. Their new album, Electric Soul Machine, is a must listen. { His voice, guitar and harmonica are enough to shake you to the core. With armfuls of Blues Music Awards, Living Blues Awards and three Grammy nominations, Copeland has been praised by luminaries such as Jeff Beck and Carlos Santana. 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. This list answers the questions "who are the best british blues bands of all time?" The harmonies on this album are part of the bands signature sound, along with well-crafted songs and outstanding musicianship. 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. But What the Hell a challenge to current political/social polarization may be the albums standout track. Youre going to like what you hear. But then again, Stronger Than Strong isnt just an exercise in navel-gazing and indeed, the upbeat love ballad I Can See Your Light Shine offers the best illustration of the blues at its happiest. Peter Green (1946 - 2020) Peter Allen Greenbaum (29 October 1946 - 25 July 2020), known professionally as Peter Green, was an English blues rock singer-songwriter and guitarist. In fact it stays on its feet all the way through. Ordinary Madness may well be five-decade blues/rock survivor Walter Trouts finest recorded hour. Eric Clapton. Joe shares some of his finest blues licks (opens in new tab). 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. A master of making his instrument whisper and wail, Harley is virtually unmatched in the category of vocal guitar playing. Song Starter Kit: 12 Gauge from A Savage Life, Blues On The Bay from A Savage Life, Hell For You from Spain to Italy. Many people consider King King to be the strongest blues/rock band out there these days and Maverick proves the band is worthy of such profound praise. Veteran singer/songwriter Dion DiMucci has seen enough dramatic shifts in his careers direction to last a few lifetimes. Anything but traditional, he layers beatbox grooves with infectious vocal hooks and rowdy harmonica playing all wrapped up in a slightly maniacal (in a good way) on-stage persona. Each album is just as great as the other. The year started strong with Joe being joined by a host of talent for his Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea V cruise in February, but when COVID changed the landscape for musicians he rallied for touring players in need from loss of earnings with his Fueling Musicians program. Mark Lyon - Electric, Acoustic, Slide, Steel guitar and vocals. Review of The New World Blues You can only vote once on this list. You can click on the british blues band names to see more information about that particular notable british blues group. 109 listeners. This R&B nine piece band won the Best Live Band at the San Diego Music Awards in 2020. King, often come up. . The band includes Ehab Omran (lead vocals, acoustic guitar), Justin Young (lead guitar, vocals), Tom McCullough (drums) and Nick Frantianne (bass.) Dions latest venture, Blues with Friends, features yet another change in direction. What more could you want from a blues album? Have you lost your Mind contains elements of rock, funk, hip-hop and jazz. Songs from the Road not only packs extraordinary power, but, as its title suggests, it demonstrates his ability to transfix a crowd with scorching funk-tinged blues. 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. Think of her as a softer, more intimate Etta James. Vote for the best artists to see them graduate to the top of the list. This is double-strength blues/rock that will cure what ails you. Fresh from scooping the awards for Acoustic Blues Artist of the Year and Blues Instrumentalist of the Year at the 2022 UKBlues awards, Northern Irelands Dom Martin is very much a musician breaking into his stride. The event will be hosted by Paul Jones and will feature music from no less than 4 of the finalists in various categories of the Awards. Lincolnshires Jack Broadbent honed his craft by playing at open mic nights and busking on city streets. Keary, Song Starter Kit: Ride from Ride, Far Off Galaxy from Along The Trail Of Tears, Moonshine Blue from Moonshine Blue. This is the voice that couldnt give witness to a lie if Smither wanted it to. Everything works to some degree, but Kings vocal chops are more vividly on display when things slow down as they do on Wildflowers and Wine and the soulful One Day Shes Here.. Sugaray Rayford Review of Blacktop Run Welcome to the UK Blues Awards This is the home of the blues awards scheme created by the UK Blues Federation to give the blues community in the UK the opportunity to recognise and applaud those involved with the blues in the UK. Combining hip-hop with the blues is something a fair number of artists have dabbled in over the years, but G Love and his band Special Sauce, have made it a career for over two decades. Review of We Fly Free Just make sure they aren't already on the list and check your spelling, because this is already an accurate compilation of the best examples of british blues, as well as a good place to start if you're asking yourself, or friends, exactly how to get into british blues music. The songs that most attest to this are The high-octane Groovy Goddess and the plaintive Many Worlds.. Huge mistake to exclude Kenny Wayne Shepperd. The result is a searing collection of tunes that each carve their way into the listeners soul in a dazzlingly different way. Despite its challenges 2020 was a special one for him, where the relentless touring had to stop but Joe Bonamassa certainly didn't. Alastair Greene website, Legendary blues/rock veterans, Savoy Brown, released Aint Done Yet on Quarto Valley Records, much to fans delight. 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. Backed by the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, the result is not just superb musicianship but a fresh sound with an emphasis on groove. Christine Perfect (McVie) Keef Hartley. window.mc4wp.listeners.push( I depend on you for my Blues recommendations and will go through all these albums. Meanwhile the equally rollicking I Thought She Wouldnt Do it adds some funky drums into the mix. Put it this way, its not easy to listen to King Size Slim without breaking into an unconscious head bob or foot tap at the very least. Landreth is perhaps the most identifiable guitarist in American music and routinely melds blues, rock, swamp, and singer-songwriter DNA into one of the few truly original styles in the roots music world. Song Starter Kit: Roll With the Punches from Roll With the Punches, Mojo Fix from Mojo Fix, Blues At My Window from Money Dont Matter. Song Starter Kit: Bluesdaddy from Bluesdaddy, Never Rains from Hooks & Lines, Last Page from Something Old, Something New. #233 of 750. Charlie Musselwhite website, Alastair Greenes 2020 effort The New World Blues on Tab Benoits Whiskey Bayou Records is a stripped-down blast of live-in-the-studio blues/rock built on grit, soul, and first takes. If available, you can also see information about where all british blues bands on this list got started. These Poetic Geniuses Wrote Your Favorite Songs of All Time. 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. Nice List, but I think you are missing the latest from Song Starter Kit: The Search for Happiness from Aquarius, Take The Wheel from Aquarius EP, Lie To Me from Lie To Me (Single). Apple Pie and a .45 is the most riveting track, detailing the nightmarish recent tale of a madman who opened fire on a black church. Fatback Deluxe Style: Classic American blues Influenced by: Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker Gear: Gibson ES-335, Gibson Les Paul Pro, late 60s Ampeg AUB-1 fretless bass So it doesnt take a Gypsy soothsayer to announce this new album by guitarist and vocalist John Primer & harmonica master Bob Corritore is a top notch effort. The sound of hot valves and Strat single coils that characterised his sound early on is still very much his calling card, and its a reminder to all those starting out on the well-trodden path that cultivating your sound is far more valuable in the long run than reproducing the tones and licks of those who have come before no matter how accurately you might be able to do so. on: function(evt, cb) { Review of Maverick Song Starter Kit: Ghosts from The Fire Cosmic, Waiting for Your Love from The Fire Cosmic, John the Revelator from Island.