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Southern Avenue showcases the soul of Memphis...they continue to evolve and inspire. They take listeners into a world filled with stories that resonate long after the last note fades....unforgettable music [and] electric performances. 
—Rolling Stone

Rootsy stripped-down Memphis soul…masterfully written songs [featuring] Tierinii Jackson's soaring vocals
—AllMusic

Inquisitive and uplifting…The band’s signature whisk of roots, blues and soul stylings lean into the spirit of Memphis [and] maintain a timelessness and soul-laden delivery not unlike The Staple Singers.
—Relix

Today, GRAMMY-nominated Memphis-based roots, blues, and soul band Southern Avenue release their new radio single, Upside. The song, available on all digital service platforms, is a featured track on the band's new Alligator Records debut album, Family. A new lyric video for Upside premieres today. Family will be released on April 25, 2025, and will be available on CD, translucent green vinyl LP and at all digital service providers.

Southern Avenue -- recently nominated for a Blues Music Award for Band Of The Year -- is unlike any other group on the scene today. The band features three Memphis-born sister singers who perfected their vocals in church before embracing their own sonic identity: lead vocalist/songwriter Tierinii Jackson backed by her two harmonizing, multi-talented musician sisters, Tikyra (TK) on vocals and drums and Ava on violin, percussion and vocals. Israel-born and bred guitarist/songwriter Ori Naftaly (who founded the band in 2015 and who is also married to Tierinii), provides funky grooves and raw Memphis guitar.

Upon release to radio, Upside instantly became one of the most added new singles on the Americana Radio Singles Chart. It is currently being supported by some of the leading NPR Music stations in the country, including WFUV-New York, Roots Radio WMOT-Nashville, WFPK- Louisville, KY and over a dozen others in its first week.

Later today, Southern Avenue celebrates the release of Upside with a live concert broadcast on NPR Music station WXPN-FM in Philadelphia at 12:00pm Eastern time. They will perform on the tastemaker station's wildly popular Free At Noon program from the stage of World Café Live.

Speaking of the song, Tierinii says “Every day’s a new chance to find your joy. Upside is all about embracing that. It's about dancing through the uncertainty, and choosing to see the beauty in every new day. It’s an anthem for moving forward, embracing change, and finding something to be grateful for—because life is too good to stay stuck.” 

According to Ori, “We all get caught up in things we can’t control—stressing over the past, worrying about the future. But this song is about the here and now. It’s a reminder to embrace each day, let go of the baggage, and choose to see the light in every moment.” 

Naftaly founded Southern Avenue in 2015, two years after arriving in Memphis to perform at the International Blues Challenge with his original band. The first time he saw Tierinii Jackson, the city’s premiere vocal powerhouse, he didn’t hesitate, saying, “I saw my entire future flash in front of me.” The two shared a few initial sessions, then TK joined on drums and Southern Avenue was born. “We’ve been a family ever since,” Tierinii says.

Southern Avenue is named after the famous street that runs through the center of Memphis, leading past the original home of Stax Records. But it was still a surprise to the band when they became the first Memphis group signed to the newly reformed Stax label, which released their self-titled debut album in 2017. In 2018 the band won the Blues Music Award for Best Emerging Artist. Their follow-up, Keep On, received a GRAMMY nomination. Constant touring has brought Southern Avenue to destinations across North America, Europe and Australia, and earned them non-stop adulation from fans, press and fellow musicians. In 2024, the band joined the Outlaw Music Festival tour, performing alongside Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp and Bob Dylan.

According to Naftaly, “Family is the story of how we found each other, held on through the highs and lows, and built something stronger than we ever imagined. It’s about the moments that test you, the people who lift you, and the belief that even through the hardest times, something beautiful is waiting on the other side.”  

        

One of Texas’ finest guitar-slingers…from blues to country to rock ‘n’ roll and beyond, she is fiery and deeply soulful.
 —Austin American Statesman 
 
Pure electricity…astonishing playing and soulful, sophisticated singing…Wonderland delivers her cleverly penned lyrics with sly joy as her guitar bites. Her passionate singing is expressive, romantic and sensual. Her solos burn and elevate the groove.
—AllMusic 
 
Carolyn Wonderland is the sound of Texas. She’s a feisty free-ranger, lassoing a variety of roof-rattling styles into her own inimitable take on twangy blues dripping with honky-tonk grease. Her vocals are a bluesy cowgirl’s dream come true.
—No Depression 
 

On Friday, May 16, Alligator Records will release Truth Is, the ear-opening new album from Texas' award-winning, guitar-slinging, straight-from-the-soul singing Carolyn Wonderland. She's known for her formidable songwriting as much for as her singing and playing, and with Truth Is, she delivers a timeless album for these times. Truth Is will be available on CD, red vinyl LP and at all major streaming services.

Truth Is was produced by legendary guitarist and songwriter Dave Alvin (producer of Wonderland’s Alligator debut, Tempting Fate), who also co-wrote four songs, three of which he plays on. Wonderland says of Alvin, “I’ve never had my ass handed to me so thoughtfully in the studio. I came in with songs and Dave took the arrangements I wasn’t married to and put on his “Mad Rearranger” hat to get to the heart of the songs, always looking for and finding something that tells the story better. Dave is amazing. He has an incredible literary mind and is one of the best guitar bashers I’ve ever met.”

The roof-raising first song from the album, Sooner Or Later, premieres today. “Sometimes a melody just comes creeping out of the instrument," Wonderland says of the song's inception. "Maybe that’s why you gotta spend time listening to what your instrument wants to say instead of shoehorning your will on it, I suppose. The slight melancholy of the lonesome lapsteel led me to the lyrics. Hard to say who’s the protagonist when you’re trying to walk in everyone’s shoes, but I felt a longing for connection with these neighbors and adversaries. Can we change when we find we are wrong? Can we make peace with the ghosts of our pasts? I guess we’ll find out sooner or later."

On Truth Is, Wonderland, with her vividly detailed, instantly memorable songs, reflects on the world with honesty and righteous conviction. Wonderland’s bold and insightful songs tell common-sense truths that, in her words, “need to be told.” They are driven by her sometimes savage and other times gently melodic guitar fingerpicking, along with her full-throated yet still vulnerable vocals. As for the album’s brutally honest subject matter, Wonderland says, “There’s always still hope and we’re here for each other, but at some point, you have to sing about the elephant in the room.”

Over the course of the album’s 12 songs – including 10 Wonderland originals and co-writes -- Wonderland and her band create lasting musical magic. From the blistering, riff-heavy battle cry I Ain’t Going Back to the emotional gut-punch of the title track, this is music that commands attention. The poignant, profound and heartbreaking Let’s Play A Game, to the swaggeringly bluesy Whistling Past The Graveyard Again (“that’s a day in the life of me and my friends,” says Wonderland), to the cathartic closer, Blues For Gene (a tribute to her late friend, piano giant Gene Taylor, with Carolyn and album producer Dave Alvin shedding tears as they were recording the track), the songs tell real and relatable stories while running the full gamut of emotions.

On Wishful Thinking Wonderland elegantly sings her Texas heart out, wringing every bit of emotion from her friend Greg Wood’s potent and reflective lyrics. Her version of The Band’s Orange Juice Blues shares the same ramshackle, going-for-broke carnival vibe of the Basement Tapes original, with Wonderland and her crew turning it all up a notch. Like every song she touches, she makes it her very own. Industry maven Bill Bentley, writing in Americana Highways, said, “Wonderland’s an astounding songwriter…and her ability to totally pull other songs into her own world is the mark of an all-timer. There are no limits to what she can do [with her] powerful vocals and whip-ass guitar playing. It’s clear she isn’t fooling around.”

Along with bassist Naj Conklin and drummer Giovanni “Nooch” Carnuccio, Wonderland is joined on Truth Is by guests including Alligator labelmate Marcia Ball and friends Shelley King, Ruthie Foster, Cindy Cashdollar (“the Girl Gang,” says Wonderland), Red Young, Bukka Allen, Kevin Lance, Henri Herbert and Stuart Sullivan. The album was recorded and mixed by Sullivan at Wire Recording in Austin, Texas.

With her dynamic guitar playing, sublime songwriting, and pure Texas vocals, Wonderland has more than earned her reputation as a fiercely independent artist. She has been performing professionally since the age of 15 and has been on the road her entire career. She’s played with icons from Townes Van Zandt to Levon Helm, from Buddy Guy to Hubert Sumlin, from Bob Dylan to John Mayall (as the first female guitar in the the iconic Blues Breakers), all while writing her own story.

With Truth Is, Carolyn Wonderland stakes her claim among the most influential roots music voices today, delivering the blues’ honest truth to all who will listen. Her courageously empowering music packs an emotional wallop, with every track on the album performed with a rare intensity that is welcoming and ultimately uplifting. “She’s something else,” Bob Dylan once said to Asleep At The Wheel's Ray Benson. “She should be nationwide.”

A leading light of the younger generation of blues artists…a tight, crispy, fully realized sound enriched by unselfconscious virtuosity. Musically adventurous... biting and exploratory leads…jubilantly raucous.
—Living Blues 

D.K. Harrell picks up the baton and carries his [music] into the future, creating formidable electric blues.
—Vintage Guitar 

D.K. Harrell stands tall. His mature musical conversations are inspiring… his voice custom-built for the blues. A funky soul stew of traditional music and contemporary lyrics.
—Blues Music Magazine 

Alligator Records is pleased to announce the signing of Louisiana-born blues phenomenon, D.K. Harrell, one of the rising young stars of the current blues resurgence. This Blues Music Award-winning guitarist with a soulman's voice plays emotion-packed original music steeped in tradition, yet completely modern. While Influenced by the blues giants of the past, the soon-to-be 27-year-old Harrell is his own man with his own bright future ahead of him. His goal is to bring the blues back to fans of his own generation. His Alligator Records debut is expected in June, produced by famed musician and studio wizard Christoffer "Kid" Andersen. 

Harrell -- with his stinging, single-note string bending, deep soul vocals, and instantly memorable original songs -- sounds like no one on the scene today. Using his many influences to create his own inimitable original music, Harrell is forging his own path. As he explains, "The past gives a blueprint that you can add yourself to. I keep progressing by keeping all the genres in the mold. Since the 1970s, there have been two dominant styles of blues, Blues-rock and Americana. But there's a third style, call it funk blues, that's all but disappeared. We play it and make it fresh." 

Harrell is thrilled to be with Alligator. "It's the main label to be on in the blues," he says. "I'm overwhelmed in a positive way. I'm a huge Hound Dog Taylor and Koko Taylor fan." He remembers, "When I was a kid maybe 15 or 16, before I really knew how to play, I sent Bruce (Iglauer, Alligator Records president and founder) some videos that were not very good. He got back to me with all kinds of encouragement, telling me to keep at it. Maybe he doesn't remember that, but I do." 
 
And Iglauer is equally thrilled to have the young bluesman on the label. "D.K. Harrell is at the forefront of the exciting new generation of blues musicians. With his elegant guitar playing and straight-from-the-soul vocals, plus his mesmerizing talent as a live entertainer, he has, in just two years, moved from being an opening act to headliner at festivals all over Europe. This year, he will appear on festival stages across the USA, cementing his position as one of today’s (and the future’s) young blues stars." 

D.K. Harrell was born D'Kieran Harrell in Ruston, Louisiana in 1998. He first heard B.B. King at age two and responded by singing along. He sang in his church choir as a boy. Blues music films like Cadillac Records and Ray made him want to sing and play. He received his first guitar at 12, and by 16 was writing his own songs, initially inspired by B.B. King. The youthful Harrell spent hours studying every video of B.B. King he could find, learning not just King's licks but his finesse, his stage craft, and his band leadership skills. His first paying gig was as an invited guest to the B.B. King Symposium in Indianola, Mississippi -- where he played The Thrill Is Gone on King's iconic guitar, Lucille -- backed by members of King's touring band. 

In 2022 Harrell won the B.B. King Of The Blues Award for Preserving Traditional Blues Heritage from the Jus' Blues Music Foundation. His debut album, The Right Man, was released on the Little Village label in 2023 to rave reviews and an instantly growing fanbase. Blues Blast magazine called him, "a prodigy destined for greatness." His massive, immediate success led him to win the prestigious Blues Music Award for Best Emerging Artist from The Blues Foundation.

Harrell has toured the U.S. and Europe multiple times, with each return visit increasing the size of his audience. People, it seems, just can't get enough of D.K. Harrell's high-energy and always unpredictable live shows. And D.K is, as he says, "hell-bent," on crossing the blues over to the next generation of fans. "We've done it before," he says of previous blues resurgences throughout the years, "I know we can do it again."

According to The Blues Roadhouse, "Harrell plays self-assured, musically astute and lyrically confident original blues. His songwriting is sharp, his vocals are strong and mature, and his guitar work is dazzling. Simmering with down-home flavor, D.K. Harrell is a major talent." 

Family Album Art And Full Track Listing Revealed Today

First Round Of Family Tour Dates Announced

Long Is The Road 3:07 Upside 5:01 Found A Friend In You 2:39              So Much Love 3:56 Family 0:41 Late Night Get Down 3:15 Rum Boogie 3:18 Gotta Keep The Love 4:06 Sisters 2:47 Kept On Moving On 0:38 Back To What Feels Right 3:37 Flying 3:23 Believe 0:48 We Are 3:46

        

Southern Avenue showcases the soul of Memphis...they continue to evolve and inspire. They take listeners into a world filled with stories that resonate long after the last note fades....unforgettable music [and] electric performances. 
—Rolling Stone

Rootsy stripped-down Memphis soul…masterfully written songs [featuring] Tierinii Jackson's soaring vocals
—AllMusic

Inquisitive and uplifting…The band’s signature whisk of roots, blues and soul stylings lean into the spirit of Memphis [and] maintain a timelessness and soul-laden delivery not unlike The Staple Singers.
—Relix

GRAMMY-nominated Memphis-based roots, blues, and soul band Southern Avenue will release their Alligator Records debut album, Family, on Friday, April 25, 2025. Today, the band has revealed the album art for Family as well as the full track listing. Family will be available on CD, translucent green vinyl LP and at all streaming services. The radio focus track, Upside, will hit the airwaves on March 10.

Southern Avenue is unlike any other band on the scene today, featuring three Memphis-born sister singers who perfected their vocals in church before embracing their own sonic identity: lead vocalist/songwriter Tierinii Jackson backed by her two harmonizing, multi-talented musician sisters, Tikyra (TK) on vocals and drums and Ava on violin. percussion and vocals. Israel-born and bred guitarist/songwriter Ori Naftaly (who is also married to Tierinii), provides funky grooves and raw Memphis guitar.

Naftaly founded Southern Avenue in 2015, two years after arriving in Memphis to perform at the International Blues Challenge with his solo band. The first time he saw Tierinii Jackson, the city’s premiere vocal powerhouse, he didn’t hesitate, saying, “I saw my entire future flash in front of me.” The two shared a few initial sessions, then TK joined on drums and Southern Avenue was born. “We’ve been a family ever since,” Tierinii says.
 
On Family, Southern Avenue’s fourth album, the band unleashes one memorable performance after another, all delivered with soul-healing power and fueled by Tierinii's soaring vocals, warm sister harmonies, Naftaly’s deeply rooted guitar playing and TK’s forceful, propulsive drumming. From triumphant opener Long Is The Road to the emotionally resonant Found A Friend In You to the raucous Rum Boogie, the songs, with their seamless blend of roots, blues and soul grooves, are stirring and original. From the irresistible Upside to the fierce determination of Flying to the closing, declarative We Are, Family reveals honest, universal truths about the unshakable power of togetherness. 
 
Family was recorded in Memphis at the famous Royal Studios (Al Green, Ann Peebles, Bruno Mars). It was produced by GRAMMY winner John Burk (Ray Charles, George Benson, Melissa Etheridge) and recorded and mixed by multi-GRAMMY-winning producer and engineer Boo Mitchell (Snoop Dogg, Bobby Rush, Cedric Burnside).

According to Naftaly, “Family is the story of how we found each other, held on through the highs and lows, and built something stronger than we ever imagined. It’s about the moments that test you, the people who lift you, and the belief that even through the hardest times, something beautiful is waiting on the other side.” 
 
As frontwoman and songwriter Tierinii Jackson explains, the music is an unbreakable bond between the musicians themselves as well as with their growing legion of fans. “Our music is our expression of life. Our songs reflect our thoughts and feelings, baring our souls. Because we write and create this music together, it bonds us as a family in a way that transcends bloodlines. When our listeners connect with our music, they become a part of our healing journey, making them family too. The bonds we share with our listeners give us a reason to keep going, to share our unapologetic truths. Our fans provide us with the safe space to be vulnerable, and for that, we are forever grateful.” 

Southern Avenue is named after the famous street that runs through the center of Memphis, leading past the original home of Stax Records. But it was still a surprise to the band when they became the first Memphis group signed to the newly reformed Stax label, which released their self-titled debut album in 2017. In 2018 the band won the Blues Music Award for Best Emerging Artist. Their follow-up, Keep On, received a GRAMMY nomination. Constant touring has brought Southern Avenue to destinations across North America, Europe and Australia, and earned them non-stop adulation from fans, press and fellow musicians. In 2024, the band joined the Outlaw Music Festival tour, performing alongside Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp and Bob Dylan.

The first single released from Family, Found A Friend In You (released in September of 2024 and featuring Luther Dickinson on bass), continues making waves at radio. The song has garnered critical praise and airplay from some of NPR Music’s most influential stations including WFUV in New York and WMOT Roots Radio in Nashville. It was the #1 most-played song on SiriusXM's Jam On channel and has remained in heavy rotation since its release. The second song released from the album, unveiled in January, was Rum Boogie, which also received a strong and supportive welcome at radio.

On February 13, NPR's Mountain Stage broadcast a live Southern Avenue performance and named the new track So Much Love as their Song Of The Week. Additionally, the group recently received a Blues Music Award nomination for Band Of The Year, marking the third time they has been nominated for this high honor.

Southern Avenue will hit the road in support of Family, with a tour that will take them all across the country and around the world. The first round of dates has just been announced.

2025 FAMILY TOUR

March 19, 2025
Live at Hub City Vinyl
Hagerstown, MD

March 21, 2025
Rams Head On Stage
Annapolis, MD

April 04, 2025
The Foundry
Athens, GA

April 05, 2025
Springing the Blues Festival
Jacksonville Beach, FL

April 10, 2025
Cervantes' Other Side
Denver, CO

April 11, 2025
The Basement at Oskar Blues
Colorado Springs, CO

April 12, 2025
"Bud Light Rocks the Boat" Free Concert Series
Steamboat Springs, CO

April 26, 2025
Bob Sykes BBQ & Blues Festival
Bessemer, AL

May 03, 2025
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
New Orleans, LA

May 10, 2025
Southern Skies Music & Whiskey Festival
Knoxville, TN

May 24, 2025
Strangecreek Campout
Greenfield, MA

June 01, 2025
Thirty-Second Annual Michael Arnone's Crawfish Fest
Augusta, NJ

June 07, 2025
Iowa City Arts Festival
Iowa City, IA

June 13, 2025
New York State Blues Festival
Syracuse, NY

June 21, 2025
Red Wing Roots Music Festival
Mount Solon, VA

Jun 22, 2025
Nelsonville Music Festival
Nelsonville, OH

July 31, 2025
Notodden Blues Festival
Notodden, NORWAY
  

Rootsy stripped-down Memphis soul…masterfully written songs [featuring] Tierinii Jackson's soaring vocals
—AllMusic 

Inquisitive and uplifting…The band’s signature whisk of roots, blues and soul stylings lean into the spirit of Memphis [and] maintain a timelessness and soul-laden delivery not unlike The Staple Singers.
—Relix

Compelling, exhilarating anthems that urge the listener to create the world in which they want to live
—No Depression 

Today, Monday, January 27, GRAMMY-nominated Memphis-based roots, blues, and soul band Southern Avenue unveil their new song, Rum Boogie.  The track tells the story of band's early days, as they navigated Memphis' fun and exciting club scene. The song is taken from Southern Avenue's forthcoming Alligator Records debut album, Family, slated for release on April 25, 2025.

Southern Avenue plays original Memphis blues, modern soul, and gospel-infused roots music that is uplifting and timeless. They are known worldwide for their positive, message-driven original songs fueled by hard-hitting grooves and electrifying guitar. The band is unlike any other on the scene today, featuring three Memphis-born sister singers who perfected their vocals in church before embracing their own sonic identity: lead vocalist/songwriter Tierinii Jackson backed by her two harmonizing musician sisters, Tikyra (TK) on drums and Ava on percussion and violin. Tierinii’s husband, Israel-born and bred guitarist/songwriter Ori Naftaly, provides funky grooves and raw Memphis guitar.

According to Tierinii, "Rum Boogie is our love letter to Memphis, the city that shaped our sound and our story. It reflects the places where we played nonstop in our first two years as a band—from the Rum Boogie on Beale Street to the old Buccaneer and DKDC clubs. This song captures the friendships and experiences that made us who we are today."
 
Naftaly adds, "In the early days, playing together in Memphis felt electric—like we were creating something bigger than ourselves. Those moments shaped our sound and strengthened our bond. Rum Boogie is a tribute to that time and the city that brought us to life."

Listen to Rum Boogie and watch the lyric video here: 

Southern Avenue is named after the famous street that runs through the center of Memphis, leading right past the original Stax Records. But it was still a surprise when they became the first Memphis band signed to the newly reformed Stax label, which released their self-titled debut album in 2017. In 2018 Southern Avenue won the Blues Music Award for Best Emerging Artist. Their follow-up, Keep On, received a GRAMMY nomination. Constant touring has brought Southern Avenue to destinations across North America, Europe and Australia, and earned them non-stop adulation from fans, press and fellow musicians. In 2024, the band joined the Outlaw Music Festival tour, performing alongside Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp and Bob Dylan.

On the band's upcoming album, Family (Southern Avenue’s fourth), they unleash one musically memorable performance after another, all delivered with soul-healing power and fueled by warm sister harmonies, Naftaly’s singular, deeply rooted guitar playing and TK’s forceful, propulsive drumming. Southern Avenue's music unveils honest, universal truths about the unshakable power of togetherness.

The first single from the album, Found A Friend In You (released in September of 2024 and featuring Luther Dickinson on bass), continues making waves at radio. The song has garnered critical praise and airplay from some of NPR Music’s most influential stations including WFUV in New York and WMOT Roots Radio in Nashville. It was the #1 most-played song on SiriusXM's Jam On channel and has remained in heavy rotation since its release. On January 24, 2025, Southern Avenue received a Blues Music Award nomination for Band Of The Year, marking the third time the group has been nominated for this high honor. 

About The Rum Boogie Video:
To create the lyric video, Southern Avenue partnered with Muze Art, a cutting edge platform that infuses a human-centered approach to AI technologies, with the goal of helping artists create compelling, personalized video content. “We are excited to work with Southern Avenue," says Muze Art Founder & CEO, Lee-Or Kabalik. "Our visions align with how we both connect music with the visual arts." 

On Friday, January 24, 2025, the Blues Foundation announced the nominees for the 46th Annual Blues Music Awards. Alligator Records artists received an astounding 27 nominations.

Leading all artists with six nominations is Rick Estrin & The Nightcats. Nominations include the coveted awards for Band Of The Year, Album Of The Year (for The Hits Keep Coming) and, for Estrin, the B.B. King Entertainer Of The Year. Guitarist Christoffer "Kid" Andersen and drummer Derrick "D'Mar" Martin received individual nominations.

Three Alligator artists -- Shemekia Copeland, Ronnie Baker Brooks and Chris Cain, received four nominations each. All three were recognized for Song Of The Year: Copeland for the title track from her GRAMMY-nominated album Blame It On Eve, Brooks for the title track of his Alligator debut, Blues In My DNA, and Cain for Blues For My Dad, from his album Good Intentions Gone Bad.

The Nick Moss Band Featuring Dennis Gruenling received two nominations: Band Of The Year and an individual nomination for bassist Rodrigo Mantovani.

Christone "Kingfish" Ingram, Tinsley Ellis, Carolyn Wonderland, Southern Avenue, Tommy Castro, Billy Branch and drummer Kenny "Beedy Eyes" Smith (of The Cash Box Kings) each received one nomination.

The 46th Annual Blues Music Awards will be held in Memphis, Tennessee on Thursday, May 8 at The Renasant Convention Center.

Click here for a full list of awards and  nominees. Alligator artists and their nominations follow: 

Rick Estrin & The Nightcats
Band Of The Year
B.B King Entertainer - Rick Estrin
Contemporary Blues Album (The Hits Keep Coming)
Instrumentalist — Harmonica: Rick Estrin
Instrumentalist — Guitar: Christoffer "Kid" Andersen
Instrumentalist — Drums: Derrick D'mar Martin 

Shemekia Copeland
B.B. King Entertainer
Album Of The Year (Blame It On Eve)
Contemporary Blues Album (Blame It On Eve)
Song Of The Year — Tough Mother, performed by Shemekia Copeland and written by John Hahn & Will Kimbrough

Ronnie Baker Brooks
Contemporary Blues Male Artist
Contemporary Blues Album (Blues In My DNA)
Song Of The Year — Blues In My DNA, performed and written by Ronnie Baker Brooks
Instrumentalist — Guitar 

Chris Cain
Contemporary Blues Male Artist 
Contemporary Blues Album (Good Intentions Gone Bad)
Song Of The Year — Blues For My Dad, performed and written by Chris Cain
Instrumentalist — Guitar

The Nick Moss Band Featuring Dennis Gruenling
Band Of The Year
Instrumentalist — Bass: Rodrigo Mantovani 

Tommy Castro & The Painkillers
Blues Rock Artist 

Southern Avenue
Band Of The Year

Christone "Kingfish" Ingram
Instrumentalist — Guitar

Carolyn Wonderland
Contemporary Blues Female Artist 

Billy Branch
Instrumentalist — Harmonica

Kenny "Beedy Eyes" Smith of The Cash Box Kings
Instrumentalist — Drums 

        

“A great artist...impassioned vocals and pure inventiveness in his stellar guitar solos…He makes playing rough feel easy.”
 —Blues Music Magazine
 
“With a sterling reputation, guitarist and vocalist Tommy Castro is one of the foremost practitioners of electric blues. Searing delivery…rousing and teeming with emotion. [He is] a sheer, soaring tour-de-force.”
—Living Blues
 
“Castro plays gritty, string-bending blues like a runaway train...a glorious blend that rocks the soul and lifts the spirits.”
—No Depression
 
"Soaring vocals and swirling leads…showcasing Castro's testifying, confessional vocals [and] resonant emotional power as a singer.”
—AllMusic

Award-winning, California-based blues and rock sensation Tommy Castro -- the guitar slinging, soul-singing leader of the telepathically tight and wildly raucous Tommy Castro & The Painkillers -- has announced the first leg of dates for the band's upcoming Closer To The Bone tour.  The new album, Closer To The Bone, is the most unvarnished, straight-ahead blues release of Castro’s career, one that bristles with every ounce of his dynamic energy and raw emotion. It will be released on Friday, February 7, 2025. According to Castro, "this is a record I've always wanted to make."

On Closer To The Bone (Castro’s 8th Alligator release), Castro and his Painkillers – bassist Randy McDonald, keyboardist Mike Emerson and drummer Bowen Brown – mix new Castro originals (Ain’t Worth The Heartache, Can’t Catch A Break, Crazy Woman Blues) with songs originally performed by many of Castro’s friends and heroes, including Johnny Nitro, Magic Slim, Ron Thompson and Mike Duke. Castro additionally chose obscure songs by Wynonie Harris, Eddie Taylor, Jimmy Nolen and Johnny “Guitar” Watson. According to Castro, “These are not the obvious artists people generally cover, and that was most definitely on purpose.”

The Closer To The Bone Tour, with newest Painkiller, drummer Stewart Burr, will kick off in Austin, Texas on February 11, followed by performances in Dallas, San Antonio, Houston and New Orleans. The band will hit the East Coast including dates in New York and Philadelphia, before heading to the Midwest. Further dates will be announced soon. 

Tommy Castro & The Painkillers Tour:
Jan 10, 2025    The Coach House, San Juan Capistrano, CA
Jan 11, 2025    Belly Up Tavern, Solana Beach, CA
Jan 12, 2025    The Venice West, Venice, CA
Jan 14, 2025    Coconino Center for the Arts, Flagstaff, AZ
Jan 15, 2025    MIM Music Theater, Phoenix, AZ
Jan 16, 2025    Palm Springs Cultural Center (with special guest Deanna Bogart),  Palm Springs, CA
Jan 17, 2025    Stage Red, Fontana, CA
Jan 18, 2025    The Siren, Morro Bay, CA
Jan 19, 2025    Moe's Alley, Santa Cruz, CA
Jan 25, 2025    The Funky Biscuit, Boca Raton, FL
Jan 26, 2025    Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise (01/26/25-02/02/25), Fort Lauderdale, FL
February 7, 2025 - Closer To The Bone album release
Feb 11, 2025    Antone's (with special guest Marcia Ball), Austin, TX
Feb 12, 2025    The Kessler Theater (with special guest Marcia Ball), Dallas, TX
Feb 13, 2025    Sam's Burger Joint (with special guest Marcia Ball), San Antonio, TX
Feb 14, 2025    The Heights Theater (with special guest Marcia Ball), Houston, TX
Feb 15, 2025    Chickie Wah Wah, New Orleans, LA
Feb 18, 2025    The Tin Pan, Richmond, VA
Feb 19, 2025    World Cafe Live, Philadelphia, PA
Feb 20, 2025    The Iridium, New York, NY
Feb 21, 2025    Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club, Portsmouth, NH
Feb 22, 2025    Shea Theater Arts Center, Turners Falls, MA
Feb 23, 2025    The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, Old Saybrook, CT
Feb 25, 2025    Funk 'n Waffles, Syracuse, NY
Feb 26, 2025    The State Theatre, State College, PA
Feb 27, 2025    Musikfest Café at the ArtsQuest Center, Bethlehem, PA
Feb 28, 2025    Moondog's, Blawnox, PA
Mar 01, 2025    Stuart's Opera House, Nelsonville, OH
Mar 02, 2025    The Southgate House Revival, Newport, KY
Mar 04, 2025    The Castle Theatre, Bloomington, IL
Mar 05, 2025    SPACE, Evanston, IL 

Castro has released 16 previous albums over the course of his four-decade career as a world-beloved, headlining touring musician. Each record mixes horn-fueled R&B, piping hot blues and soul with fiery, stripped-down rock ‘n’ roll. With Closer To The Bone, Castro has returned to his roots, delivering what he calls “a real blues record, the way they would have made them back in the day.”

Closer To The Bone was produced by master guitarist and studio wizard Christoffer “Kid” Andersen (producer of over 100 albums), at his now-famous Greaseland Studio in San Jose, California. On song after song, Tommy Castro & The Painkillers deliver one raw, inspired performance after another. Says Castro, “Here, I’m not the contemporary guy, not the rock guy, not the soul guy. This is the deeper blues side of me. I know, with these songs, I am at my most authentic.” 

        

“A great artist...impassioned vocals and pure inventiveness in his stellar guitar solos…He makes playing rough feel easy.”
 —Blues Music Magazine
 
“With a sterling reputation, guitarist and vocalist Tommy Castro is one of the foremost practitioners of electric blues. Searing delivery…rousing and teeming with emotion. [He is] a sheer, soaring tour-de-force.”
—Living Blues
 
“Castro plays gritty, string-bending blues like a runaway train...a glorious blend that rocks the soul and lifts the spirits.”
—No Depression
 
"Soaring vocals and swirling leads…showcasing Castro's testifying, confessional vocals [and] resonant emotional power as a singer.”
—AllMusic

On Friday, February 7, 2025, Alligator Records will release Closer To The Bone, the new album from award-winning, California-based blues and rock sensation Tommy Castro. Castro is the guitar slinging, soul-singing leader of the telepathically tight and wildly raucous Tommy Castro & The Painkillers. With Closer To The Bone, Castro -- the four-time Blues Music Award-winner for the B.B. King Entertainer Of The Year -- delivers what he calls, "a record I've always wanted to make." Closer To The Bone is the most unvarnished, straight-ahead blues release of Castro’s career, one that bristles with every ounce of his dynamic energy and raw emotion.

On Closer To The Bone (Castro’s 8th Alligator release), Castro and his Painkillers – bassist Randy McDonald, keyboardist Mike Emerson and drummer Bowen Brown – mix new Castro originals (Ain’t Worth The Heartache, Can’t Catch A Break, Crazy Woman Blues) with songs originally performed by many of Castro’s friends and heroes. Artists and their songs include Johnny Nitro (One More Night, on which Castro plays his treasured 1966 black Fender Stratocaster, a guitar once owned by Nitro himself), Magic Slim (Hole In The Wall), Ron Thompson (Freight Train) and Mike Duke (Keep Your Dog Inside). Castro additionally chose obscure songs by Wynonie Harris (Bloodshot Eyes), Eddie Taylor (Stroll Out West), Jimmy Nolen (The Way You Do) and Johnny “Guitar” Watson (She Moves Me). According to Castro, “These are not the obvious artists people generally cover, and that was most definitely on purpose.”

Of the album's first single, Woke Up And Smelled The Coffee (a song written by Castro's Alligator label-mate Chris Cain), Castro says, "I always liked the song. Since it's been almost 40 years since he recorded it, I thought I would do my own version. People cover B.B. King and Buddy Guy, why not Chris Cain? He’s as relevant an artist as anyone who ever played the blues."

A new video of Woke Up And Smelled The Coffee premieres today. Watch it below 

Castro has released 17 previous albums over the course of his four-decade career as a professional touring musician. Each record has its own individual sound and style, ranging from horn-fueled R&B to piping hot blues and soul to fiery, stripped-down rock ‘n’ roll. With Closer To The Bone, Castro has returned to his roots, delivering what he calls “a real blues record, the way they would have made them back in the day.”

Closer To The Bone was produced by master guitarist and studio wizard Christoffer “Kid” Andersen (producer of over 100 albums), at his now-famous Greaseland Studio in San Jose, California. On song after song, Tommy Castro & The Painkillers deliver one raw, inspired performance after another. Says Castro, “Here, I’m not the contemporary guy, not the rock guy, not the soul guy. This is the deeper blues side of me. I know, with these songs, I am at my most authentic.”

On Sunday, November 17, 2024, the National Blues Museum in St. Louis, Missouri will recognize eight-time GRAMMY-nominee and fifteen-time Blues Music Award-winning vocalist Shemekia Copeland with their prestigious 2024 Trailblazer Honor. Copeland recently received three GRAMMY Award nominations for her latest album, the sublime and powerful Blame It On Eve.

According to museum executive director Robert Nelson, "The National Blues Museum Trailblazer Honor recognizes individuals who have made an extraordinary impact on the blues genre, pushing boundaries and inspiring new generations of musicians. Shemekia Copeland is a true embodiment of a trailblazer: her distinctive voice, fearless artistry, and commitment to preserving the legacy of the Blues while evolving the genre for modern audiences make her a fitting recipient of this esteemed award. The National Blues Museum is proud to honor Shemekia Copeland’s enduring influence and to celebrate her as a leader who not only carries the torch of the Blues but also illuminates a bold path for the future."

Copeland is thrilled and humbled, saying, "I’m so proud to receiving this honor especially in St.Louis which has been home to so many wonderful blues artists.”

The National Blues Museum will host an exclusive, invitation-only, early afternoon event on Sunday, November 17th, 2024 at the Museum. Then, just prior to Shemekia's performance that evening at City Winery, 3730 Foundry Way, a ceremony will take place on stage, with Nelson and others formally presenting Copeland with her award.

Born in Harlem in 1979, Shemekia Copeland first stepped on stage with her famous father -- the legendary bluesman Johnny Copeland -- at New York’s Cotton Club when she was eight. Upon release of her Alligator Records debut Turn The Heat Up in 1998 when she was only 18, Copeland instantly became a blues and R&B force to be reckoned with. The New York Times and CNN, among many others, praised her talent, larger-than-life personality, dynamic, authoritative voice and true star power. With each subsequent release, Copeland’s fame has continued to grow, while her music has continued to evolve. According to NPR Music, "Copeland invites to you think and to party. She's an incredibly respected artist in her field…fearless in the music she takes on.”

        

“Shemekia Copeland is the greatest blues singer of her generation.” —The Washington Post

“Shemekia Copeland has established herself as one of the leading blues artists of our time. Profound and truly powerful...inviting you to think and to party.”
—NPR Music

“Shemekia Copeland gets her message across loud and clear. She transcends with a mix of styles including gospel, rock, blues, soul, and Americana, proudly representing her generation with style and grace in a voice too strong to be ignored.”
—No Depression  

"Her voice is strong and soulful, her message comes from the heart."
—Mavis Staples 

On Friday, November 8, 2024, The Recording Academy announced the nominees for the 2025 GRAMMY Awards. Shemekia Copeland received an astounding three GRAMMY Award nominations. Recognized for her latest album, Blame It On Eve, she received the nomination for Best Contemporary Blues Album. For the title track, she received nominations for Best American Roots Performance and for Best American Roots Song (written by John Hahn and Will Kimbrough).
 

Copeland, the internationally beloved vocalist who commands one of the most instantly recognizable and deeply soulful roots music voices of our time, is beyond ecstatic. “I'm thrilled to be honored this way,” she said. "Congratulations to all."

Copeland has received five previous GRAMMY nominations. She holds an astounding 15 Blues Music Awards, including the coveted B.B. King Entertainer Of The Year Award in 2021, as well as numerous Living Blues Awards, DownBeat Awards and many others. The Chicago Tribune says, "Shemekia Copeland continues to produce some of the most fearlessly truthful music on the planet."

Born in Harlem in 1979, Shemekia Copeland first stepped on stage with her famous father at New York’s Cotton Club when she was eight. Upon release of her Alligator Records debut Turn The Heat Up in 1998 when she was only 18, Copeland instantly became a blues and R&B force to be reckoned with. The New York Times and CNN, among many others, praised her talent, larger-than-life personality, dynamic, authoritative voice and true star power. With each subsequent release, Copeland’s fame has continued to grow, while her music has continued to evolve. “Shemekia Copeland is an antidote to artifice,” said The Philadelphia Inquirer. “She is a commanding presence, a powerhouse vocalist delivering the truth.”

The 67th Annual GRAMMY Awards ceremony and telecast will be held at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, CA, on February 2, 2024.

        

"In Ronnie Baker Brooks’ powerhouse hands, blues-rock never sounded so outrageous. Soul never sounded so delicious. And the blues never sounded so profound…one of today’s top live performers."
—Blues Music Magazine

"A monster guitarist with an ample supply of technique and passion"
—AllMusic

"Ronnie Baker Brooks bristles with energy, inspiration and self-confidence."
—Living Blues 

Today, Friday October 18, 2024, Chicago's own Ronnie Baker Brooks announced dates for his Blues In My DNA tour. Brooks officially kicks things off today with a celebratory hometown record release party for his brand new Alligator Records debut, Blues In My DNA. After performing on the blues cruise in the Caribbean, Brooks then hops over to Denmark before the tour takes to the East Coast, through the Midwest and south into Florida, and then to the West Coast. Many of the East Coast performances will be special double bills with Brooks' labelmate, Coco Montoya.

Additionally, today Brooks unveils his new live performance video of All True Man. The song—featured in its studio version on Blues In My DNA was written with Brooks' friend Todd Mohr of Big Head Todd And The Monsters. Brooks describes All True Man as "definitely an inspiration from my dad. And working with Todd, a great songwriter on his own, it became my own thing, and I'm thrilled to share it with everyone." 

BLUES IN MY DNA TOUR:

Oct 18, 2024 -- FitzGerald's, Berwyn, IL
Oct 19, 2024 -- The Token Lounge, Westland, MI
Oct 26, 2024 - Nov 02, 2024 -- Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise, departing from Fort Lauderdale, FL
Nov 09, 2024 -- Blues Heaven Festival, Frederikshavn, DENMARK
Nov 13, 2024 -- The Cellar at Pittsburgh Winery, Pittsburgh, PA
Nov 15, 2024 -- Tupelo Music Hall, Derry, NH, with Coco Montoya
Nov 16, 2024 -- The Iridium, New York, NY, with Coco Montoya
Nov 17, 2024 -- Jammin’ Java, Vienna, VA
Nov 18, 2024 -- Rams Head On Stage, Annapolis, MD, with Coco Montoya
Nov 19, 2024 -- Music Hall at World Cafe Live, Philadelphia, PA, with Coco Montoya
Nov 21, 2024 -- The Suffolk, Riverhead, NY, with Coco Montoya
Nov 22, 2024 -- Center for the Arts of Homer, Homer, NY, with Coco Montoya
Nov 23, 2024 -- Asbury Hall at Babeville, Buffalo, NY, with Coco Montoya
Nov 24, 2024 -- The Kent Stage, Kent, OH, with Coco Montoya
Nov 29, 2025 -- Vivarium, Milwaukee, WI, with Coco Montoya
Dec 06, 2024 -- The Castle Theatre, Bloomington, IL
Jan 22, 2025 -- Cafe Eleven, St. Augustine Beach, FL
Jan 23, 2025 -- The Funky Biscuit. Boca Raton, FL
Jan 25, 2025 -- Arts Bonita, Bonita Springs, FL
Jan 26, 2025 - February 2, 2025 -- Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise, departing from Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Feb 02, 2025 -- The Lyric Theatre, Stuart, FL
Feb 14, 2025 -- Winter Blues Festival, Des Moines, IA
Feb 15, 2025 -- Knuckleheads, Kansas City, MO
Feb 19, 2025 -- Oriental Theater, Denver, CO 
Feb 22, 2025 -- The State Room, Salt Lake City, UT
Feb 25, 2025 -- Dimitriou's Jazz Alley, Seattle, WA
Feb 26, 2025 -- Dimitriou's Jazz Alley, Seattle, WA
Feb 27, 2025 -- Alberta Rose Theatre, Portland, OR
Mar 01, 2025 -- Almost Famous Wine Company, Livermore, CA
Mar 02, 2025 -- Arena Theater, Point Arena, CA
Mar 03, 2025 -- Yoshi's, Oakland, CA
Mar 06, 2025 -- The Venice West, Venice, CA, with Coco Montoya
Mar 07, 2025 -- The Coach House, San Juan Capistrano, CA, with Coco Montoya
Apr 10, 2025 -- Tampa Bay Blues Festival's Kickoff Party. St. Petersburg, FL, at The Palladium Theater
Apr 11, 2025 -- Tampa Bay Blues Festival. St. Petersburg, FL, at Vinoy Waterfront Park 

For Ronnie Baker Brooks—son of legendary multiple GRAMMY Award nominee, Blues Hall Of Famer, and longtime Alligator Records recording star Lonnie Brooks—the process of writing songs for Blues In My DNA was as fun and exciting as playing live. “I love writing as much as performing. I love watching an idea become a song, then a song become something people can relate to, and then sing along with. And I always keep it authentic to myself. Everyone can feel it and be familiar with it. I’m here to build bridges, not walls.”

Blues In My DNA is already being hailed as an up-to-the-minute masterpiece. Blues Matters UK says the album is  “a masterful testament to Ronnie Baker Brooks’ legacy as one of modern blues most dynamic torchbearers…personal and powerful…a must listen.” The record effortlessly moves from funkified rockers to deep Memphis soul to epic, crowd-pleasing blues anthems. Produced by famed studio wizard Jim Gaines (who has produced Santana, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Lonnie Brooks, Luther Allison, and many others), Blues In My DNA is a career-defining statement from Baker Brooks, with each of the 11 original songs its own chapter in his ever-evolving story.

The new live performance video of All True Man was recorded in Chicago in July of 2024. It is the second in a series of six videos, with a new one to be released every second Friday. The upcoming schedule will be as follows: November 1, My Love Will Make You Do Right; November 15, Accept My Love; November 29, I'm Feelin' You; December 13, Stuck On Stupid.

Watch All True Man below: 

Raucous, reflective, introspective and exultant…The music is an expansive expression of 21st century Southern swamp boogie, which JJ Grey has helped to define. —Relix

JJ Grey is a shape-shifter, a marauding swamp thing big-footin’ it through his ancestral Florida homeland, splashing muddy funk in all directions. Grab hold and hang on for the ride. —No Depression

Heartfelt rhythms and soulful expositions to life’s purest pleasures…a rich Southern stew of funk, rock, and blues…Grey’s vocals are a wonder…a cure for what ails you…It’s joyous. –Americana-UK.com 

JJ Grey & Mofro have announced dates for their 2025 Olustee World Tour, with U.S. performances across Texas, the Southwest and West Coast in January 2025. The band then plays throughout Europe and the United Kingdom in February and March.

Tickets for all U.S. dates go on sale on Friday, October 11 at 10:00am local time. Artist presale begins on Wednesday, October 8 at 10:00am local time, and ends October 10 at 10:00pm local time (code: WONDERLAND). Tickets for European and UK dates are already on sale.

Released in February 2024 and produced by Grey, Olustee finds the North Florida born and bred Grey singing his personal stories with universal themes of redemption, rebirth, hard luck, and inner peace. With his music, Grey also celebrates good times with lifelong friends, often mixing the carnal with the cerebral in the very same song. Fueled by his vividly detailed, timeless originals, spun from his own life and experiences in the Northern Florida swampland, Grey’s gritty baritone drips with honest passion and testifies with a preacher’s foot-pounding fervor.

Grey, speaking of the upcoming tour, is excited to get started, saying, "Took long enough but it’s coming! Finally going to get our behinds out there to Texas, Arizona, Nevada and the West Coast to do that Olustee thang! Can’t wait!" 

2025 Olustee Tour U.S. Dates:
Jan 16 - Houston, TX at House Of Blues with Andy Frasco (Duo)
Jan 17 - Austin, TX at ACL Live at the Moody Theater with Andy Frasco (Duo)
Jan 18 - Dallas, TX at House of Blues with Andy Frasco (Duo)
Jan 19 - Fort Worth, TX at Tannahill's Tavern & Music Hall with Andy Frasco (Duo)
Jan 22 - Scottsdale, AZ at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts with Andy Frasco (Duo)
Jan 23 - Tucson, AZ at Fox Tucson Theatre with Andy Frasco (Duo)
Jan 24 - Ventura, CA at The Majestic Ventura Theater with Andy Frasco (Duo)
Jan 25 - Oakland, CA at Fox Theater with Andy Frasco (Duo)
Jan 26 - Stateline, NV at Harrah's Lake Tahoe with Andy Frasco (Duo)
Jan 29 - Salt Lake City, UT at The Depot
Jan 30 - Grand Junction, CO at Avalon Theatre
Jan 31 - Beaver Creek, CO at Vilar Performing Arts Center
Feb 1 - Denver, CO at Mission Ballroom with Lucero

2025 Olustee Tour European And UK Dates:
Feb 11 - Paris, France, Café de la Danse
Feb 12 - Brussels, Belgium, La Madeleine
Feb 14 - Worpswede, Germany, Music Hall Worpswede e.V.
Feb 15 - Groningen, Netherlands, De Oosterpoort
Feb 16 - Utrecht, Netherlands at TivoliVredenburg
Feb 18 - Aschaffenburg, Germany at Colos-Saal
Feb 19 - Hamburg, Germany at Übel & Gefährlich
Feb 20 - Copenhagen, Denmark at Hotel Cecil
Feb 22 - Stockholm, Sweden at Nalen
Feb 23 - Gothenburg, Sweden at Valand
Feb 24 - Malmö, Sweden at Babel
Feb 26 - Berlin, Germany at FRANNZ Club
Feb 27 - Prague, Czech Republic at Lucerna Music Bar
Mar 1 - Rubigen, Switzerland at Mühle Hunziken
Mar 2 - Cologne, Germany at Kantine
Mar 5 - Brighton, UK at Concorde 2
Mar 6 - London, UK at Islington Assembly
Mar 8 - Manchester, UK at Band On The Wall
Mar 9 - Glasgow, UK at Òran Mór
Mar 11 - Dublin, Ireland at Whelan's 



Media have been excitedly supporting Olustee with features, reviews, and airplay, as fans continue filling large, prestigious venues across the country and around the world. The first single from Olustee, Wonderland, became an instant Top Ten track at Americana radio, and has received airplay on a number of Sirius/XM channels, including Outlaw Country. Overseas, press and radio from countries including Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, Spain, Norway and Greece have been singing Grey's praises and eagerly awaiting his return.