News

 
“Brawny shuffles, swinging horns, searing guitar, passionate vocals and balls-to-the-wall enthusiasm” —Living Blues
 
“Jubilant, jazzy R&B...boisterous horn-propelled magnificence...infectiously joyous spirit” —Blues Music Magazine 

Roomful Of Blues, the world-renowned, horn-fueled blues band, has announced changes to their houserocking line-up. Powerful veteran vocalist DD Bastos joins Roomful Of Blues as the new featured vocalist. DD is a dynamic singer with a deep background in blues, swing and rock 'n' roll, and the leader of New England-based band, DD & The Road Kings. Bastos is also a Choral Director for the New Bedford, MA public school system, with 20-plus years as a private music teacher.

Says Bastos, "I’m excited, happy and grateful for the opportunity to work with Roomful Of Blues. The fact that they are a part of the Alligator Records family of blues artists is a thrill for me, since some of my all-time favorite blues artists made their home at Alligator."

Bastos replaces fan favorite Phil Pemberton, whose health is currently keeping him off the road. Pemberton has been with Roomful Of Blues for 15 years and is the featured singer on their three latest Alligator recordings: Hook Line And Sinker, 45 Live and In A Roomful Of Blues.

According to a statement released by the band, Pemberton's contributions are immeasurable. "Phil is a world-class vocalist and has been a key band member since 2009. He has toured the world with Roomful Of Blues and has been on our last three Alligator releases. Many of our fans are already aware that Phil has been struggling with health issues during the past year and a half. He is now taking some time off and is working very hard to return to full health. We’re wishing Phil a speedy recovery and many thanks for all his accomplishments with us."

In other band news, new keyboardist Jeff Ceasrine takes the place of Rusty Scott. Ceasrine is known as one of the best musicians in New England and has sat in occasionally with Roomful Of Blues since 2008. According to bandleader/guitarist Chris Vachon, "Jeff is a natural to take over where Rusty Scott left off."
 

With the addition of Bastos and Ceasrine, the current line-up of the Rhode Island-based Roomful Of Blues is guitarist Vachon, tenor and alto saxophonist Rich Lataille, baritone and tenor saxophonist Alek Razdan, trumpeter Carl “Geerz” Gerhard, bassist John Turner and drummer Mike Coffey.

Roomful Of Blues continues to be one of the tightest, most joyful blues ensembles in the world. The Rhode Island-based group has been delighting audiences for over 50 years. The group has earned five GRAMMY Award nominations and a slew of other accolades, including seven Blues Music Awards. The prestigious DownBeat International Critics Poll twice selected them as Best Blues Band.

The band’s latest album is 2020's In A Roomful Of Blues, their sixth release on Alligator Records (and 19th overall). Filled with soaring blues, zydeco twists, late-night ballads, Latin-tinged funk and a touch of vintage, fifth-gear rock ‘n’ roll, the album continues to delight and excite fans, critics and radio programmers across the country and around the world.

HISTORY:
Roomful Of Blues began in 1967 when a group of southern Rhode Island teenagers with a shared passion for the blues formed a straight-ahead Chicago-style electric blues band to explore the music of their heroes. They added a horn section (including Rich Lataille) in 1970 and released their self-titled debut album in 1977 on Island Records (reissued on Hyena Records), which brought them to the attention of fans and critics from coast to coast. The band has performed in cities around the world, traveling abroad to 22 countries including Lebanon, Poland, Spain, Italy, France, Portugal, Switzerland, Turkey and Russia. The New Yorker says the band brings “thunderous performances that get feet stomping and hands clapping.”

Vachon first joined Roomful in 1990 and has been leading the band since 1998. Guitar Player says Vachon’s guitar playing “burns with explosive solos and a delightfully greasy sense of rhythm.” The band has maintained its signature sound through great musicianship and a stellar horn section, featuring Lataille, whose masterful playing can evoke either the fat-toned, honking sax of the glory days of early rock or the cool elegance of big band swing jazz.
 
While keenly aware of the group’s half century of history, Vachon is quick to note that they are constantly looking forward. “We always keep things fresh, and we keep the excitement level high. Playing this music is an immense amount of fun for us,” he says. “And it’s just as much fun for our audience.”

        

“Chris Cain is the most important blues player you need to hear. Marvelous and irresistible...Cain brings an indelible touch and resonance to the blues, combining down-home sentiment with uptown feel. He unleashes unadulterated fretboard genius.”
–Vintage Guitar 
 
“A heady stew of Memphis-styled, rough-and-tumble electric blues. Potent guitar work and rough, lived-in vocals are edge-of-your-seat stuff. Cain’s exceptional original songs relentlessly reveal startling hooks and riffs amidst a wash of piercing, razor-sharp guitar.”
–Blues & Rhythm

“Chris Cain is one of the most brilliant and vital figures making music of any kind...He’s near legendary on the blues scene...an extraordinarily talented, consummate musician delivering passionate, heartfelt vocals, potent, superb playing and marvelous songs.”
–Blues Music Magazine   

On Friday, July 19, 2024, Alligator Records will release Good Intentions Gone Bad, the first release in three years from award-winning guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Chris Cain. Good Intentions Gone Bad is Cain's second Alligator album, and the 16th of his career. It will be available on CD, red vinyl LP, and at all digital services.

On Good Intentions Gone Bad, Cain delivers thirteen lyrically fresh original songs, seven of which add a swinging horn section to the mix. The album was produced by Christoffer “Kid” Andersen (of Rick Estrin & The Nightcats) at his famous Greaseland USA studio in San Jose, California. Good Intentions Gone Bad is, Cain says, “the best album I’ve ever made, thanks to Kid.” With Cain leading the charge on guitar, the band delivers top-shelf performances on every track. From the humorous, true-to-life title track to the epic, slow-burning Waiting For The Sun To Rise to the Memphis soul-inspired Thankful (featuring a shared vocal with Cain’s labelmate, Tommy Castro), the new album finds Cain operating at the absolute peak of his powers, with Andersen pushing him to new heights every step of the way.

With more than three decades of touring and fifteen previous albums under his belt, Cain, once known as one of the greatest guitarists you’ve never heard, is now celebrated by fans and fellow musicians alike as being among the blues’ most talented and exciting players. His original songs overflow with surprising hooks and feature razor-sharp lyrics that are moving and humorously insightful. With his powerful, soul man’s voice and his inventive guitar work—inspired by Grant Green and Wes Montgomery as much as by B.B. King and Albert King—Cain’s talents are unparalleled in the blues world. Living Blues says Cain is currently “turning out the best work of his career.”

“I’m so proud of this record,” says Cain. “I know I’ve never sung or played better. Kid’s ideas, the vibe he created...he makes you better while having a great time. This album is the logical next step after (his debut Alligator release) Raisin’ Cain. Everything I hoped for doubled.” 

Today, Monday, May 18, Cain premieres the new video for his original song, Fear Is My New Roommate. Watch below

Chris Cain was born in San Jose, California in 1955. His parents were huge music fans and shared their love of blues, jazz and popular songs with Chris. His African American father and Greek mother had a huge, shared record collection, which fascinated Chris from an early age. Chris was three years old when his father first took him to see B.B. King. His father gave him his first guitar at age eight and Chris learned lick after lick, song after song. He’d listen to his father’s records over and over until the music had seeped into his soul.

Cain formed his first band in 1986, and, in hopes of getting more gigs, released his first album, Late Night City Blues, on the locally-based Blue Rock’It label. Almost immediately, everything changed. Booking agents came calling and Chris began touring Europe. The album received four W.C. Handy Award nominations (now the Blues Music Awards) and the offers to perform kept rolling in.

With his 2021 Alligator Records debut album, Raisin’ Cain, Cain’s star began to rise even higher. Press, radio and the public all agreed that Cain was, as Blues Rock Review stated, “a classic, sophisticated, soulful virtuoso...He seamlessly combines blues, jazz, funk, and soul.” Cain received four 2022 Blues Music Award nominations, including for Album Of The Year and Best Guitarist. 
 
On his recordings and on stage, Cain plays his beloved Gibson ES 335 guitar named Melba that he’s had since 1990, and plugs it into his equally beloved Music Man RD 112 amp that he’s had since 1987. Melba, well known among Cain’s most ardent fans, is prominently featured in the new book, Gibson ES Believers, part of the Vic DuPra Believers Series. 

Cain has toured all over North America and made repeated trips around the world. He’s performed at the Chicago Blues Festival, The Doheny Blues Festival, The Philadelphia Blues Festival, The Waterfront Blues Festival in Portland, and many others. He’s played concerts and festivals (and often taught workshops) in Argentina, Uruguay, Italy, Spain, France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, Ukraine, and more.

Now, with Good Intentions Gone Bad, Cain will find his largest audience yet, as his good musical intentions continue to pay off. According to Kid Andersen, there’s no better blues player working today. “Chris Cain is the rarity whose blues prowess is so undeniable that he has gained everyone’s approval. Ask any of your favorite guitar players who they think are the greatest living masters of the instrument, chances are they will all have Chris Cain at the very top of their list.” 

On Thursday, May 9, 2024, the Blues Foundation announced the winners of the 45th Annual Blues Music Awards. Alligator Records artists received a total of six awards.

Leading all artists with four Awards is GRAMMY Award-winning artist Christone "Kingfish" Ingram, who won Album Of The Year and Contemporary Blues Album Of The Year (for the GRAMMY-nominated Live In London), Contemporary Blues Male Artist Of The Year and Best Instrumentalist -- Guitar. Kingfish has now won a total of 13 Blues Music Awards since his 2019 self-titled debut.

Chicago's Nick Moss Band Featuring Dennis Gruenling won the coveted Band Of The Year award. This is the second time the band has won this prestigious honor.

The Cash Box Kings' Kenny "Beedy Eyes" Smith won for Best Instrumentalist - Drums.

The 45th Annual Blues Music Awards ceremony were held in Memphis, Tennessee on Thursday, May 9 at The Renasant Convention Center.

Alligator artists and their 2024 Blues Music Awards follow:  

Band Of The Year

Album Of The Year (Live In London)
Contemporary Blues Album Of The Year (Live In London)
Contemporary Blues Male Artist Of The Year
Best Instrumentalist -- Guitar 

Best Instrumentalist -- Drums (Kenny "Beedy Eyes" Smith) 

Living Blues magazine, in its May/June 2024 issue, announced the nominees for the 2024 Living Blues Awards. This year, ten Alligator artists received a total of sixteen nominations. Leading all nominated artists with four is GRAMMY Award-winning guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Christone "Kingfish" Ingram, who was nominated for Blues Artist Of The Year (Male), Best Blues Album (for Live In London), Best Live Performer and Most Outstanding Musician (Guitar).

Award-winning vocalist Shemekia Copeland received three nominations in the Blues Artist Of The Year, Most Outstanding Blues Singer and Best Live Performer categories.

Visionary Florida bluesman Selwyn Birchwood received two nominations: Best Blues Album (for Exorcist) and Best Live Performer.

Blues icon Charlie Musselwhite, Texas pianist/vocalist Marcia Ball, harmonica giants Rick Estrin (of Rick Estrin & The Nightcats) and Billy Branch, Chicago blues masters The NIck Moss Band Featuring Dennis Gruenling, legendary blues ensemble The Cash Box Kings, and deep blues vocalist Oscar Wilson (of The Cash Box Kings) each received one nomination.

Living Blues fans may vote with the Readers' Ballot, available at www.livingblues.com by June 15, 2024. Alligator artists and their nominations follow:   

Blues Artist Of The Year (Male)
Best Blues Album of 2023 (Live In London)
Best Live Performer
Most Outstanding Musician (Guitar)

Blues Artist Of The Year (Female)
Most Outstanding Blues Singer
Best Live Performer

Best Blues Album Of 2023 (Exorcist)
Best Live Performer  

Most Outstanding Musician (Harmonica) 

Most Outstanding Musician (Keyboards)

Most Outstanding Musician (Harmonica) 

Most Outstanding Musician (Harmonica)  

Best Blues Album Of 2023 (Get Your Back Into It!) 

Best Blues Album Of 2023 (Oscar's Motel)
Oscar Wilson - Most Outstanding Blues Singer 

Celebrated musician and passionate conservationist JJ Grey, whose new album Olustee is being hailed as the best of his career, is joining forces with the Live Wildly Foundation to champion the protection of Florida's wild spaces. This collaboration is a vital part of Live Wildly’s mission to balance Florida's ecology with its economy, ensuring the preservation of the state's rich natural heritage. Grey is a Jacksonville, Florida native, whose passionately soulful, swampy, funk-filled music often reflects his deep connection to the region's landscapes and waterways,

In his music, Grey often writes and sings of his love and respect for Florida's natural environment. Now, Grey is putting his passion for the environment into greater action. As the spokesperson for Live Wildly's 'Join the Movement' campaign, Grey will play a pivotal role in advocating for the connection and protection of Florida's wild places.
 
"Florida holds a special place in my heart, and I am deeply passionate about protecting its wild spaces for future generations," says Grey. "Through this partnership with Live Wildly, I am honored to join forces with like-minded individuals and organizations to ensure that our state's natural heritage remains intact in the face of rapid growth and development."
 
To further highlight this partnership, JJ Grey has announced his collaboration with Live Wildly ahead of his "Blackwater Sol Revue," a two-night concert event at The St. Augustine Amphitheatre on May 25 and May 26. Grey’s “Blackwater Sol Revue” will also feature an impressive slate of artists including Lucero, The Allman Betts Band, American Aquarium, G. Love & Special Sauce, and more. These performances not only promise to bring Grey’s soulful blend of rock, blues, and funk to his fans but also serve as a rallying point for community involvement in conservation efforts.

Live Wildly's 'Join the Movement' campaign includes a pledge for individuals to actively support conservation efforts. For every new member who joins, Live Wildly will donate a dollar to land conservation in Florida, aiming to protect the Florida Wildlife Corridor. The Florida Wildlife Corridor stretches over 18 million acres from the Panhandle to the Everglades. It is home to many of Florida’s 131 imperiled species and contributes $30 billion annually to the state’s economy through recreation, agriculture, and other industries, but only about half of the Corridor is protected. Live Wildly is working with partners to protect all the Wildlife Corridor to keep lands and waters connected, healthy, and productive across the state.
 
"We are thrilled to partner with JJ Grey as we work to preserve Florida's iconic natural areas," said Lisa Shipley, CEO of Live Wildly. "One of the first steps in this movement is to protect the Florida Wildlife Corridor. We look forward to working with JJ Grey to help all Floridians discover their personal connection to nature and the important role these lands and waters play in their daily lives.”
 
As part of their joint efforts, JJ Grey and Live Wildly will undertake a variety of initiatives, including educational outreach and grassroots advocacy, aimed at raising conservation awareness. Together, these efforts are designed to ensure that Florida's natural resources are valued and preserved, despite the pressures of ongoing development, benefiting everyone living in, and visiting, the Sunshine State.
 
For more information about JJ Grey and Live Wildly's partnership and the 'Join the Movement' campaign, visit www.livewildly.com/join-the-movement.
 
For tickets to JJ Grey’s Blackwater Sol Revue at The St. Augustine Amphitheatre on May 25 & 26, visit: https://www.theamp.com/events/detail/jj-grey-2024.
 
About JJ Grey:
JJ Grey is a critically acclaimed musician known for his soulful blend of Southern rock, blues, and funk. Hailing from north Florida, Grey's music reflects his deep connection to the land and waterways of his home state. In addition to his musical career, Grey is an outspoken advocate for environmental conservation, with a particular focus on protecting Florida's wild spaces.
 
About Live Wildly:
Live Wildly is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving Florida's natural landscapes and wildlife. Through advocacy, education, and community engagement, Live Wildly works to raise awareness about the importance of conservation and empower individuals to take action to protect the environment. The organization is committed to safeguarding Florida's rich biodiversity and ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.
 
About The St. Augustine Amphitheatre:
The St. Augustine Amphitheatre is managed and operated by SJC Cultural Events, Inc. (SJCCE), a nonprofit organization committed to enriching St. Johns County and engaging music enthusiasts worldwide through authentic cultural programming. Located on Anastasia Island, just half a mile from the beach and a short bridge crossing from downtown St. Augustine, the Amphitheatre is surrounded by the lush landscape of Anastasia State Park. With nearly 5,000 seats, it offers an intimate and scenic concert experience for all attendees. 

The City of Chicago will host the 2024 Chicago Blues Festival Thursday, June 6 through Sunday, June 9, taking place as part of Millennium Park’s milestone 20th anniversary season. Alligator Records stars Shemekia Copeland and Ronnie Baker Brooks will give a special opening night performance at the historic Ramova Theatre, 3520 S. Halsted St., in Chicago's Bridgeport neighborhood on Thursday, June 6. The opening night performance on Thursday, June 6 is free with online RSVP, which will go live Wednesday, May 1.

In addition to the opening night performance,  Alligator Records Artists The Nick Moss Band will join Louisiana bluesman Lil' Jimmy Reed and pianist Ben Levin on the Rosa’s Lounge (North Promenade) Stage on Friday, June 7. GRAMMY-nominated, Memphis-based roots, blues and soul band Southern Avenue, recently signed to Alligator Records, will headline the Jay Pritzker Pavilion Stage on Saturday, June 8.  The Cash Box Kings will perform on the Jay Pritzker Pavilion Stage on Sunday, June 9.

For more information, visit ChicagoBluesFestival.us or follow on Facebook (@ChicagoBluesFestival), Instagram (@ChicagoDCASE), (@Millennium_Park); or X/Twitter (@Millennium_Park) or (@ChicagoDCASE). Sign up for the DCASE Newsletter to receive monthly updates and event information. 

  

SHEMEKIA COPELAND
Award-winning, multi-GRAMMY Award-nominated blues, soul and Americana singer Shemekia Copeland possesses one of the most instantly recognizable and deeply soulful roots music voices of our time. She is beloved worldwide for the fearlessness, honesty and humor of her revelatory music, as well as for delivering each song she performs with unmatched passion. Copeland connects with her audience on an intensely personal level, taking them with her on what The Wall Street Journal calls “a consequential ride” of “bold and timely blues.” Look for a new Shemekia Copeland album later this year.

RONNIE BAKER BROOKS
Ronnie Baker Brooks was born in 1967 in Chicago, first playing guitar with his famous father onstage at age nine. Having joined his father's band full time after graduating high school, Ronnie made his recording debut on Lonnie Brooks' Live From Chicago: Bayou Lightning Strikes album in 1988. In 1991, he hit the road as part of The Alligator Records 20th Anniversary Tour band, backing Lonnie, Elvin Bishop, and Katie Webster. Ronnie performed with his father for 12 years, gaining valuable experience and sharing stages with such notables as Eric Clapton, B.B. King and Buddy Guy, among many others. His Alligator Records debut will be released in 2024.

NICK MOSS
Nick Moss is a towering figure in today’s blues world. He’s a guitarist who can play from subtle to searing, as well as a gifted singer and songwriter. He toured with, and was mentored by, 1950s blues titan Jimmy Rogers, and played in the bands of harpist/singer Willie “Big Eyes” Smith and West Side guitar hero Jimmy Dawkins. Nick has led his own band since 1997, cutting a dozen albums that range from traditional Chicago blues to hard-rocking guitar explorations. Moss’ latest Alligator Records release is Get Your Back Into It! by The Nick Moss Band featuring Dennis Gruenling. Moss, Gruenling and the band are five-time Blues Music Award recipients, including Band Of The Year.  

SOUTHERN AVENUIE
GRAMMY-nominated Memphis-based roots, blues and soul band Southern Avenue are known for their positive, message-driven original songs and their melting-pot mix of Memphis blues and soul. The dynamic collective, more a family than a band, showcases the jaw-dropping talents of Memphis born-and-raised sisters -- lead vocalist/songwriter Tierinii Jackson, drummer/vocalist Tikyra "TK" Jackson and percussionist/violinist/vocalist Ava Jackson -- along with endlessly creative Israel-born guitarist/songwriter Ori Naftaly and keyboardist Jeremy Powell. Tierinii's lyrics are defiant and straightforward, her mesmerizing vocals effortlessly moving from an emotional purr to an inspired and powerful roar, while the music explodes into a non-stop, all-inclusive celebration. 

THE CASH BOX KINGS
The Cash Box Kings’ most recent release is their dynamic 2023 Alligator Records album Oscar’s Motel. According to Living Blues magazine, The Cash Box Kings “are one of the best blues bands in the land.” The group, co-led by Chicago blues vocalist and songwriter Oscar “Mr. 43rd Street” Wilson, and Madison, Wisconsin-based harmonica giant, songwriter, and singer Joe Nosek, plays masterfully raw, unvarnished, old-school ensemble blues. Wilson’s huge, emotive vocals and Nosek’s blistering harmonica, along with an all-star band, fuel their razor-sharp original songs and always-incisive reinventions of obscure blues classics. 

        

“Among the most inspiring southpaws to ever pick up a six-string…Cannon shows the Windy City is not done teaching us about electric blues. He’s a real deal blueser, combining social commentary in his songs with heartfelt guitar playing topped off with killer vibrato.” —Guitar World
 
“Confident and spot-on…Cannon is an explosive guitarist, a one-man champion of Chicago blues…an influential star capable of carrying the traditions of this music and city to the contemporary realm.” —Blues Music Magazine 
 
“Tough-voiced, lyrically eloquent and musically focused…hard-grinding blues rock and urbane pop-soul balladry...Melodically rich guitar that seethes with emotion. Most impressive is his songwriting: his lyrics are full of wisdom laced with humor and life-toughened resolve.” —Living Blues 
 
“Bluesman Toronzo Cannon is one of Chicago’s finest string-bending storytellers. A highly emotive singer and a fantastic guitarist, but what makes him stand out in the contemporary blues scene is his talent for songwriting. Cannon packs so much substance into every song.” —Chicago Reader 

Award-winning, world-beloved Chicago bluesman Toronzo Cannon has announced the first set of dates of his Shut Up & Play! concert tour. The 28-city tour will take Cannon from the Midwest to the East Coast and back, including dates in Chicago, New York City, Philadelphia, Washington D.C. and Boston. Shut Up & Play! will be released on Friday, June 7, and is the third Alligator album from Cannon. It will be available on CD, yellow vinyl LP, and at all digital services.

With his richly detailed, truth-telling original songs, blistering, inventive guitar work and impassioned vocals, Cannon is on the cutting edge of today’s contemporary blues scene. He is considered one of the genre’s most creative artists. His sound is inspired by his heroes, including Hound Dog Taylor, Muddy Waters, Elmore James, Albert King, Son Seals and Jimi Hendrix. On Shut Up & Play!, Cannon blazes his own path with 11 emotionally-charged originals. From serious to humorous, his imaginative songs are fueled by his powerful, cathartic guitar solos and his soulfully authoritative voice.
 
Shut Up & Play! was co-produced by Cannon and Alligator president Bruce Iglauer. The album finds Cannon, a former Chicago Transit Authority bus driver, delivering timeless stories of common experiences, often unfolding in uncommon ways. His passionate and focused guitar playing sets his lyrics ablaze. From the first radio single, the attention-grabbing I Hate Love, to the gospel-inspired, autobiographical Had To Go Through It To Get To It, to the slow-burning, reflective Guilty, to the deeply personal Message To My Daughter, Shut Up & Play! tackles the gamut of human emotions. Song subjects range from the heartbreak of lost love, to the humor of daily life, to the pain of feeling invisible in today’s society, all as seen through Cannon’s wide-open eyes.

Cannon has been nominated for ten Blues Music Awards, and, as his fan base expands, so do his friendships with famous musicians. Gary Clark, Jr. declared, “Toronzo is a beast. He lights the room up,” and Joe Bonamassa rightly pronounced, “Toronzo’s a great guitar player, excellent vocalist and an amazing personality.”

Cannon has performed at clubs and festivals at major cities all over the U.S. and continues to bring his music directly to his fans. He’s toured Canada, the UK, made his way across Europe and even to Japan. He has played the Chicago Blues Festival on ten separate occasions, bringing tens of thousands of his fellow Chicagoans to their feet. His live performances unfailingly earn him heaps of critical praise and hordes of wildly enthusiastic new supporters. “Listen to a master bluesman at work,” declared the UK’s Blues & Rhythm magazine. “This is modern blues at its creative best.”

"Olustee has the hallmarks of JJ Grey & Mofro’s best work…reflective, raucous, 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

"Olustee is classic JJ Grey...Swamp funk blues-rock [and] epic soul jams filled with grit, both musically and character-wise, alongside sun-soaked breezier fare."
—Garden & Gun

“The shining glory that permeates every single moment of Olustee is the voice of JJ Grey. It truly is a thing of wonder with its endless range and emotional impact. Olustee is a masterpiece of songcraft and soulful delivery. You have to marvel at just how much emotion one man can convey. Yes. It’s that good.”
—Blues Matters (UK) 

JJ Grey unveils the video for the song Seminole Wind, the John Anderson-penned track from JJ Grey & Mofro's new album, Olustee. Released in February 2024 and produced by Grey, Olustee is the band's first album in nine years. JJ Grey & Mofro are currently headlining theaters across the U.S. and will head to Europe and the UK later this year.

Grey, speaking of Seminole Wind (the only song on Olustee he did not write), says, "Seminole Wind is my favorite song by John Anderson and one of my favorites, period. I've been singing and playing it in one form or another all my life."

Last month, in March 2024, Anderson was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Seminole Wind, written by Anderson in 1992, references the development and destruction of the Everglades in Anderson’s (and Grey's) native Florida.

Writer Jay Miller of Boston's Patriot Ledger says, "Anderson’s original version was pretty darned good, but this rendition enhances it and gives it a real 2024 punch, and a serious dose of that patented JJ Grey grit."

Watch the new lyric video for Seminole Wind below :

Media have been excitedly supporting Olustee with features, reviews, and airplay, as fans continue filling larger and more prestigious venues across the country. 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.

Olustee tells personal stories of redemption, rebirth, hard luck, and inner peace. With his gritty baritone vocals and passionate delivery of his soul-honest truths, Grey blends the cerebral, carnal, and heartfelt into timeless songs and memorable music. Olustee pushes the boundaries of his creative talents, blending mythical Southern stories of his ancestral Florida home with a poet's perspective. Grey's message is simple but powerful - respect nature, live in the moment, and have a good time.

TRACK LIST 1. The Sea 2. Top Of The World 3. On A Breeze 4. Olustee 5. Seminole Wind 6. Wonderland 7. Starry Night 8. Free High 9. Waiting 10. Rooster 11. Deeper Than Belief

        

“Among the most inspiring southpaws to ever pick up a six-string…Cannon shows the Windy City is not done teaching us about electric blues. He’s a real deal blueser, combining social commentary in his songs with heartfelt guitar playing topped off with killer vibrato.” —Guitar World
 
“Confident and spot-on…Cannon is an explosive guitarist, a one-man champion of Chicago blues…an influential star capable of carrying the traditions of this music and city to the contemporary realm.” —Blues Music Magazine 
 
“Tough-voiced, lyrically eloquent and musically focused…hard-grinding blues rock and urbane pop-soul balladry...Melodically rich guitar that seethes with emotion. Most impressive is his songwriting: his lyrics are full of wisdom laced with humor and life-toughened resolve.” —Living Blues 
 
“Bluesman Toronzo Cannon is one of Chicago’s finest string-bending storytellers. A highly emotive singer and a fantastic guitarist, but what makes him stand out in the contemporary blues scene is his talent for songwriting. Cannon packs so much substance into every song.” —Chicago Reader 

On Friday, June 7, 2024, Alligator Records will release Shut Up And Play!, the long-awaited new album from award-winning, world-beloved Chicago bluesman Toronzo Cannon. Shut Up And Play! is the third Alligator album from Cannon, and will be available on CD, yellow vinyl LP, and at all digital services.

With his richly detailed, truth-telling original songs, blistering, inventive guitar work and impassioned vocals, Cannon is on the cutting edge of today’s contemporary blues scene, and is known as one of the genre’s most creative artists. His sound is inspired by his heroes, including Hound Dog Taylor, Muddy Waters, Elmore James, Albert King, Son Seals and Jimi Hendrix. On Shut Up And Play!, Cannon blazes his own path with 11 emotionally-charged originals. From serious to humorous, his imaginative songs are fueled by his powerful, cathartic guitar solos and his soulfully authoritative voice.
 
Shut Up And Play! was co-produced by Cannon and Alligator president Bruce Iglauer. The album finds Cannon, a former Chicago Transit Authority bus driver, delivering timeless stories of common experiences, often unfolding in uncommon ways. His passionate and focused guitar playing sets his lyrics ablaze. From the first radio single, the attention-grabbing I Hate Love, to the gospel-inspired, autobiographical Had To Go Through It To Get To It, to the slow-burning, reflective Guilty, to the deeply personal Message To My Daughter, Shut Up And Play! tackles the gamut of human emotions. Song subjects range from the heartbreak of lost love, to the humor of daily life, to the pain of feeling invisible in today’s society, all as seen through Cannon’s wide-open eyes.  
 
Shut Up And Play! is bookended by two of Cannon’s most striking compositions, both a mirror of the times. The opener, the exuberantly performed blues scorcher Can’t Fix The World, shines a light on hypocrisy and duplicity, while unleashing dynamic, memorable guitar solos echoing the intensity of the vocals. The closer, Shut Up And Play!, takes a deep look inside, as Cannon vents his anger at being told to keep his opinions about the world to himself. As the defiant vocals command attention, Cannon’s frustrations pour into every note. Chicago’s New City declared, “Toronzo Cannon spins the innate human capacity of misery and regret into a kind of furious ecstasy.”

Today, Monday, April 8, Cannon premieres the new video for Can't Fix The World.  Watch below.

"I write what I know, what I feel,” Cannon says, “I like to put myself in the shoes of the subjects of my songs. This record is about the things going on in my life since 2019—it’s a document of what I’ve seen and been through, but the stories are universal. And it’s my way to get past negative things and keep my own sanity. Listen to the lyrics. I am a Black man in America. These are NOT protest songs. I try to create honest, common sense understanding with my songs.”

Cannon has been nominated for ten Blues Music Awards, and, as his fan base expands, so do his friendships with famous musicians. Gary Clark, Jr. declared, “Toronzo is a beast. He lights the room up,” and Joe Bonamassa rightly pronounced, “Toronzo’s a great guitar player, excellent vocalist and an amazing personality.”

Cannon has performed at clubs and festivals at major cities all over the U.S. and continues to bring his music directly to his fans. He’s toured Canada, the UK, made his way across Europe and even to Japan. He has played the Chicago Blues Festival on ten separate occasions, bringing tens of thousands of his fellow Chicagoans to their feet. His live performances unfailingly earn him heaps of critical praise and hordes of wildly enthusiastic new fans. “Listen to a master bluesman at work,” declared the UK’s Blues & Rhythm magazine. “This is modern blues at its creative best.”

Now, with Shut Up And Play!, Toronzo Cannon delivers his songs with purpose and passion. “It’s not about the solos,” says the man whose blazing guitar work continues to impress, “it’s about the songs. People get used to everyday life, so it’s easy to miss the things around them. I know the problems of Chicago, the hardships. I write about those things. But I love my city, warts and all. I grew up here. It molded me and gave me the people and places I know and love. And it produced the Chicago blues giants that came here from down south. I’m proud to be from Chicago and to be able to stand on the shoulders of every great Chicago blues musician who came before me.”

All the attention he’s received only makes Cannon more focused. “I feel like I’ve become an ambassador for Chicago blues. People expect a lot from me,” he says. “But it’s good, because I’m forced to keep upping my game.” And like all the Chicago greats who have come before him, blues is his life’s calling. “You don’t choose the blues,” he says. “The blues chooses you.”

Rootsy stripped-down Southern soul and hard funk...uptempo rave-ups with spidery keys and squalling, fuzzed-out guitar...Masterfully written songs [featuring] Tierinii Jackson's soaring vocals.
—AllMusic

Southern Avenue are ushering in a brand-new era of Memphis soul...blending the classic sound of their Memphis roots with a fresh dose of optimism and resilience...heavenly vocals and wailing guitar.
—Relix

The Memphis-based collective has set the blues world abuzz....compelling, exhilarating anthems that urge the listener to lean in and create the world in which they want to live.
—No Depression


GRAMMY-nominated Memphis-based roots, blues and soul band Southern Avenue have signed with legendary blues and roots label Alligator Records. Southern Avenue are known for their positive, message-driven original songs and their melting-pot mix of Memphis blues and soul, fueled by frontwoman Tierinii Jackson's soaring, gospel-inflected vocals and Israel-born Ori Naftaly's mesmerizing guitar work.

The band's as-yet-untitled Alligator Records debut, due later this year, was recorded in Memphis at the famous Royal Studios (Al Green, Ann Peebles, Bruno Mars). The album was produced by GRAMMY winner John Burk (Ray Charles, George Benson, Melissa Etheridge) and engineered by GRAMMY-winning producer and engineer Boo Mitchell.

Southern Avenue overflows with thick grooves, memorable melodies, positive messages and hair-raising harmonies that would make The Staple Singers proud. The dynamic collective, more a family than a band, showcases the jaw-dropping talents of Memphis born-and-raised sisters -- lead vocalist/songwriter Tierinii Jackson, drummer/vocalist Tikyra "TK" Jackson and percussionist/violinist/vocalist Ava Jackson -- along with endlessly creative guitarist/songwriter Ori Naftaly and keyboardist Jeremy Powell. Tierinii's lyrics are defiant and straightforward, her mesmerizing vocals effortlessly moving from an emotional purr to an inspired and powerful roar, while the music explodes into a non-stop, all-inclusive celebration.

Southern Avenue have been turning heads since their 2017 self-titled debut album, for which they received the coveted Blues Music Award for Best Emerging Artist. Their 2019 release, Keep On, received a GRAMMY nomination. They've been nominated for the Blues Music Award for Band Of The Year in 2021 and 2022 and are currently nominated for this year's award, to be announced in May 2024.

Alligator Records founder and president Bruce Iglauer is elated to have Southern Avenue on the label, saying, "Southern Avenue carry forward the spirit of the glory days of Memphis soul music but bring an exciting contemporary sensibility to the classic sound. Listening to the Jackson sisters sing together is simply soul-stirring, and their original material, sparked by Ori’s lyrical guitar, is exhilarating. I’m so proud to have them as the newest members of the Alligator family."

Tierinii Jackson couldn't agree more. "Joining the Alligator family is like stepping into roots history," she says. "The songs we birthed are steeped in that old-school, raw energy, and it's a thrill to think they'll be hangin' with the legends. It's a dream come true."

Sharing the excitement of the entire band, Naftaly adds, "We are pumped to be part of the Alligator family!"

According to Burk, who originally signed the band in 2016 to the then newly re-formed Stax Records, "I'm thrilled to be working with Southern Avenue again and couldn't be more excited about this new album. They've written some of the best songs of their career in a real storytelling fashion from beginning to end. They've also grown as a band and further defined their unique blend of the great Memphis soul tradition coupled with deep gospel and blues roots."

Constant touring has brought Southern Avenue to destinations all across the U.S. and Europe, and earned them non-stop adulation from fans, press and fellow musicians. This summer, the band will perform on the main stage of the Chicago Blues Festival before hitting the road with Willie Nelson & Family, Bob Dylan and John Mellencamp as part of the highly-touted 2024 "Outlaw Music Festival Tour". 

SOUTHERN AVENUE At Royal Studios With Producer John Burk Left to right: Jeremy Powell (Keys); Tikyra Jackson (Drums, Vocals); John Burk (Producer); Tierinii Jackson (Lead Vocals); Ori Naftaly (Guitars); Ava Jackson (Vocals, Percussion, Violin)

       

“This band is the best in the land…superior songwriting infused with wit, humor, and streetwise insights, traditional and adventurous grooves, impeccable musicianship, creative arrangements, harmonica tutorials and savvy production…funky and original…always fresh and vital.”
—Blues Music Magazine 
 
“Rick Estrin & The Nightcats are a formidable force. They sound better than ever [playing] stellar rockabilly, jazz, blues and rock, often in the same song, creating a unique, time-tested sound rooted in the past, bolstered by harpist/vocalist Estrin’s time-warping original compositions.”
—No Depression 
 
“Estrin defines his own brand of hip. Original blues and vintage rock-style tunes also harbor his superb harmonica work. Estrin emotes with just the right mix of kitsch and sincerity. The current litter of ‘Cats, including guitarist Kid Andersen, reigns as the best band anywhere.”
—DownBeat
 
“Rick Estrin & The Nightcats are America’s greatest musical showmen…foot-stomping, wise-cracking contemporary songs, a combination of rockabilly, jazz, blues, rock, and big band swing. Estrin is a world class musician…the most colorful and entertaining showman around.”
—Forbes 

On Friday, May 10, 2024, Alligator Records will release The Hits Keep Coming, the long-awaited new album from award-winning, modern blues legends Rick Estrin & The Nightcats. The Hits Keep Coming, the band's sixth release, packs a powerful punch, with phenomenal musicianship and streetwise lyrics—both serious and humorous. Vocalist, harmonica master and songwriter Estrin, along with multi-instrumentalist/musical mastermind/producer Christoffer “Kid” Andersen, keyboardist/organ wizard/bassman Lorenzo Farrell and endlessly creative drummer Derrick “D’Mar” Martin, have created what Estrin calls, "the best music we've ever made together. This band is killer. I’m enjoying this all more than ever,” says the man who’s been performing and recording professionally since the early 1970s. “It’s a blessing—there’s so much energy, so much collaboration. The band is just so good right now. And the live show is off the charts.”

The first song released from The Hits Keep Coming is an album highlight, The Circus Is Still In Town. The musically rambunctious, lyrically harrowing song premieres today on all major streaming services and also via a new video. According to Estrin, "This one's special to me. It's got a catchy hook, an infectious groove, and ironically, some grim subject matter." 

Produced by Andersen at his legendary Greaseland USA studio in San Jose, California, the album captures the band’s chemistry and magic in what is certainly among their strongest and most urgent releases so far. The Hits Keep Coming is modern blues at its most potent, intense and fun in all the right places, as Rick Estrin & The Nightcats deliver twelve groove-heavy, hard-hitting songs, including ten written or co-written by Estrin and two surprising covers (one obscurity from Muddy Waters, one from Leonard Cohen that Estrin would have liked to have written). From the foot-stomping opener Somewhere Else, to the stark reality of the title track (with backing vocals by The Sons Of The Soul Revivers), The Hits Keep Coming is a lyrical and musical tour-de-force.  

In addition to Estrin’s celebrated songwriting and peerless blues harmonica playing, he and the band are among the most entertaining and colorful showmen around. Estrin’s signature streetwise vocals and hipster-cool look, Andersen’s eye-popping, off-the-cuff guitar pyrotechnics, Farrell’s mighty organ, piano and bass work and D’Mar’s dynamic, acrobatic drumming make every one of their live performances a must-see event.

Over the years, Estrin has won a total of seven Blues Music Awards, including awards for Song Of The Year, Traditional Male Blues Artist, Instrumentalist—Harmonica, and twice, the prestigious Band Of The Year (for Rick Estrin & The Nightcats). The band has performed at festivals and concert stages from San Francisco to Chicago to New York, and everywhere in between. They've toured extensively in almost every country in Europe, as well as in Australia, Turkey, Russia and South America.

“People don’t go out to see people who look like themselves,” says Estrin. “They want to see something special. I was schooled in this business to be a showman, and that’s what you get when you come to see us perform. We know how to put on a show. I feel sorry for anyone who has to follow us.”

The Chicago Sun-Times declares, “These are serious musicians having a hotter than hot good time. It’s tough to stay in your seat when Estrin and his musical cohorts get cooking.” As No Depression says, “This is a band that always delivers the goods.” 

W.C. Clark, the guitarist, bassist, vocalist, and songwriter known as “The Godfather Of Austin Blues,” died on March 2, 2024, of natural causes. He was 84. He released eight albums and performed countless live shows. But he was famous not only for his own music, but also for mentoring an entire generation of younger Austin blues artists, including Stevie Ray and Jimmie Vaughan, Angela Strehli and Lou Ann Barton. He was a prolific songwriter, including co-authoring Stevie’s classic song Cold Shot. As The New York Post declared, Clark was “a legend of the blues world.”
 
Born Wesley Curley Clark, his career spanned more than seven decades, starting with his first performance at the age of 16. He became a stalwart in Austin clubs before leaving to tour with soul star Joe Tex in the mid-1960s.
 
Upon his return to Austin in the early 1970s, he found the city exploding with young blues talent. He formed the band Southern Feeling with vocalist Angela Strehli and guitarist Denny Freeman. He then formed The W.C. Clark Blues Revue, which shared stages with James Brown, B.B. King, Sam and Dave and Bobby “Blue” Bland. In 1977, Clark joined Stevie Ray Vaughan in the Triple Threat Revue, with Lou Ann Barton as the other featured vocalist.
 
Celebrating Clark’s 50th birthday in 1989, the critically acclaimed PBS television show Austin City Limits brought Clark together with his disciples Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimmie Vaughan, Kim Wilson, Lou Ann Barton, Angela Strehli and Will Sexton, in front of a live audience. The broadcast, one of the series’ most popular, brought Clark to the attention of a national audience for the first time.
 
Clark made his recording debut with the album Something For Everyone on Drippin’ Records in 1987, followed by signing with New Orleans’ Black Top label. He recorded three albums for Black Top, Texas Soul, Heart Of Gold and Lover’s Plea. He then joined the roster of Chicago-based Alligator Records in 2002, releasing From Austin With Soul and 2004’s Deep In The Heart. He began doing extensive national touring and was hailed and celebrated by the blues press. Blues Revue magazine called his music “modern Texas blues at its best…soothing, sweet-as- molasses soul and flashy, jumped-up roadhouse blues. As a vocalist, he’s untouchable.” Living Blues magazine said, “W.C. Clark has it all…everything from good old rock ‘n ’roll and gritty R&B to strutting Memphis soul, second-line funk and contemporary blues.” 
 
Tiring of the road, Clark returned to performing primarily in Texas. He played as many as four nights every week as a solo performer and weekends with the W.C. Clark Blues Revue. He self-released two independent albums, 2011’s Were You There and 2018’s W.C. Clark. He was honored with induction into the Texas Songwriters Association’s Music Legends Hall of Fame in 2020. He also received a Special Citation of Achievement presented by BMI in recognition of the great national popularity as measured by over one million broadcast performances attained by Cold Shot.
 
W.C. Clark’s last show was a solo performance on Tuesday, February 20, 2024. He was hospitalized on Thursday, February 22 and moved to the Christopher House (Hospice Austin) on Monday, February 26.
 
W.C. is survived by his brothers Daniel Shelby, Charles Shelby, Joseph Shelby, and Willie Shelby, and his sisters Mary Ward and Lois Manor, his daughter Brittany Mays and six grandchildren. 
 
Funeral services will be March 14, 2024, at Grant Chapel AME Worship Center, 1701 Kramer, Austin, TX. Visitation will be at 10 a.m. with the service beginning at 11 a.m. Clark will be interred at the Texas State Cemetery in Austin.