41. Releases from stalwarts like Savoy Brown and Robert Cray as well as newer voices like Whitney Shays and Shemekia Copeland shone as brightly as ever. The track that grooves and swings the hardest is Aint Goin to Do It. Its the kind of song you play when the party slows down a little and needs a jolt to keep your friends from reaching for their car keys. It also doesnt hurt that the bands leader (also its singer and chief songwriter) has the shredding skills that guitarists of all ages would understandably envy. Their new album, Electric Soul Machine, is a must listen. The next time you lament the death of the blues due to the neglect from younger generations, just give a quick listen to Memphis Loud by Victor Wainright and the Train and rejoice. Charlie Musselwhite website, Alastair Greenes 2020 effort The New World Blues on Tab Benoits Whiskey Bayou Records is a stripped-down blast of live-in-the-studio blues/rock built on grit, soul, and first takes. Broadbents party trick is playing slide with a beat up hip flask, and it doesnt take too much imagination to figure out which creative stimulant likely played a big part in perfecting that skill. A strong opening track has a way of steamrolling the listener into submission. Philip Sayce, Remembering Fleetwood Mac Founder Peter Green, The Soulful Voice Of British Blues. The set is a back porch session by two of the most famous blues players ever and lets Bishop and Musselwhite do it their own raw-boned way with minimal interference to disrupt the vibe. listeners: [], Best New UK Musicians Of 2020: 10 Artists Leading This Year's British Many people consider King King to be the strongest blues/rock band out there these days and Maverick proves the band is worthy of such profound praise. Climax Chicago Blues Band. The result is a searing collection of tunes that each carve their way into the listeners soul in a dazzlingly different way. Lady Day and John Coltrane pays homage to a pair of jazz greats in the most stylish way imaginable, combing jazz and the blues with a maturity you may have forgotten was possible in the blues. Review of Quarantine Blues Nice list. If you think you have been blocked in error, contact the owner of this site for assistance. The Album sizzles most when it charges at full-speed, keeping up with rock and soul, but never leaving the blues behind. Perhaps you didnt review John Nemeths new Stronger Than Strong album. Each album is just as great as the other. Dave Horton - Electric and Acoustic guitar . The 10 best folk albums of 2020 Jake Blount, Shirley Collins and Brna McVittie. Picking standout tracks is tricky. Robert Jon & The Wreck website, Slide guitar magic man Sonny Landreth lays it all on us on his 2020 record Black Top Run, a wonderful set of music released by Provogue/Mascot Label Group. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Their notable 2010s albums have been This is War, Love, Lust, Faith and Dreams, and America. If you enjoy our site, you can help with a small donation. As its title suggests, its a blues album that features a number of stunning cameo performances from noted stars of the blues world. } Wordfence is a security plugin installed on over 4 million WordPress sites. The (Male) Singer You Most Wish You Could Sound Like. Joanne Shaw Taylor More surprisingly, the rest of the album sways just as sweetly and gallops just as hard. Composite: Michelle Lotker/Enda Bowe Folk artists this year drew inspiration from China, south Asia and the. If you're not a fan of John Mayall or Ten Years After, then vote those down so that the list takes your preferences into account. { When all is said is done, its hard to imagine anyone getting a better introduction (or re-introduction) to the amazing sounds of blues piano at its best. No point in listening to them if they aren't actually good or even half-way decent british blues bands. When Rivers Meet All important, significant and iconic names in british blues music history deserve your votes, so make sure to choose wisely. You can also read the documentation to learn about Wordfence's blocking tools, or visit wordfence.com to learn more about Wordfence. If the late Frank Bey isnt familiar to you, the opening (and title) track of his final album serves as a fine introduction. Its refreshing to see these instruments sprung from the confines of folk music and given some rock n roll treatment. Robin Trower Review of Last Light On The Highway The 30 best blues guitarists in the world today | Guitar World A great slice of blues rock that also has a touch of gospel here and a touch of soul there. It sure would be at or near the top of my personal top 20 list of albums released in 2020. And in case youre wondering, Johnny Iguana is the right pianist. Top 20 Blues, Rock And Roots Albums of 2020 - ROCK AND BLUES MUSE Kings previous albums and EPs include Carolina Confessions, Due North, The Marcus King Band and Soul Insight. Until rudely interrupted by the global pandemic, Shaw Taylors touring schedule was one of the most tireless in the business, and her gutsy guitar playing and husky vocals are best appreciated live on stage. Blues With Friends boasts 12 tracks of strong songwriting, musical depth and mastery, along with Dions smooth vocals and skillful craft of blues. Top british blues artists | Last.fm } 10 Modern Rock Bands You Need To Know About In 2020 - ROCK AND BLUES MUSE Details of the annual UKBlues Awards - UK Blues Federation Review of El Dorado } Songs from the Road not only packs extraordinary power, but, as its title suggests, it demonstrates his ability to transfix a crowd with scorching funk-tinged blues. If the title track doesnt send shivers up your spine, its time to have your spine examined. As always, Bonamassa puts on a clinic on how to make great music and guitar fans the world over will love every moment of it. It returns the listener to the vintage day of the blues, when all it took to get a juke joint jumping was a good man playing a great harmonica. Fans voted in record numbers. Contemporary rhythm and blues, rock and roll and funky rhythms weave their way through most songs on One Shot, brought to life by superb musicians and an electrifying vocalist. on: function(evt, cb) { Rock and Blues Muse, LLC. Larkin Poe have developed a slide blues sound that takes classic values forward without falling down intro the retro traps so many others have. ABOUT THE AWARDS READ THE RULES THE 2023 FINALISTS NOW LIVE Vote for the best artists to see them graduate to the top of the list. Song Starter Kit: Bluesdaddy from Bluesdaddy, Never Rains from Hooks & Lines, Last Page from Something Old, Something New. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. British-Jamaican singer/songwriter Celeste won this year's prestigious BBC Sound of 2020 prize for her satiny soul pipes and refined instrumentals perfect for a rainy Sunday. We tried very hard to narrow our list down to Top 20 but we could not bring ourselves to cut one more album. Kindred Spirits may be a mixed bag for the fan of traditional blues, but for the fan ready to welcome a new approach, this album is an early Christmas present. Song Starter Kit: The Search for Happiness from Aquarius, Take The Wheel from Aquarius EP, Lie To Me from Lie To Me (Single). This is double-strength blues/rock that will cure what ails you. So awesome to see When Rivers Meet made the list!! Big riffs and anthemic choruses are very much the order of the day here. This band packs a powerful sonic punch that could fill any room. 10 British R&B/Soul Artists To Watch In 2020 | Complex UK The Allman Betts Band website, Former lead guitarist for The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Kirk Fletcher is widely considered one of the best blues guitarists in the world. Pushing boundaries, Self Made Man sees sister Rebecca and Megan Lovell sourcing their American Southern heritage, with their own modern day depiction of blues-based roots/rock in the 11 tracks. All in all, Roomful of Blues (kind of) self-titled album would be a nice introduction to anyone unfamiliar with the band or anyone who doubts the sincerity of revival bands. They are raw, unpolished and ragged. Rhode Island isnt typically thought of a hotbed of the blues, but the strong presence of Roomful of Blues, a revival jazz/blues band plants a giant feather in the cap of Americas tiniest state. Much the same can be said of the upbeat Rumblin another slice of instrumental sweetness. } Especially since the bands at the top of the list will at the very least be the best choices if you're looking for a list of good british blues bands with which to start out. The four-piece have managed to commit their on-stage vibrancy to record with great success, and whether youre hearing them through headphones or a cranked festival soundsystem, Wille and The Bandits make for fun listening every time. Until then, this effort will serve as a solid building block for what may someday become a brilliant career. Zito is a blues/rock monster and this is arguably his best work thus far. Fresh from scooping the awards for Acoustic Blues Artist of the Year and Blues Instrumentalist of the Year at the 2022 UKBlues awards, Northern Irelands Dom Martin is very much a musician breaking into his stride. Cameos from time-tested veterans of the blues make the album shimmer most and the relentlessly upbeat Birmingham (featuring Robert Randolph and Keb Mo) may be the best example. See here for Top 20 Blues, Rock & Roots Albums of 2019. A stunning solo debut. (1) Black Cat Bones was a British heavy blues rock group from London. Apple Pie and a .45 is the most riveting track, detailing the nightmarish recent tale of a madman who opened fire on a black church. Hometown: Seattle, Washington. This is an incomplete list of British blues bands and musicians . ); This is the voice that couldnt give witness to a lie if Smither wanted it to. One cursory listen might lead you into thinking their sound is Southern rockthey are much more than that. Fatback Deluxe Style: Classic American blues Influenced by: Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker Gear: Gibson ES-335, Gibson Les Paul Pro, late 60s Ampeg AUB-1 fretless bass In times like these, its vital to get the occasional reminder of how fun the blues can be. For now, add every one of these albums to your listening rotation. Tracked in Nashville and produced by Ellis and his longtime co-producer Kevin McKendree, the sessions show the influence of Albert King, Peter Green, and Hound Dog Taylor but are jam-packed with Ellis own hard-edged style. King Size Slim, AKA Toby Barelli, delivers raw, heartfelt, acoustic roots boogie. After all, what could be more heartbreaking than a man facing the demise of his car. Review of Uncivil War 10 questions for Joanne Shaw Taylor (opens in new tab). A listen to You Make Me Feel must provoke the listener to ask why he hasnt released more. The full-voiced tenor has created an album that has its share of weaker moments, but on balance, Take Me Back is a strong work and fine introduction to the fan whod never before experienced his output. Here are the blues players you choose as 2020's standouts. Another strong example is the dance track Sweep the Shack. Its a simple tale about a man whos eager to finish his day of work to get back into the arms of his beloved. Review of Wild and Free The 2020 FORM UKBlues Awards virtual presentation event took place on Sunday 17th May 2020 - and if you missed it or want to enjoy it again we have the link at the bottom of this page. The plaintive voice of Chris Smither has served him well for decades. A truly memorable effort. Even at his advanced age, he needs little to no enhancement to his sound to shine. Colin Cooper (vocals, harp) Pete Haycock (guitar, vocals) Derek Holt (guitar) Mark Lyon - Electric, Acoustic, Slide, Steel guitar and vocals. These are truly the greatest british blues bands of all time, since the most famous british blues artists ever are listed, and the order is decided by actual fans of the best british blues music. Top 15 Contemporary Blues Rock Guitarists 2020 - ROCK AND BLUES MUSE The same could be said of Watch Your Back, a darker form of satire than Zombies, but also clever and salient enough to the album the color it needs.