Cleopatra Blues To Release Deluxe 6 CD Junior Wells Box Set

Cleopatra Blues is releasing a gorgeous 6 CD box set celebrating a true blues legend, the “Sexy Bitch” himself, Junior Wells. 

The release includes vintage studio recordings from 1953 to 1979 of Wells' best loved tracks such as “Messin' With The Kid,” “She's A Sweet One,” “Little By Little” and more, plus never before released live material from 1983 to 1997. 

 Packaged in a custom made, genuine wood cigar box with 48-page booklet of extensive liner notes by music journalist Dave Thompson, rare photos plus a mini harmonica that really works! 

This set is out today, 8/31/2018. To order, or for more info go to this location https://cleorecs.com/store/shop/junior-wells-box-of-blues-6-cd/

The Marcus King Band Makes Late Night TV Debut On Conan O' Brian

Last night fast rising southern rockers The Marcus King Band made their debut late night television debut on Conan O' Brian. The band performed performed “Where I’m Headed” from their forthcoming Carolina Confessions studio album. 

The Marcus King Band recorded Carolina Confessions at the historic RCA Studio A in Nashville with producer Dave Cobb. 

"Where I’m Headed” is the opening track on the album which is due on October 5 via Fantasy Records. Watch The Marcus King Band’s performance on Conan below:

Artist You Should Know : James Whiton

Photo Credit : Keith Langerman

“A virtuoso of the upright double bass, James Whiton slaps, bows, maneuvers and manipulates his instrument with orchestral precision and street-corner desperation.” --Silke Tudor, SF Weekly, SF, CA

Over the past 25 years, James Whiton has performed both as a soloist and as a member of symphonies, big bands, jazz combos and rock bands. He has been featured on over 100 recordings, including over a dozen self-produced releases, and has traveled throughout the US and Europe, playing in an incredible array of venues in front of audiences ranging in size from five to 10,000 .

James Whiton was the first bassist I had ever seen use a bow, when I saw EMT (Eric McFadden Trio) years ago, ala Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin. There were others I am sure, but none that I could recall, and none that I had witnessed live at the very least.

Whiton spent nearly a decade with Eric McFadden/EMT,(Eric Burdon/George Clinton) recording 4 albums and playing hundreds of tour dates with the guitar virtuoso

In 2010, Tom Waits recruited James to play bass on his 2011 release Bad As Me, alongside superstar artists such as Keith Richards, Charlie Musselwhite, Augie Meyers (Little Richard, Bob Dylan), Marc Ribot, Dave Hidalgo (Los Lobos, Bob Dylan), Flea and Les Claypool. 

James is one of six bass players on the recording, but Waits chose to use James' bass tracks on 7 of the 16 songs. Bad As Me was an astounding success; named as the best reviewed album of 2011, it outsold every other recording in Waits' catalog and was nominated for a Grammy.

In 2017, James released a solo album, the critically acclaimed 'Perchance To Dream'  which is available on Spotify/Amazon/iTunes or via Whiton's website, which can be accessed below.

James Whiton "War Pigs" Live at Duel Brewing, Albuquerque, New Mexico

For more info go to James Whiton Bass Man

Facebook : James Whiton String Bassist

or, SF Weekly, SF, CA

Sister Act Larkin Poe Release New Song In Advance Of Upcoming Album Venom & Faith

 Critically acclaimed sister act Larkin Poe have just released a new song in advance of their upcoming album 'Venom & Faith'.

Bleach Blonde Bottle Blues is from Larkin Poe's upcoming new album Venom & Faith, out November 9. 

Pre-order from iTunes, Amazon or in the Official store & Presave on 

Spotify: https://lnk.to/BleachBlondeBottleBlues

Pre-orders receive an automatic download of Bleach Blonde Bottle Blues and Ain't Gonna Cry

Check out the new online store - featuring Pre-order bundles of the new album and other goodies, and new merch! http://shop.larkinpoe.com

Check out upcoming tour dates: http://larkinpoe.com/tour

For more info:
http://www.larkinpoe.com
http://www.facebook.com/larkinpoe
http://www.twitter.com/larkinpoe 

http://instagram.com/larkinpoe

"Larkin Poe are not only highly professional, nearly perfect musicians, they also manage to add a new passion, modernity, and elegant coolness to the genre of Rock.” – Vogue

“These women are seriously badass. Don’t mess with them." – Paste Magazine

“Larkin Poe, a sister act with staying power.” – NPR

“…These gals like their gritty Southern heritage with a cosmopolitan twist.” – The Huffington Post

“Insanely good… A tasty, well-crafted debut that will appease even the toughest critic.” – AXS

“...hook-laden roots rock that sounds something like fellow sister-band HAIM taking a Louisiana vacation." – American Songwriter

Dickey Betts Cancels August 2018 Tour Dates

Photo Credit : Lisa Keel

Legendary guitarist Dickey Betts canceled a series of three shows that were expected to begin on Tuesday in Syracuse. Betts cites health concerns as forcing the cancelation of the Syracuse date and stops that were scheduled for the Toyota Oakdale Theater in Wallingford, Connecticut on August 30 and at the Casino Ballroom in Hampton Beach, New Hampshire on August 31.

A note on the founding Allman Brothers Band guitarist’s website explains that Dickey recently experienced what doctors called a “mild stroke.” Betts spoke with his doctors on Friday about certain symptoms he has been feeling in the wake of the stroke and he was advised to rest. The note mentions Betts’ doctors feel he will be 100 percent recovered after three to five weeks.

We wish Dickey a fast and speedy recovery! We're losing too many greats these days.

Band You Should Know : The Devil Makes Three

For more than a decade, California trio the Devil Makes Three made do with two guitars and an upright bass, expanding their lineup as needed for the band’s raucous live shows. 

On Chains Are Broken, out August 4th,  the group brings their touring drummer, Stefan Amidon, into the studio for an uptempo, energetic set of modern bluegrass and country. (Photo Credit : Jay Westcott)

 For more info go to The Devil Makes Three

Marcus King Previews Two New Songs From Upcoming ‘Carolina Confessions’Album

On Oct. 5, guitarist, singer and songwriter Marcus King releases the new Marcus King Band album 'Carolina Confessions'.

Coming nearly two years after his critically acclaimed  self-titled Fantasy Records debut, based on the two songs released via NPR, this represents a major step forward for the 21 year old guitarist.

Produced and mixed by Grammy Award-winner Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, Sturgill Simpson, Jason Isbell, Rival Sons) and recorded at Nashville’s iconic RCA Studio A, this promises to be one of the finest albums released in 2018.

To Pre-Order “Carolina Confessions” on CD, digital download and 180-gram vinyl or stream tracks off the album here: http://found.ee/MKBcarolinaconfessions

What Is Americana Music?

Do you love Blues, Jazz, Rock and Roll, R & B, Alternative Country and/or Folk – aka Americana Music? Then this blog is for you!

According to Wikipedia, Americana is "an amalgam of American Music formed by the confluence of the shared and varied traditions that make up the musical ethos of the United States, specifically those sounds that are merged from folk, country,  blues,  rhythm & blues, rock and roll,  gospel and other external influences.

Americana, as defined by the Americana Music Association (AMA), is “contemporary music that incorporates elements of various mostly acoustic American roots music styles, including country, roots-rock, folk, gospel and bluegrass resulting in a distinctive roots-oriented sound that lives in a world apart from the pure forms of the genres upon which it may draw. While acoustic instruments are often present and vital, Americana also often uses a full electric band.”

So, it’s a very wide scope, and sometimes the definitions get blurred, but that’s pretty much the gist of it. So, the journey begins. Hope you will join us, it’s going to be one hell of a ride!