Blues is the Truth

Blues is the Truth #803

The requests have been landing in the inbox thick and fast lately, so for this episode, I’ve dusted off a couple of your personal choices and dropped them straight into the mix alongside all our usual weekly features.

We are starting off in style with the smooth, laid-back groove of Keb’Mo’ and keeping the energy high with tracks from Burning Rope, Dave Thomas, and The Four Flames. We’ve also got the undisputed pioneer T-Bone Walker and the classic New Orleans piano roll of Al Broussard showing everyone how it is done, flowing beautifully into the sharp guitar work of Kai Strauss and Gary Dranow.

For the roots and acoustic heads, we are diving deep into the sounds of Reverend Freakchild, the legendary pairing of Ry Cooder and Taj Mahal, and the vintage vocals of Blue Lu Barker. Then we shift gears into the heavy hitters, featuring a stellar run of Buddy Guy, Red Red, and the absolute master of the Telecaster, Albert Collins.

The quality just doesn't drop this week. You will also hear the Quintus McCormick Blues Band, the gritty brilliance of Ian Siegal, and the unstoppable force of Gabe Stillman. Wrapping up a proper session of the good stuff, we’ve got Little Steve and the Big Beat, Bad Temper Joe, Sunjay, the powerhouse vocals of Samantha Martin and Delta Sugar, and the brilliant Guto Konrad.

Your tracks, our regular features, and a whole lot of great music.

We’ve got a massive show lined up for you this week. My partner in crime Paul Michael is back in the studio to present his legendary Blues Driver segment, and he is not alone. We’ve got a cameo from someone very special indeed, so you’ll want to keep your ears pinned back for that one. Along with the guest spot, we’ve got all your regular favourite features locked in.

The music is top tier from start to finish. We are kicking off with the heavyweights, bringing you tracks from Eric Clapton, Joe Bonamassa, and Buddy Guy, alongside the soulful brilliance of Mike Finnegan and Boz Scaggs. The groove stays tight with the Chris Corcoran band, Jump 66, and the legendary tone of Otis Grand.

We are also diving into some classic territory with Traffic, before sliding into a fantastic run of modern masters. You will hear The Paul Michael Band doing their thing, the brilliant guitar work of Will Johns, and the deep pocket of Pat McDougall.

We keep the energy climbing with Eugene Hideaway Bridges, the powerhouse Tedeschi Trucks Band, and a killer collaboration featuring the Stevie Watts Organ Trio with Alice Armstrong. Rounding out an absolute belter of an episode, we’ve got the gritty sounds of Mike Zito, the old-school cool of Golden ‘Big’ Wheeler, and the beautiful acoustic touch of Dove and BoWeevil.

It is a packed house, a special guest, and two hours of the finest music on the planet.

The dust has settled on the big 800, but the momentum isn't slowing down. We are straight back into the thick of it this week with a selection that proves exactly why this genre never gets old. It is all about that raw, unfiltered energy that hits you right in the chest.

We are opening up the throttle with the Dirty Weather Blues Review and the heavy hitters like Joe Bonamassa and the Altered 5 Blues Band. There is a massive amount of soul in this mix too, with Vanese Thomas and Jennifer Lynn and the Groove Revival bringing that undeniable spark, while Beth Hart and The Reverend Shawn Amos show us exactly how much heart you can pour into a single track.

I’ve made sure we pay our respects to the masters who built the house. You will hear the pure genius of Howling Wolf, Ray Charles, and John Lee Hooker, alongside the legendary harmonica work of Sonny Boy Williamson II and Junior Wells. We are also digging into the craft with Rory Block, Eddy Clearwater, and the acoustic mastery of Brooks Williams and Corey Harris.

The scene stays fresh with Thomas Heppell, Big Harp George, and Reverend Freakchild all making their mark, while Erroll Linton, Guto Konrad, and the powerhouse duo of Smokin’ Joe Kubeck and Bnois King keep the gears turning.

It is just great music, played because it deserves to be heard. No gimmicks, just the good stuff.

It’s a big milestone this week. We’ve hit show 800, and I’ve decided to do something a bit different. No themes, no guest takeovers, just a selection of music that means the world to me. These are the tracks that move me, the ones I find important, and the ones that remind me why I started this show in the first place.

We’re kicking off with the absolute masters of the pocket, The Meters, and keeping that heavy groove alive with Blues is Truth, Karena K, and Paul Michael. This episode feels personal because it is—we’re traveling from the delta grit of Leadbelly to the singular genius of Tom Waits, through to the West London soul of Robert Hokum and the Guv'nors and The Geoff Garbow Band.

I've made sure the heavyweights are present too. You’ll hear Freddie King, BB King, and Buddy Guy showing us how it's done, alongside the pure fire of Derek and the Dominos and Nick Curran. There is space for the deep, soulful moments from Percy Sledge and the early magic of Fleetwood Mac, while Rob Millis, Yuri Apsy, and Bruce Mississippi Johnson keep the story moving forward.

We’re also checking in with The Steady Rollin' Revue, the funk-infused mastery of John Cleary, and the legendary Sly and the Family Stone. It’s a real journey through the sounds that have shaped my ears over the years.

It’s show 800. It’s special. And more than anything, it’s the truth.

The latest Blues is the Truth is live and this week we’re shifting gears. There are no awards or trophies this time around, just a deep dive into the kind of music that keeps the pulse of this scene beating.

We’ve got a massive lineup that spans the full spectrum of the craft. You’ll hear the raw energy of The Milkmen, The South Island Rhythm Kings, and The Paul Michael Band alongside the world class talent of Geoff Achison and harmonica ace Giles Robson. The vibe stays heavy and authentic with tracks from John Cee Stannard, Tom Waits For No Man, and the effortlessly cool Stray Cat Willy and the Strays.

We’re also honoring the storytellers and the technicians like Michael Messer, Half Deaf Clatch, and the Geoff Garbow Band. And because we always respect the lineage, we’ve brought the giants into the room. BB King, Freddie King, Mike Bloomfield, and Stevie Ray Vaughan are all here to remind us why we fell in love with this music in the first place.

From the modern fire of Samantha Fish and Alice Armstrong to the deep pocket grooves of Willie Buck and Bob Corritore, Dave Specter, and The Steady Rollin’ Revue, there isn't a wasted second. Rounding it all out with the Backyard Casanovas, Kilborn Alley, Mighty Mike Schermer, and Charlie and the Fez Kings, it’s an hour of music that flows perfectly from one story to the next.

It’s a masterclass in why the blues is and always will be the truth.

The latest Blues is the Truth just dropped, and honestly? The energy in the room for this one was something else. We’re taking you straight to the heart of the 2026 UK Blues Awards—no fluff, just the raw news from the night and the incredible music that defined it.

When you see names like Alice Armstrong, Connor Selby, Will Wilde, and The Cinelli Brothers all in the mix, you realize just how much fire is in the scene right now. We’ve packed the episode with the winners and the heavy hitters like Mississippi Macdonald, Zac Schulze Gang, The Whiskey Flowers, and Jump 66, giving you a front-row seat to the best of the night.

But we never forget the foundations. We’re bridging the gap between the legends—Eric Clapton, Gary Moore, John Lee Hooker, and The Staples Singers—and the powerhouses pushing the genre forward like Joanne Shaw Taylor, Caitlin Krisko and the Broadcast, Albert Castiglia, Tedeschi Trucks Band, and Mike Zito.

The flow is relentless; with Catfish, Mud Morganfield, and The Robert Cray Band in the ears, the quality never dips. One track leads into the next until you’re right in the thick of it. It’s a proper snapshot of the blues as it stands today—plenty to enjoy and a few moments that will stay with you long after the final note.

The new episode of Blues is the Truth is live, and Ian McHugh is not messing around this week. It kicks off with a fantastic, high-energy mix that hits the ground running. It is one of those shows that just flows, keeping you hooked from the first track to the last.

Ian has done a great job balancing the legends with the modern scene. You have the deep-rooted classics from Pinetop Perkins and Mississippi Fred McDowell, B.B. King’s effortless class, and that signature, laid-back vibe from Taj Mahal and the Phantom Blues Band. Then, he brings it right up to the present with fresh cuts from Mike Ross, Dani Wilde, When Rivers Meet, and Henrik Freischlader.

The mood keeps shifting, too. You get that gritty, raw roots feel from Michael Messer, Marco Pandolfi with Richard Ray Farrell, and Corey Harris, which contrasts perfectly with the punchy, full-throttle sound of Tedeschi Trucks Band, Russ Green, and Errol Linton. There is also a really strong showing from closer to home, with tracks from Jump 66, Dan Sowerby, Mick Clarke, and The Weekend Blues Band holding their own in the mix.

The lineup does not stop there, and it is absolutely packed. You will hear Mike Finnegan, Breakout Blues, CD Woodbury Trio, Grey DeLisle, Les Greene, Spencer Mackenzie, The Diving Ducks, and Peter Vekesta and Blues Train.

Honestly, just when you think you have settled into a groove, the track changes and picks things right back up again. It is a great listen, so give it a spin.

The new episode of Blues is the Truth is up now, with Ian McHugh straight into it from the off.

Junior Wells, Little Walter and Freddie King set the tone early, with Ry Cooder and Elvin Bishop not far behind. It keeps moving with Gary Clark Jr, Mike Zito, Tinsley Ellis and Shemekia Copeland, alongside Will Johns, Nick Curran and Gabe Stillman.

There is a strong band feel running through it as well. The Robert Fossen Band, The Steady Rollin Revue and The Cadillac Kings all in the mix, plus Peter Vekesta and Blues Train, Doc Stenson and the Amazing Hot Shots and Guy Verlinde.

Brother John, Garrett T Willy, Stefan Hillsheim, Johnny Burgin and Mike Finnegan all get a look in too, so it never settles in one place for long.

Plenty of great music, no fuss, just how it should be.

New Blues is the Truth is up now, with Ian McHugh bringing another show that just rolls along nice and naturally.

Plenty to get into this week. You’ve got John Lee Hooker in there, Will Johns, Thørbjørn Risager and The Black Tornado, Tommy Castro and the Painkillers, Bernie Marsden and The Hoax, plus The Paul Michael Band keeping things right where they should be.

There is also Hans Theesink and Terry Evans, Ian Siegal Meets Johnny Maestro, Buddy Guy with Eric Clapton, The Dirty Aces, Frank Bey, Albert King and The Paul Butterfield Blues Band. Selwyn Birchwood, Bruce Mississippi Johnson, Mike Zito, Devon Allman and a bit of Muddy Waters all turn up as well, so it never really sits still for long.

Stick it on, let it play, see what grabs you

The new episode of Blues is the Truth is out now. Ian McHugh back in the chair, and as ever it is supported by the Tuesday night Blues Jam at the Rising Sun in Isleworth.

This one feels like a proper wander through the blues. You dip into one corner, then another, and before long you are somewhere completely different but it all still hangs together. That is the joy of it.

There is real pedigree running through the show this week. Bob Margolin brings that deep connection to the Muddy Waters sound, and you will hear Muddy himself in the mix too, along with a nod to the Muddy Waters 100 celebrations. Albert Collins turns up with that sharp, stinging guitar, and Buddy Guy reminds you why he is still one of the greats.

There is plenty of character elsewhere. Rick Estrin and the Nightcats doing what they do so well, Joanna Connor bringing serious fire, and Matt Schofield alongside Will Johns showing just how strong the modern scene is. You will also hear Marco Pandolfi, Papa George, Junior Watson and Tail Dragger, each bringing their own flavour.

Closer to home there is some really nice stuff in there too. Leoni Jane Kennedy, Andrew Duncanson, Tim Staffell and Paul Stuart all make an appearance, along with Mark Harrison and Slim Butler. There is also music from Anderson East, Devon Allman, Chris Duarte, Vanessa Collier, Ton O Blues and Doc Stenson and the Amazing Hot Shots.

It is one of those shows you can just stick on and let it roll. Plenty of groove, a few surprises, and more than a couple of moments that make you stop and listen properly.