In this week’s show I play musical tributes to Chris Rea and Andy ‘Zsa Zsa’ Billups with various tracks from Chris and one from The Hamsters. Plus, I have great tracks from some new and recent releases. All in all, one heck of a show even though I say it myself!

Tune in for music from Chris Rea, The Hamsters, Kim Wilson, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Jimmie Vaughan, Loïs Morgan, Eddie Kold Band feat Larry 'Doc' Watkins and The Hofner Blue notes.

Artist Track Source Label

Chris Rea Stainsby Girls New Light Through Old Windows Magnet Records

Chris Rea Electric Guitar Santo Spirito Blues Jazzee Blue

Chris Rea Stony Road Dancing Down The Stony Road Jazzee Blue

Chris Rea Tell Me There's A Heaven Road To Hell Magnet Records

The Hamsters Wouldn't Lay My Guitar Down Open All Hours Rockin' Rodent Recordings

Kim Wilson Easy Baby Slow Burn MC Records

The Fabulous Thunderbirds The Things I Forgot To Do The Jimmie Vaughan Years - Complete Studio Recordings 1978 -1989 The Last Music Co

The Fabulous Thunderbirds It Takes A Big Man To Cry The Jimmie Vaughan Years - Complete Studio Recordings 1978 -1989 The Last Music Co

Jimmie Vaughan Power of Love Do You Get The Blues The Last Music Co

Loïs Morgan Obsessed With The Blues Voodoo Spell Mystic Bayou Records

Eddie Kold Band feat Larry 'Doc' Watkins Lipstick On Your Bra Blues In My Heart Bellaphon Records

The Hofner Blue Notes BB Was A Commanche The Return of the Fabulous Hofner Blue Notes Magnet Records

As I mentioned last week, in 2025 I received over 300 albums, many of which I really enjoyed and trying to reduce my favourites to those that I could fit in to two 58-minute shows was quite a task and I could not include everybody. On this week’s edition of the award-winning Digital Blues, the first of the New Year, I bring you the second part of my review of last year with 16 tracks from some more of those that made the cut.

Tune in for music from Bobby Charles, Blues Against the Machine, Cecilya & The Candy Kings, Bernard Sellam & the Boyz from the Hood, Roomful of Blues, Southern Avenue, Candice Ivory, Jon Cleary, Carolyn Wonderland, Secondhand Dreamcar, Big Dave & the Dutchmen, The Freaky Buds ft Alabama Mike, Jessie Lee & The Alchemists, J.T. Lauritsen & the Buckshot Hunters with Friends, Larkin Poe and The James Oliver Band.

Artist Track Source Label

Bobby Charles I Can't Quit You Last Train to Memphis The Last Music Co

Blues Against the Machine I Ain't Got No Money Blues Against the Machine Mobydick/Flower Records

Cecilya & The Candy Kings One Way Ticket to Paradise Parisian Mambo Rock 'n' Hall/Dixiefrog

Bernard Sellam & the Boyz from the Hood Barnyard Boogie Barnyard Boogie Bluz-Track Productions

Roomful of Blues Well Oh Well Steppin' Out Alligator Records

Southern Avenue Back To What Feels Right Family Alligator Records

Candice Ivory Lookin' For My Baby New Southern Vintage Nola Blue Records

Jon Cleary Zulu Coconuts The Bywater Sessions FHQ Records/Well Kept Secret

Carolyn Wonderland Deepest Ocean Blue Truth Is Alligator Records

Secondhand Dreamcar Get Down On The Ground Answer the Call Independent

Big Dave & the Dutchmen This Work Big Dave & the Dutchmen Naked/Donor Productions

The Freaky Buds ft Alabama Mike She's Nineteen Years Old Western Smoke Freak Land Records

Jessie Lee & The Alchemists On The Other Side Legacy Binaural Productions/Absilone

J.T. Lauritsen & the Buckshot Hunters with Friends Hold What I Got Still Be Friends Hunter Records

Larkin Poe Mockingbird Bloom Tricky Woo Records

The James Oliver Band Hideaway From Bombay to Blackwood Independent

In 2025 I received over 300 albums, many of which I really enjoyed. Trying to reduce my favourites to those that I could fit in to two 58-minute shows was quite a task and I could not include everybody. On this week’s edition of the award-winning Digital Blues, I bring you the first part of my review of the year with 15 tracks from just some of those that made the cut. Part 2 is next week.

Tune in for music from La Bedoune feat. Bob Corritore, Trevor Babajack Steger, L.R. Phoenix, Ben Tyzack, Mary Stokes Band, Taj Mahal & Keb' Mo', Doug Macleod, Robbert Duijf, Micke & Lefty Featuring Chef, Hubert Dorigatti with Roly Platt, Andy Fairweather Low, Mike Andersen, Manu Lanvin, Shaggy Dogs and Lucky Pepper.

Artist Track Source Label

La Bedoune feat. Bob Corritore Rien Qu'une Fois Roue de Fortune Independent

Trevor Babajack Steger Farewell Sorrow Six Foot Ten Independent

L.R. Phoenix Skinny Woman If The Devil Sang The Blues Independent

Ben Tyzack Midnight Mademoiselle Blues To The River Independent

Mary Stokes Band That's All Right Hometown Blues Independent

Taj Mahal & Keb' Mo' Make Up Your Mind Room on the Porch Concord Records

Doug Macleod Even Angels Get Too Sad to Fly Between Somewhere and Goodbye Reference Recordings

Robbert Duijf First Train Out Silver Spoon Donor/Naked

Micke & Lefty Featuring Chef Big Bill Blues Live on Air Hokahey! Records

Hubert Dorigatti with Roly Platt Cold Cold Heart Poor Boy Apaloosa Records

Andy Fairweather Low Baby What You Want Me To Do The Invisible Bluesman The Last Music Co

Mike Andersen Souls on Fire All Out of Love Custom Records - Baco Music

Manu Lanvin Sauvigny-Sur-Orge Man On A Mission Gel Productions - Pias

Shaggy Dogs We Could have Been to China Pinball Boomers First Offence Records

Lucky Pepper Mermaid Cove Cooking without Singing! Ducky Duck Records

This week’s edition of the award-winning Digital Blues is the annual Christmas special so grab some wine and mince pies and luxuriate in 58 minutes of Yuletide bluesyness as I cram in no less than 15 tracks some new and some not so, but they sure give you an eclectically decorated Christmas tree!

Tune in for music from Reverend Shawn Amos, C.J. Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band, Beausoleil, Marcia Ball, Sonny Landreth feat. The Dixicups, Kaz Hawkins & Joyful Gospel Singers, Keb' Mo', Delta Moon, Misty Blues, Denis Agenet & the Nolapsters, The Texas Horns (feat. Teresa James), Kat Riggins, Mercedes Nicole, Lil' Red & The Rooster and Ben Levin.

Artist Track Source Label

Reverend Shawn Amos Santa Claus is Gonna Make It Alright Blind Racoon Christmas Sampler www.shawnamos.com

C.J. Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band Zydeco Christmas Genuine Houserockin' Christmas Alligator Records

Beausoleil Papa Saint Nick Christmas Gumbo Flambeau Records

Marcia Ball Christmas Fais Do Do Genuine Houserockin' Christmas Alligator Records

Sonny Landreth feat. The Dixicups Got To Get You Under My Tree Christmas Gumbo Flambeau Records

Kaz Hawkins & Joyful Gospel Singers Life is a Road Single www.kazhawkins.com

Keb' Mo' We Call It Christmas The Spirit of the Holiday EP Sony Records

Delta Moon Christmas Time in New Orleans Babylon Is Falling Jumping Jack Records

Misty Blues Coal In My Stockings Single Guitar One

Denis Agenet & the Nolapsters My First Christmas Alone Peace Of Land Rock N Hall

The Texas Horns (feat. Teresa James) Even Santa Gets The Blues Jingle All The Way Nola Blue Records

Kat Riggins It Ain't Christmas Gulf Coast Christmas Gulf Coast Records

Mercedes Nicole Close Fire & Solitude Independent

Lil' Red & The Rooster Santa Baby Jingle All The Way Nola Blue Records

Ben Levin Skating Ben Levin Presents A Holiday Blues Revue Vizztone

This week’s edition of the award-winning Digital Blues is dedicated to the victims of domestic abuse with four tracks which I feel are particularly relevant. Plus there are 8 other tracks from new and recent arrivals, including two from this month’s IBBA Picks of the Month.

Tune in for music from Earl Thomas, Olivia Stevens, Shania Twain, Haylen, Kaz Hawkins, Steve Howell & Fats Kaplin, Erin Harpe Featuring Jim Countryman, Hubert Dorigatti with Charlie Musselwhite, Robert Top Thomas, Duwayne Burnside, Pops Fletcher & The Hucksters and Blood Brothers.

Artist Track Source Label

Earl Thomas Elijah Rock Earl Thomas Live In London Earl Thomas Music

Olivia Stevens About Love Single Independent

Shania Twain Black Eyes, Blue Tears Come On Over Mercury Records

Haylen With You I Feel Alone Blue Wine Le Backbeat/Baco Distribution

Kaz Hawkins So Much More Than This Coming Home EarlyBird Records

Steve Howell & Fats Kaplin Cold Haily Windy Night Know You From Old Out of the Past Music

Erin Harpe Featuring Jim Countryman Casey Jones Let The Mermaids Flirt With Me VizzTone Label Group

Hubert Dorigatti with Charlie Musselwhite Poor Boy Poor Boy Apaloosa Records

Robert Top Thomas Long, Long Gone One Morning Soon Independent

Duwayne Burnside Nightmare Red Rooster Lucky 13 Records

Pops Fletcher & The Hucksters Try Almost Live Independent

Blood Brothers Soulard Serenade Help Yourself Gulf Coast Records

This week’s edition of the award-winning Digital Blues crams in no less than 15 tracks from new and recent arrivals, including two from this month’s IBBA Picks of the Month, and what an eclectic bunch they are!

Tune in for music from Shakura S'Aida, Altered Five Blues Band, Mike Bourne Band, Mark Cameron, Bobby Charles, Rebecca Downes, Greg Nagy, Doug Macleod, Randy Lee Riviere, Rhiannon Giddens, Andy Twyman, Erin Harpe Featuring Jim Countryman, Catfish Keith, Hubert Dorigatti with Fabrizio Poggi and Bob Corritore & Friends feat Robert Lockwood Jr.

Artist Track Source Label

Shakura S'Aida Keep It Movin' Single Independent

Altered Five Blues Band Hammer & Chisel Blues Factory Blind Pig

Mike Bourne Band Kansas City O'Clock Kansas City O'Clock Overton Music

Mark Cameron Too Hot To Boogie Blues Factory Overton Music

Bobby Charles Secrets Last Train to Memphis The Last Music Co

Rebecca Downes Waiting For The Morning A Storm Is Coming Mad Hat Records

Greg Nagy Love Letter Just A Little More Time Independent

Doug Macleod I Don't Like Your Chances Between Somewhere and Goodbye Reference Recordings

Randy Lee Riviere Bird Watchin' Farmhand Blues Wilderness Records

Rhiannon Giddens Hen in the Foxhouse You're the One Nonesuch Records

Andy Twyman Going Down Slow Single Independent

Erin Harpe Featuring Jim Countryman Got the Blues (Can't Be Satisfied) Let The Mermaids Flirt With Me VizzTone Label Group

Catfish Keith John The Revelator Sugar for Sugar - Vol. 1 2025 Summer Sessions Fish Tail Records

Hubert Dorigatti with Fabrizio Poggi Boogie Mama Poor Boy Apaloosa Records

Bob Corritore & Friends feat Robert Lockwood Jr. Naptown Blues Early Blues Sessions VizzTone Label Group

This week’s edition of the award-winning Digital Blues is a really international affair featuring 12 tracks from albums that arrived recently and which I have not had the chance to play as much as I would like! Join me for tracks from Canada, the USA, France, Norway, Denmark, Italy, the UK and Germany!

Tune in for music from Bywater Call, Roomful of Blues, Bernard Sellam & the Boyz from the Hood, Mother Blues with Gerald McClendon, J.T. Lauritsen & the Buckshot Hunters with Friends, Mike Andersen, Robbin Kapsalis, Candice Ivory, Eva Carboni, Long Tall Deb & Colin John, Son Henry and Christian Rannenberg.

Artist Track Source Label

Bywater Call Sunshine Sunshine, Live 2024 Bywater Call Records

Roomful of Blues Please Don't Leave Steppin' Out Alligator Records

Bernard Sellam & the Boyz from the Hood Long Long Time Barnyard Boogie Bluz-Track Productions

Mother Blues with Gerald McClendon Going Down for the last Time Sleeping While The River Runs Sleeping Dog Records

J.T. Lauritsen & the Buckshot Hunters with Friends No Good Place to Cry Still Be Friends Hunter Records

Mike Andersen Falling For You All Out of Love Custom Records - Baco Music

Robbin Kapsalis Lead Me On The Blues Is In The House Robbin Kapsalis & Blues House Productions

Candice Ivory Let Your Love Shine On New Southern Vintage Nola Blue Records

Eva Carboni Wrong Turn (Archives Mix) The Blues Archive Mad Ears Productions

Long Tall Deb & Colin John Deflection Blues Light it Up VizzTone Records

Son Henry Long Way Home All Blues 2000 - 2025 Twang House Records

Christian Rannenberg Rampart and Damaine Old School Blues Piano Stylings Acoustic Music Records

This week’s edition of the award-winning Digital Blues features another selection of 14 very varied tracks, including two from IBBA Picks of the Month and four from France.

Tune in for music from Kaz Hawkins, Zoe Schwarz, Rob Koral & Friends, Lil Magic Sam, Manu Lanvin, The Freaky Buds, Dave Arcari, Catfish Keith, Eric Bibb, The BC Combo featuring Bev Conklin, Paul Filipowicz, Pops Fletcher & The Hucksters, Robert Top Thomas, Hubert Dorigatti with Fabrizio Poggi and The B Christopher Band.

Artist Track Source Label

Kaz Hawkins Lifeline of Love Radio Soul Remix Coming Home EarlyBird Records

Zoe Schwarz. Rob Koral & Friends House of Colours Colourful House RKUK Records

Lil Magic Sam Tired Out Tired Out Independent

Manu Lanvin Saving Angel Man On A Mission Gel Productions - Pias

The Freaky Buds The Comeback Western Smoke Freak Land Records

Dave Arcari Close To The Edge Still Friends Buzz Records

Catfish Keith Keep Out The Way of the Sherriff Sugar for Sugar - Vol. 1 2025 Summer Sessions Fish Tail Records

Eric Bibb Muddy Waters One Mississippi Repute Records/Proper

The BC Combo featuring Bev Conklin It's a Small Club Glass Half Full Momojo Records

Paul Filipowicz I'm Leaving You Breakwater Big Jake Records

Pops Fletcher & The Hucksters Toxic Almost Live Independent Robert Top Thomas Haints In My House One Morning Soon Independent

Hubert Dorigatti with Fabrizio Poggi Mountain Life Poor Boy Apaloosa Records

The B Christopher Band Deep Dish Dirt Snapshots from the Second Floor Guitar One Records

This week’s edition of the award-winning Digital Blues features 14 very varied tracks, most of which should even please the blues police!! Included are two from IBBA Picks of the Month and three from the Antipodes.

Tune in for music from Zoe Schwarz. Rob Koral & Friends, Billy Branch & The Sons of Blues feat Bobby Rush, Mud Morganfield, Buddy Guy, Lonnie Mack, Bobby Charles, Jimmie Vaughan, Erin Harpe Featuring Jim Countryman, Hudspeth & Taylor, Dave Arcari, Kaliopi & the Blues Messengers, Catch 23, BB & The Bullets and Dom Pipkin.

This week’s edition of the award-winning Digital Blues coincides with Remembrance Sunday, Armistice Day and Veterans’ Day is dedicated to the memory of those who lost their lives or were gravely injured fighting to defend freedom, a freedom which we tend to take for granted in a world where our freedoms are under ever increasing threat. The show features 13 very varied tracks, many with powerful and moving lyrics around the theme.

Tune in for music from Shakin Stevens, Ian Siegal, Larry Garner, Motorhead, Larry Miller, The Neville Brothers, Eric Bibb, Rhiannon Giddens, Earl Thomas, Kaz Hawkins, Dave Arcari, The Deweys & the Black Cat Orchestra and The James Oliver Band.

Artist Track Source Label

Shakin Stevens Echoes of Our Times Echoes of Our Times HEC Ian Siegal Onwards & Upwards Stone By Stone Grow Vision

Larry Garner Broken Soldier Blues For Sale DixieFrog Records Motorhead 11.1916 1916 WTG Records

Larry Miller Soldier of the Line Soldier of the Line Big Guitar Records

The Neville Brothers With God on Our Side Yellow Moon A&M Records

Eric Bibb Masters of War Migration Blues DixieFrog Records

Rhiannon Giddens Another Wasted Life You're the One Nonesuch Records

Earl Thomas Old Landmark Earl Thomas Live In London Earl Thomas Music

Kaz Hawkins Drink To The Devil Live In Brezoi (I) DixieFrog Records

Dave Arcari Macpherson's Lament Still Friends Buzz Records

The Deweys & the Black Cat Orchestra The Gaslamp Memories Windwalker Rock'n'Hall/DixieFrog Records

The James Oliver Band Rawhide From Bombay to Blackwood Independent