A live recording of a concert can preserve one powerful moment indelibly in time. Coming June 14, 2024, Smithsonian Folkways will release The Complete Friends of Old-Time Music Concert by Bessie Jones, John Davis & The Georgia Sea Island Singers with Mississippi Fred McDowell and Ed Young, presenting a riveting, historic look at the intersection of Black folk traditions and civil rights activism. Taken from a concert in April 1965, this recording showcases the haunting songs of the Georgia Sea Islands Singers, led by Jones and Davis–Black folk songs and spirituals ..read more

Until Duane Allman and Dickey Betts formed the Allman Brothers in 1969, the standard rock band lineup called for a lead guitar backed by a rhythm guitar. Duane and Dickey both played lead. This twin guitar arrangement created a sound that permanently changed the paradigm that became southern rock. They were from Georgia. Dickey was just as important to their sound as Duane. He wrote and sang on the Allmans’ hit single “Ramblin’ Man” as well as “Blue Sky. He also composed the instrumentals “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed” and “Jessica.” Duane died in 1971, leaving Dickey the role as sole lead guit ..read more

Keith Richards has recorded a cover of “I’m Waiting for the Man.” The digital single & music video are out now and featured on the upcoming album The Power of the Heart: A Tribute to Lou Reed, which includes newly recorded covers from Keith Richards, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Rufus Wainwright, Lucinda Williams, Maxim Ludwig & Angel Olsen, Rickie Lee Jones, Mary Gauthier, Bobby Rush, Automatic, The Afghan Whigs, and Rosanne Cash. This special collection will be released by Light in the Attic Records and available on Vinyl & CD at fine independent record shops worldwide on Reco ..read more

Dickey Betts, the highly iconic singer, songwriter and guitarist for the Allman Brothers Band, has died at the age of 80. Rolling Stone reported that Betts’ cause of death was cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, per the late artist’s manager David Spero. A statement confirms, “It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that the Betts family announce the peaceful passing of Forrest Richard ‘Dickey’ Betts (December 12, 1943 – April 18, 2024) at the age of 80 years old. The legendary performer, songwriter, bandleader and family patriarch passed away earlier today at his home in Os ..read more

The Harris Theater and Delmark Records present a Gala Blues evening on Wednesday June 5, as a pre-event to the Chicago Blues Festival. We will bring legendary Chicago Blues venue Blue Chicago onto the Harris Theater stage in song and visual. The concert will showcase female vocalists and instrumentalists including Sheryl Youngblood, Melody Angel, Demetria Taylor, Carlise Guy, Sharon Lewis and Joanna Connor. These modern blues women will perform their own songs, bringing Chicago Blues to the World. Women in Blues is made possible through the Harris Theater Creative Future Fund, In par ..read more

The On the Blue: New Horizons cruise took place April 5-10, 2024 aboard the Norwegian Cruise Line ship Pearl, an ocean liner that has been custom outfitted to accommodate music cruises. The Pearl sailed from Miami to the sunny ports of Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic and Nassau in the Bahamas with fans grooving to classic rock sounds the whole way thanks to incredible performances from the likes of Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues, Al Stewart, the Zombies, Vanilla Fudge, Little River Band, Jimi Hendrix tribute artist Randy Hansen, Glenn Hughes of Deep Purple fame, the Alan Parsons Live ..read more

Over the past decade saxophonist, arranger, and producer Max Abrams has been touring around the world with country crossover phenoms The Mavericks, 150 cities a year on average, he tracks his journey in photos. It’s only natural Max is a professional musician and amateur photographer, since his father was a professional photographer and an amateur musician. Each day he opens the tour bus doors to see what there is to see, he thinks of his father. Some days are cathedrals in Cologne, Germany, some days RV park signs in Marfa, Texas. But each photograph in his new book Seeing Things contains a m ..read more

Live and Havin’ Fun, recorded at The Mint in Los Angeles, is Deb Ryder’s first live album. This stellar singer-songwriter and arranger once again exhibits her innovative and sensational talent. The album was produced with her husband/bass player Ric W. Ryder and features familiar names Johnny Lee Schell, Tony Braunagel, Jim Pugh, and Ric W. Ryder, plus Tex Nakamura, Alan Maggini, Lon Price, and Paul Litteral — as well as special guests Albert Lee, Joe Sublett, Joey Delgado, Artur Menezes and Big Llou Johnson. With music that swings along well suited to the words, the single “Fun Never Hur ..read more

Bayport BBQ Blues is the new studio album by Indiana-based blues duo Left Lane Cruiser, featuring Freddy J IV on guitar and vocals, and Brenn “Sausage Paw” Beck on drums, washboard and trash kit.  The album blends Freddy’s commanding, gritty vocal rasp and hoodoo slide guitar work with Sausage Paw’s rhythmic stomp to soundtrack your next backyard barbecue or juke joint get-down. Bayport BBQ Blues is dedicated to the memory of the late Chris Johnson, creator of the Deep Blues Festival. Premiering exclusively on American Blues Scene is “Big Momma Shake,” which follows lead single “Turkey Vu ..read more

LOST ANGEL: The Genius Of Judee Sill opens this week in theaters, on digital and on-demand (Apple, Amazon, Vudu , major platforms) in the US and Canada on April 12. The never-before-told story of folk-rock icon Judee Sill, who in just two years went from living in a car to appearing on the cover of Rolling Stone. The documentary charts her troubled adolescence through her meteoric rise in the music world and her early tragic death. Featuring Linda Ronstadt, Jackson Browne, David Crosby, Graham Nash, Fleet Foxes, David Geffen, JD Souther, Big Thief, Weyes Blood, Tim Page and ..read more