"Blues music is at the heart of our very rich heritage of growing up in the United States. There is a lot of noise and distraction nowadays to confuse and waste the only thing we really have, which is time, and a limited amount of it, at that. Don’t waste it! The impact of Blues is elemental and powerful. It began, and is, Black, African-American music, but it is embraced and preserved by everyone, now."…

"I feel blues these days is really too broad. Most of what people refer to as the blues is nothing more than rock and roll. Contemporary blues for the most part has become too predictable. The important thing about the blues is to make it your own. This is very, very challenging."

Janky: The Power of Texassippi Groove

Texas-based…

"Now today the whole world appears to have no answer, no hope, no solutions. So, it's like we are all slaves, but are we going to give up and roll over, or will we keep singing those Blues away? I had no idea what Big Joe Turner meant when he said to us (I was 25 years old) "Don't the Blues make you feel so happy?" Now I know. It's living in spite of trouble, not looking for it nor griping."

Al…

"I think I would want to change the level of patience and sense of subtleness of both the listeners and musicians. These days you have to be a bit more "extreme" to even get noticed. People don't seem to appreciate the simplicity and will to just groove without some fast and crazy soloing lines."

Jan Korinek: Groove All Night Long

“GROOVE” - No…

"When rock 'n' roll first happened it was a threat to the mainstream. When Chuck Berry happened it was a threats white America. When the bad brains happened it was a threat to rock 'n' roll."

Popa Chubby: It's A Mighty Hard Road

His career has always been about moving forward and carving a place for himself in the imposing terrain of the music…

"Regardless of genres, music can be a way of addressing racial or other problems. Does it have any effect? I’m not sure but it defnitely doesn’t hurt expressing your thoughts and feelings. Does it matter anyway what colour your skin is? We all bleed red! Do we need to agree on everything? I don’t think so. It’s okay to disagree, to have your own opinion, as long as you don’t enter extremist territory."…

"My fear is that now music is everywhere with platforms and magic is lost!"

Guy Bélanger: Welcome To Eldorado

Quebec’s most sought-after harmonica players, Guy Bélanger released his 6th solo album, Eldorado on October 2019 by Bros Records. This long-awaited new release features a mix of original blues songs and instrumental gems…

"Blues is a blank canvas for an artist. There are so many ways to express yourself through blues music."

Steve Strongman: Pushin' Boundaries

Tired of Talkin’ (2019) is the new album from JUNO award winner and 2019 International Blues Challenge Best Guitarist (solo/duo) Steve Strongman. Recorded in Nashville Tennessee and Hamilton…

"We are strong and solid as women in the Blues. I find many very talented women coming thru the ranks and find this very hopeful."

Janiva Magness: Truth, Hope and Protest

With her new Change in the Weather: Janiva Magness Sings John Fogerty (2019), the Grammy®-nominated artist is at the nexus of re-invention and tradition. The album,…

"In the current divisive political and social environment, I think blues and soul music has the ability to unify people around something that just speaks to the heart, but the music also provides a vessel to highlight important issues in a subtle and non-aggressive way."

Bywater Call: Spicy Music Gumbo

Born out of a love for southern soul, blues…