"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."…

"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…

"The Blues Music Family is a tight family. Race plays a part in our daily lives these days but in the blues world, Black Folks and White Folks all get along hang out together."

Rick Booth: The Intrepid Blues Family

Intrepid Artists Int’l was founded in Dec of 1994 by current owner and President of the company, Rick Booth. Rick Booth Jr. was born…

"We learn about life and how to roll with the punches. And no matter how bad things seem to be, you are not alone. Blues is your family."

Delmark Goldfarb: One Blues World

Del Goldfarb writes of a singular life which carried him across the USA for years, before expanding his trails to include Europe, Israel and elsewhere. Among his…

"Blues music is a perfect way to tell your thoughts about all these matters. On the other hand, blues can also be ‘’happy’’ blues. People want to dance to the music instead of listening to the lyrics. I don’t think blues music will change the world. I only have to remind you of M.L. King, a great man. Nothing really changed since his dead. We still have to face racial and socio-cultural problems all over the world."…

"Better music programs in schools. It should be mandatory - all of the arts should be, but a solid introduction to blues and rock n' roll would make the world better, don’t you think?  And jazz — so people aren’t scared of it. And classical music, too, so people don’t think it is just for snobs. Mozart is fun. Miles Davis is fun."

Mike Edison: Rock n' Roll Is Here To Stay…

"I would hope that the blues would continue to be primarily a storytelling medium, but I fear that “the blues” will morph and “evolve” into more commercially-appealing “blues-rock” with little to no reference to the traditional musical structures and storytelling qualities, and that the importance of lyrics will degrade into simplistic and meaningless stock “blues” cliches that serve only as a mere backdrop to endless instrumental noodling and unemotional…

"I miss the genuine honesty of it all. Because the original blues songs were written from their heart and soul and I’m afraid the majority today are just creating lyrics or just mimicking what they think the blues should be. But with this said it would be hard for them to write with the experiences of the original blues guys because times have changed and that type of struggling is hopefully non-existent."…

"Music is an art. It is culture. It is life evoked through a tune. It has social implications. Social implications mean political implications in our current world. Everything is intertwined in some way."

GravelRoad: Crooked Nation Blues

GravelRoad has been pushing the musical boundaries for over a decade and a half, forging a distinct sound that…

"The Blues speaks precisely of that, of the struggle for the same rights for all, there is no color, we are all human beings. Blues is the most direct music, which enters the heart."

Mariano Cardozo: Keeping the Blues Alive

Argentinian Mariano Cardozo is a hard worker blues producer, musician, manager and director of Baires Blues Productions.…

"I am always drawn to the places where music connects people who might seem different from each other or divided. I've been in many situations where there are divisions or differences among people in terms of their political views and cultural backgrounds, but it melts away (or at least gets set aside) when we play music together."

Sue Decker: Outskirts of Love…

"Well I think we all know that blues was created in the south by African Americans. Using a lot of their influences and speaking of their experiences. It comes from a lot of emotions. Truth be told I stay away from politics so I really don’t know. As far as racial implications, blues nowadays is loved by every color and every ethnicity at least in my experience. Like I said before, it is a healer."…

"Great art always reflects the sociopolitical happenings of its time. You can recognize the value of a culture based on the art being created."

Will Jacks: The Images of Mississippi

Will Jacks is a photographer, curator, storyteller, and educator of culture and relationships in the Mississippi Delta, the Lower Mississippi River region, and the…

"I’m not a big fan of modern contemporary pop music; just a personal preference. As far as modern blues music, I feel like it’s in a pretty good place. The blues tent has enough room for all tastes and styles. I would like to see more younger people follow the genre as fans to ensure we all have fans to enjoy the music we create moving forward."

Tom Craig: Get Ready For The…

“The impact has been significant of course.  Integrated bands helped lead the way… Butterfield made a huge contribution in 1965 when he showed up with and integrated band from Chicago.  Folk musicians in urban areas had an easy time crossing racial lines.  Once one sees this working (an audience), they think differently about their neighbors.”

Geoff Muldaur: The Dreamin’ Folk…

"I believe that every art form is a political statement. Rock music must have this alternate view. And I have to admit that I hate every right-wing guy out there."

Dustbowl: The Story of Mother Earth Rock

Greek band Dustbowl founded in May 2006. In Sept. 2008 their 1st album “Troublebound & Lonesome” has been released and in May…

"The Blues as we know it came out of the cotton fields of the Deep South of the US. It was born out of a clash of cultures and gave the poor a voice. Suddenly, people who had previously been unheard now had a voice and were singing about everyday things, instead of only about God."

Nigel McTrustry: Blues In The Box

Brisbane-based musician Nigel…

"What is clear is the capacity of the music to lift people’s spirits and deliver a positive impact on morale and wellbeing."

Rebecca Downes: Blues Rock Kingdom

Birmingham-based Rebecca and her band are a ‘must see’ live act that often leaves newcomers simply blown away by the power of the performance. With her co-writer Steve Birkett alongside…

"The people that created this music did so to express themselves and escape from the daily struggles of their lives that were made unnecessarily harsh through no fault of their own. We have a responsibility to recognize the situations that created this music and to be respectful of those of lived through it."

Screamin' John and TD Lind: Big Blues Men…

"The SOUL and organic quality of REAL music, made by humans; truly talented people playing real instruments and singing from the heart; no tricks, no bullshit, just absolutely honest and pure music... coming straight from the soul."

Doug Duffey and BADD: Play The Blues

Multi award-winning Doug Duffey and BADD are a North Louisiana-based quartet…