“I think if we can make more people aware of blues music and that the root of so many types of music goes back to the blues, it can gain more appreciation which it seems like, thankfully, it has been heading in the right direction.”

Ryan “Bluwrath” Newman: Wrath Of Blues

Ryan Newman, a blues-rock prodigy from Chester, CT, taught himself guitar at age 7, overcoming a learning disorder. Inspired by Jimi Hendrix at age 8, his mature style quickly led him to play regular gigs and later jam with John Mayall at 16. Known for his powerful technique, he became a fixture in the Connecticut blues scene, performing at legendary clubs like Black Eyed Sally's and the Knickerbocker Music Center. His passion and powerful guitar stylings earned him the nickname “Bluwrath,” which inspired the title of his debut album, Wrath Of Blues (2026). Named "Best New Artist" by the New England Music Hall of Fame, Newman unwraps his formidable guitar skills across an incredible array of styles. Reflecting a maturity of taste, the album overflows with 14 tracks—13 smartly chosen covers ranging from Hoagie Carmichael to Bob Dylan, plus his own original, "Leaving This World Tonight."

(Photo: Ryan “Bluwrath” Newman, based in New England is destined to redefine the modern blues scene)

Instead of mimicking great artists, he has absorbed their influences and filtered them through his own fiercely emotive fretwork to make these songs entirely his own, backed by soulful session gurus. Today, Ryan fronts the power blues trio Righteous Continental, performs with The Incredible Amplifires, and plays in the acoustic duo Katmanduo. Driven by his passion, this soft-spoken guitarist is destined to redefine the modern blues scene.

Interview by Michael Limnios              Special Thanks: Betsie Brown (Blind Raccoon)

What keeps a musician passionate over the years in rock and blues music? How did the blues shape rock and roll?

I’ve been playing the guitar since I was 8 years old, and from the very beginning I found it the ultimate form of self-expression. I’ve been trying to craft the sounds I’ve always wanted to make, in my own way, since then. Playing music you enjoy is a great way to always stay inspired and motivated to keep getting better and refining your art. I am glad the music found me at a young age and I want to keep the spirit of old-school blues-rock thriving while bringing my own twist on the styles that inspire me.

The blues shaped rock and roll when musicians from Mississippi and beyond migrated to Chicago seeking better lives and turned their blues up to “11”, which caught on and was made popular by the great rock and roll artists of the 50’s and 60’s. I actually started with rock and figured I had to listen to what they listened to in order to properly understand the music.

How do you describe your sound, music philosophy, and songbook? Where does your creative drive come from?

I describe my sound as a nod to the past while bringing the spirit of blues into the present day. I like to play with a lot of raw energy and give 110% every time I take the stage no matter what the venue. I like to not be afraid to just go for it, playing what you feel and not being too concerned with over-thinking in the moment or eschewing exciting phrasing for squeaky-clean technique all the time. I play a lot of the music that made me fall in love with the guitar, while throwing in some of my own original chestnuts when I have them. While I do wear my influences on my sleeve, I do my best to honor those who came before me while interpreting what I know and go for in a unique way. I take elements of blues, rock, and a hint of other styles like reggae, country, and soul music and try to blend them up into something fresh and interesting for all to find something they like in my music.

I hope you enjoy the record as much as we enjoyed making it, which also goes to the part about creative drive. I like to bring people great feelings when they listen to my music, to make their days a little bit better with the sounds I generate, and to make their lives easier when I’m pouring my heart into the music. If I can move the audience and put on a memorable show, I feel like I’m doing the right thing and that’s such a great thing to keep the creative spirit up! I’ve also been writing more, and thinking what else I can do to keep growing into the best musician and artist I can be.

“The blues shaped rock and roll when musicians from Mississippi and beyond migrated to Chicago seeking better lives and turned their blues up to “11”, which caught on and was made popular by the great rock and roll artists of the 50’s and 60’s. I actually started with rock and figured I had to listen to what they listened to in order to properly understand the music.” (Photo: Ryan “Bluwrath” Newman)

Why do you think that New England’s Blues Scene continues to generate such a devoted following?

I think New England has such a good following because there are a lot of places to play within a small radius, and there is a lot of incredible talent all over the region! There are a lot of fans of this music around here and I just want to do what I can to bring them something fresh and interesting! I have been moving up the ropes of the New England club scene for about 10 years at this point and it seems like more people are catching on to what I’m doing, which is super enthralling considering it is what I’ve put my entire life’s work into! I appreciate each and every person that takes the time out of their day to see us perform, and very much hoping for and anticipating a long-awaited international breakout!

Are there any memories from gigs, jams, opening acts or studio sessions which you’d like to share with us?

Well, there are very many, but one I should mention was getting to perform onstage with John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers when I had just turned 17 years old! It was pretty amazing to be able to step in the shoes of my heroes and offer the best of what I had at the time! I’ve been playing in bands since well before I was old enough to drive, and I am lucky for the experience I’ve had performing in public from such a young age.

Not long after sitting in with Mayall, when I was performing with my trio in the CT River Valley, Jon Grossbard and Scott Struzinski came to a gig to see what I was about. I have to extend many thanks for taking a chance on me when I was right out of my teens and still had a ways to go on getting the performance to the level it needed to be, particularly with my singing, and helping me refine my abilities through the process of recording Wrath of Blues. I was able to learn from the best of the best in the studio, and I will never forget the growth during the recording process as well, becoming more refined as an artist while still holding true to what I believe, which is an honest, greasy sound that thrills the listener!

“I want to be able to introduce blues to new generations, and to inspire others of all ages to want to pick up the guitar. The blues needs to be passed down and understood by anyone who likes music, and by giving it some fresh life and an aggressive yet fun and light-hearted spirit, I hope that my record can preserve the history of the blues while keeping it contemporary enough to hook even a casual listener.” (Photo: Ryan “Bluwrath” Newman, a blues-rock prodigy from Chester, CT,)

What do you miss most nowadays from the music of the past? What are your hopes and fears for the future of music?

Well, I have found that a lot of popular music made in the last 25 years or so has lacked a certain soul, or character, that made some of the pop of the past so timeless and great. I will say it seemed like in the 2010’s it got so digital sounding that improvements have been made with older music coming back around and influencing newer music. I don’t listen to a lot of contemporary music myself, but there is still plenty of great music being made if you look for it. I don’t particularly care for the use of samples in music, or digital beats, and while I don’t mean to sound like a dinosaur, I like my music to have all genuine, soulful sounds, played by real musicians.

While Wrath has a big production and expansive sound, you can hear my personality shine through on every tune which can be lost in modern music if one relies on technology too much. While digital recording has many practical advantages, I’d love to cut a record on 2” tape some day. Much of the recording of Wrath was done before artificial intelligence really came onto the scene in the last couple of years, and I and many other musicians feel it could be abused to replace human beings putting the work into making music special, as sometimes the average, casual listener may not be able to differentiate an AI-generated recording from a real one. I am here for keeping only real sounds and inspired performances by great musicians in my music, and I hope others like me follow suit, which it seems like it has been turning around with like-minded talented artists refusing to settle for artificially generated noise and making music from their heart.

Why is it important that we preserve and spread the blues, and what does the blues mean to you?

When I mentioned I started with rock and went to blues from there, I really learned I don’t think anyone can really call themselves a fan of rock and roll or popular music if they don’t do a deep dive into the blues at some point in their lives. Guys like T-Bone Walker and Lonnie Johnson turned the world onto the wonders of single-note blues-influenced soloing, and once that style started becoming more in vogue in the late 40’s, the modern rock ’n roll style of guitar was born out of trying to take the instrument places it hadn’t been.

I want to be able to introduce blues to new generations, and to inspire others of all ages to want to pick up the guitar. The blues needs to be passed down and understood by anyone who likes music, and by giving it some fresh life and an aggressive yet fun and light-hearted spirit, I hope that my record can preserve the history of the blues while keeping it contemporary enough to hook even a casual listener.

I think Eric Clapton and of course Stevie Ray Vaughan did wonders to give credit to the bluesmen that influenced them, while interpreting what they knew in their own way. If I can give back while pushing the genre forward, I think I can accomplish what I strive for. The blues means so much to me as I found it a way to escape from the noise that reality tends to throw at you. I figured I couldn’t be able to play it properly unless I really absorbed the music and what the original guys were trying to say, and it’s a big part of the lifelong journey of keeping the spirit and the passion in the music, the soul of the blues!

“Playing music you enjoy is a great way to always stay inspired and motivated to keep getting better and refining your art. I am glad the music found me at a young age and I want to keep the spirit of old-school blues-rock thriving while bringing my own twist on the styles that inspire me.” (Photo: Ryan “Bluwrath” Newman, Known for his powerful technique, he became a fixture in the Connecticut blues scene)

What is the role of music/musicians in today’s society? How can we bring the blues of the past into the future?

I don’t think the role of music or musicians has changed in today’s society, but I do feel like it can be harder to break through in certain ways. I heard a stat that blew me away, where I believe 20 years ago there were about 40,000 songs released, whereas now, with the advances in recording technology, there is somewhere in the neighborhood of 2 million. So it can definitely be tougher in an over-saturated market, but I’m here to do what I can to make good music and cultivate my own unique sound.

I think if we can make more people aware of blues music and that the root of so many types of music goes back to the blues, it can gain more appreciation which it seems like, thankfully, it has been heading in the right direction. It goes back to what I am trying to accomplish with my record and music: honor the ones who inspired and influenced me while putting my own unique and fresh twist on blues!

You divide your creativity among three different projects: Righteous Continental, The Incredible Amplifires, and KatManDuo. What do you gain artistically from each one, and how do you manage to balance such different performance styles?

I’ve been fronting Righteous Continental for over 10 years, and it’s been a wonderful experience to make music I love with some of my best friends. It’s a very fun and exhilarating project, and I learned so much about what it takes to fill out the sound of a trio. We have even toured the US Virgin Islands.

I’ve been playing with Dave Robbins and the Incredible Amplifires even longer. Right after I left college, I decided I wanted to join a working blues band, and I realized a lot of the more rock stylings I had at the time were completely different than what playing real authentic blues called for. That also did wonders into turning me into a better blues player as well as rock ’n roll. The styles go hand in hand, but I’ve tried to add a little more subtlety and variety in my playing as I’ve gotten older.

Well, as for KatManDuo, what can I say, I am incredibly happy and grateful to be able to make music with my dearly beloved partner, Kat Madrak, and it combines our mutual love of playing music while displaying our talents to the public! She is a terrific vocalist and very capable pianist, and it’s amazing to be able to perform with my incredibly beautiful and talented girlfriend! Playing live performances regularly is all I’ve ever done long term. I play basically whenever and wherever I can, and now with the record out, expect to see more Ryan “Bluwrath” Newman shows in the near future.

(Photo: Ryan “Bluwrath” Newman, based in New England is destined to redefine the modern blues scene)