News

Living Blues magazine, in its May/June 2024 issue, announced the nominees for the 2024 Living Blues Awards. This year, ten Alligator artists received a total of sixteen nominations. Leading all nominated artists with four is GRAMMY Award-winning guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Christone "Kingfish" Ingram, who was nominated for Blues Artist Of The Year (Male), Best Blues Album (for Live In London), Best Live Performer and Most Outstanding Musician (Guitar).

Award-winning vocalist Shemekia Copeland received three nominations in the Blues Artist Of The Year, Most Outstanding Blues Singer and Best Live Performer categories.

Visionary Florida bluesman Selwyn Birchwood received two nominations: Best Blues Album (for Exorcist) and Best Live Performer.

Blues icon Charlie Musselwhite, Texas pianist/vocalist Marcia Ball, harmonica giants Rick Estrin (of Rick Estrin & The Nightcats) and Billy Branch, Chicago blues masters The NIck Moss Band Featuring Dennis Gruenling, legendary blues ensemble The Cash Box Kings, and deep blues vocalist Oscar Wilson (of The Cash Box Kings) each received one nomination.

Living Blues fans may vote with the Readers' Ballot, available at www.livingblues.com by June 15, 2024. Alligator artists and their nominations follow:   

Blues Artist Of The Year (Male)
Best Blues Album of 2023 (Live In London)
Best Live Performer
Most Outstanding Musician (Guitar)

Blues Artist Of The Year (Female)
Most Outstanding Blues Singer
Best Live Performer

Best Blues Album Of 2023 (Exorcist)
Best Live Performer  

Most Outstanding Musician (Harmonica) 

Most Outstanding Musician (Keyboards)

Most Outstanding Musician (Harmonica) 

Most Outstanding Musician (Harmonica)  

Best Blues Album Of 2023 (Get Your Back Into It!) 

Best Blues Album Of 2023 (Oscar's Motel)
Oscar Wilson - Most Outstanding Blues Singer 

Celebrated musician and passionate conservationist JJ Grey, whose new album Olustee is being hailed as the best of his career, is joining forces with the Live Wildly Foundation to champion the protection of Florida's wild spaces. This collaboration is a vital part of Live Wildly’s mission to balance Florida's ecology with its economy, ensuring the preservation of the state's rich natural heritage. Grey is a Jacksonville, Florida native, whose passionately soulful, swampy, funk-filled music often reflects his deep connection to the region's landscapes and waterways,

In his music, Grey often writes and sings of his love and respect for Florida's natural environment. Now, Grey is putting his passion for the environment into greater action. As the spokesperson for Live Wildly's 'Join the Movement' campaign, Grey will play a pivotal role in advocating for the connection and protection of Florida's wild places.
 
"Florida holds a special place in my heart, and I am deeply passionate about protecting its wild spaces for future generations," says Grey. "Through this partnership with Live Wildly, I am honored to join forces with like-minded individuals and organizations to ensure that our state's natural heritage remains intact in the face of rapid growth and development."
 
To further highlight this partnership, JJ Grey has announced his collaboration with Live Wildly ahead of his "Blackwater Sol Revue," a two-night concert event at The St. Augustine Amphitheatre on May 25 and May 26. Grey’s “Blackwater Sol Revue” will also feature an impressive slate of artists including Lucero, The Allman Betts Band, American Aquarium, G. Love & Special Sauce, and more. These performances not only promise to bring Grey’s soulful blend of rock, blues, and funk to his fans but also serve as a rallying point for community involvement in conservation efforts.

Live Wildly's 'Join the Movement' campaign includes a pledge for individuals to actively support conservation efforts. For every new member who joins, Live Wildly will donate a dollar to land conservation in Florida, aiming to protect the Florida Wildlife Corridor. The Florida Wildlife Corridor stretches over 18 million acres from the Panhandle to the Everglades. It is home to many of Florida’s 131 imperiled species and contributes $30 billion annually to the state’s economy through recreation, agriculture, and other industries, but only about half of the Corridor is protected. Live Wildly is working with partners to protect all the Wildlife Corridor to keep lands and waters connected, healthy, and productive across the state.
 
"We are thrilled to partner with JJ Grey as we work to preserve Florida's iconic natural areas," said Lisa Shipley, CEO of Live Wildly. "One of the first steps in this movement is to protect the Florida Wildlife Corridor. We look forward to working with JJ Grey to help all Floridians discover their personal connection to nature and the important role these lands and waters play in their daily lives.”
 
As part of their joint efforts, JJ Grey and Live Wildly will undertake a variety of initiatives, including educational outreach and grassroots advocacy, aimed at raising conservation awareness. Together, these efforts are designed to ensure that Florida's natural resources are valued and preserved, despite the pressures of ongoing development, benefiting everyone living in, and visiting, the Sunshine State.
 
For more information about JJ Grey and Live Wildly's partnership and the 'Join the Movement' campaign, visit www.livewildly.com/join-the-movement.
 
For tickets to JJ Grey’s Blackwater Sol Revue at The St. Augustine Amphitheatre on May 25 & 26, visit: https://www.theamp.com/events/detail/jj-grey-2024.
 
About JJ Grey:
JJ Grey is a critically acclaimed musician known for his soulful blend of Southern rock, blues, and funk. Hailing from north Florida, Grey's music reflects his deep connection to the land and waterways of his home state. In addition to his musical career, Grey is an outspoken advocate for environmental conservation, with a particular focus on protecting Florida's wild spaces.
 
About Live Wildly:
Live Wildly is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving Florida's natural landscapes and wildlife. Through advocacy, education, and community engagement, Live Wildly works to raise awareness about the importance of conservation and empower individuals to take action to protect the environment. The organization is committed to safeguarding Florida's rich biodiversity and ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.
 
About The St. Augustine Amphitheatre:
The St. Augustine Amphitheatre is managed and operated by SJC Cultural Events, Inc. (SJCCE), a nonprofit organization committed to enriching St. Johns County and engaging music enthusiasts worldwide through authentic cultural programming. Located on Anastasia Island, just half a mile from the beach and a short bridge crossing from downtown St. Augustine, the Amphitheatre is surrounded by the lush landscape of Anastasia State Park. With nearly 5,000 seats, it offers an intimate and scenic concert experience for all attendees. 

The City of Chicago will host the 2024 Chicago Blues Festival Thursday, June 6 through Sunday, June 9, taking place as part of Millennium Park’s milestone 20th anniversary season. Alligator Records stars Shemekia Copeland and Ronnie Baker Brooks will give a special opening night performance at the historic Ramova Theatre, 3520 S. Halsted St., in Chicago's Bridgeport neighborhood on Thursday, June 6. The opening night performance on Thursday, June 6 is free with online RSVP, which will go live Wednesday, May 1.

In addition to the opening night performance,  Alligator Records Artists The Nick Moss Band will join Louisiana bluesman Lil' Jimmy Reed and pianist Ben Levin on the Rosa’s Lounge (North Promenade) Stage on Friday, June 7. GRAMMY-nominated, Memphis-based roots, blues and soul band Southern Avenue, recently signed to Alligator Records, will headline the Jay Pritzker Pavilion Stage on Saturday, June 8.  The Cash Box Kings will perform on the Jay Pritzker Pavilion Stage on Sunday, June 9.

For more information, visit ChicagoBluesFestival.us or follow on Facebook (@ChicagoBluesFestival), Instagram (@ChicagoDCASE), (@Millennium_Park); or X/Twitter (@Millennium_Park) or (@ChicagoDCASE). Sign up for the DCASE Newsletter to receive monthly updates and event information. 

  

SHEMEKIA COPELAND
Award-winning, multi-GRAMMY Award-nominated blues, soul and Americana singer Shemekia Copeland possesses one of the most instantly recognizable and deeply soulful roots music voices of our time. She is beloved worldwide for the fearlessness, honesty and humor of her revelatory music, as well as for delivering each song she performs with unmatched passion. Copeland connects with her audience on an intensely personal level, taking them with her on what The Wall Street Journal calls “a consequential ride” of “bold and timely blues.” Look for a new Shemekia Copeland album later this year.

RONNIE BAKER BROOKS
Ronnie Baker Brooks was born in 1967 in Chicago, first playing guitar with his famous father onstage at age nine. Having joined his father's band full time after graduating high school, Ronnie made his recording debut on Lonnie Brooks' Live From Chicago: Bayou Lightning Strikes album in 1988. In 1991, he hit the road as part of The Alligator Records 20th Anniversary Tour band, backing Lonnie, Elvin Bishop, and Katie Webster. Ronnie performed with his father for 12 years, gaining valuable experience and sharing stages with such notables as Eric Clapton, B.B. King and Buddy Guy, among many others. His Alligator Records debut will be released in 2024.

NICK MOSS
Nick Moss is a towering figure in today’s blues world. He’s a guitarist who can play from subtle to searing, as well as a gifted singer and songwriter. He toured with, and was mentored by, 1950s blues titan Jimmy Rogers, and played in the bands of harpist/singer Willie “Big Eyes” Smith and West Side guitar hero Jimmy Dawkins. Nick has led his own band since 1997, cutting a dozen albums that range from traditional Chicago blues to hard-rocking guitar explorations. Moss’ latest Alligator Records release is Get Your Back Into It! by The Nick Moss Band featuring Dennis Gruenling. Moss, Gruenling and the band are five-time Blues Music Award recipients, including Band Of The Year.  

SOUTHERN AVENUIE
GRAMMY-nominated Memphis-based roots, blues and soul band Southern Avenue are known for their positive, message-driven original songs and their melting-pot mix of Memphis blues and soul. The dynamic collective, more a family than a band, showcases the jaw-dropping talents of Memphis born-and-raised sisters -- lead vocalist/songwriter Tierinii Jackson, drummer/vocalist Tikyra "TK" Jackson and percussionist/violinist/vocalist Ava Jackson -- along with endlessly creative Israel-born guitarist/songwriter Ori Naftaly and keyboardist Jeremy Powell. Tierinii's lyrics are defiant and straightforward, her mesmerizing vocals effortlessly moving from an emotional purr to an inspired and powerful roar, while the music explodes into a non-stop, all-inclusive celebration. 

THE CASH BOX KINGS
The Cash Box Kings’ most recent release is their dynamic 2023 Alligator Records album Oscar’s Motel. According to Living Blues magazine, The Cash Box Kings “are one of the best blues bands in the land.” The group, co-led by Chicago blues vocalist and songwriter Oscar “Mr. 43rd Street” Wilson, and Madison, Wisconsin-based harmonica giant, songwriter, and singer Joe Nosek, plays masterfully raw, unvarnished, old-school ensemble blues. Wilson’s huge, emotive vocals and Nosek’s blistering harmonica, along with an all-star band, fuel their razor-sharp original songs and always-incisive reinventions of obscure blues classics. 

        

“Among the most inspiring southpaws to ever pick up a six-string…Cannon shows the Windy City is not done teaching us about electric blues. He’s a real deal blueser, combining social commentary in his songs with heartfelt guitar playing topped off with killer vibrato.” —Guitar World
 
“Confident and spot-on…Cannon is an explosive guitarist, a one-man champion of Chicago blues…an influential star capable of carrying the traditions of this music and city to the contemporary realm.” —Blues Music Magazine 
 
“Tough-voiced, lyrically eloquent and musically focused…hard-grinding blues rock and urbane pop-soul balladry...Melodically rich guitar that seethes with emotion. Most impressive is his songwriting: his lyrics are full of wisdom laced with humor and life-toughened resolve.” —Living Blues 
 
“Bluesman Toronzo Cannon is one of Chicago’s finest string-bending storytellers. A highly emotive singer and a fantastic guitarist, but what makes him stand out in the contemporary blues scene is his talent for songwriting. Cannon packs so much substance into every song.” —Chicago Reader 

Award-winning, world-beloved Chicago bluesman Toronzo Cannon has announced the first set of dates of his Shut Up & Play! concert tour. The 28-city tour will take Cannon from the Midwest to the East Coast and back, including dates in Chicago, New York City, Philadelphia, Washington D.C. and Boston. Shut Up & Play! will be released on Friday, June 7, and is the third Alligator album from Cannon. It will be available on CD, yellow vinyl LP, and at all digital services.

With his richly detailed, truth-telling original songs, blistering, inventive guitar work and impassioned vocals, Cannon is on the cutting edge of today’s contemporary blues scene. He is considered one of the genre’s most creative artists. His sound is inspired by his heroes, including Hound Dog Taylor, Muddy Waters, Elmore James, Albert King, Son Seals and Jimi Hendrix. On Shut Up & Play!, Cannon blazes his own path with 11 emotionally-charged originals. From serious to humorous, his imaginative songs are fueled by his powerful, cathartic guitar solos and his soulfully authoritative voice.
 
Shut Up & Play! was co-produced by Cannon and Alligator president Bruce Iglauer. The album finds Cannon, a former Chicago Transit Authority bus driver, delivering timeless stories of common experiences, often unfolding in uncommon ways. His passionate and focused guitar playing sets his lyrics ablaze. From the first radio single, the attention-grabbing I Hate Love, to the gospel-inspired, autobiographical Had To Go Through It To Get To It, to the slow-burning, reflective Guilty, to the deeply personal Message To My Daughter, Shut Up & Play! tackles the gamut of human emotions. Song subjects range from the heartbreak of lost love, to the humor of daily life, to the pain of feeling invisible in today’s society, all as seen through Cannon’s wide-open eyes.

Cannon has been nominated for ten Blues Music Awards, and, as his fan base expands, so do his friendships with famous musicians. Gary Clark, Jr. declared, “Toronzo is a beast. He lights the room up,” and Joe Bonamassa rightly pronounced, “Toronzo’s a great guitar player, excellent vocalist and an amazing personality.”

Cannon has performed at clubs and festivals at major cities all over the U.S. and continues to bring his music directly to his fans. He’s toured Canada, the UK, made his way across Europe and even to Japan. He has played the Chicago Blues Festival on ten separate occasions, bringing tens of thousands of his fellow Chicagoans to their feet. His live performances unfailingly earn him heaps of critical praise and hordes of wildly enthusiastic new supporters. “Listen to a master bluesman at work,” declared the UK’s Blues & Rhythm magazine. “This is modern blues at its creative best.”

"Olustee has the hallmarks of JJ Grey & Mofro’s best work…reflective, raucous, introspective and exultant…The music is an expansive expression of 21st century Southern swamp boogie, which JJ Grey has helped to define." —Relix

"JJ Grey is a shape-shifter, a marauding swamp thing big-footin’ it through his ancestral Florida homeland, splashing muddy funk in all directions…Grab hold and hang on for the ride." —No Depression

"Olustee is classic JJ Grey...Swamp funk blues-rock [and] epic soul jams filled with grit, both musically and character-wise, alongside sun-soaked breezier fare."
—Garden & Gun

“The shining glory that permeates every single moment of Olustee is the voice of JJ Grey. It truly is a thing of wonder with its endless range and emotional impact. Olustee is a masterpiece of songcraft and soulful delivery. You have to marvel at just how much emotion one man can convey. Yes. It’s that good.”
—Blues Matters (UK) 

JJ Grey unveils the video for the song Seminole Wind, the John Anderson-penned track from JJ Grey & Mofro's new album, Olustee. Released in February 2024 and produced by Grey, Olustee is the band's first album in nine years. JJ Grey & Mofro are currently headlining theaters across the U.S. and will head to Europe and the UK later this year.

Grey, speaking of Seminole Wind (the only song on Olustee he did not write), says, "Seminole Wind is my favorite song by John Anderson and one of my favorites, period. I've been singing and playing it in one form or another all my life."

Last month, in March 2024, Anderson was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Seminole Wind, written by Anderson in 1992, references the development and destruction of the Everglades in Anderson’s (and Grey's) native Florida.

Writer Jay Miller of Boston's Patriot Ledger says, "Anderson’s original version was pretty darned good, but this rendition enhances it and gives it a real 2024 punch, and a serious dose of that patented JJ Grey grit."

Watch the new lyric video for Seminole Wind below :

Media have been excitedly supporting Olustee with features, reviews, and airplay, as fans continue filling larger and more prestigious venues across the country. The first single from Olustee, Wonderland, became an instant Top Ten track at Americana radio, and has received airplay on a number of Sirius/XM channels, including Outlaw Country. Overseas, press and radio from countries including Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, Spain, Norway and Greece have been singing Grey's praises and eagerly awaiting his return.

Olustee tells personal stories of redemption, rebirth, hard luck, and inner peace. With his gritty baritone vocals and passionate delivery of his soul-honest truths, Grey blends the cerebral, carnal, and heartfelt into timeless songs and memorable music. Olustee pushes the boundaries of his creative talents, blending mythical Southern stories of his ancestral Florida home with a poet's perspective. Grey's message is simple but powerful - respect nature, live in the moment, and have a good time.

TRACK LIST 1. The Sea 2. Top Of The World 3. On A Breeze 4. Olustee 5. Seminole Wind 6. Wonderland 7. Starry Night 8. Free High 9. Waiting 10. Rooster 11. Deeper Than Belief

        

“Among the most inspiring southpaws to ever pick up a six-string…Cannon shows the Windy City is not done teaching us about electric blues. He’s a real deal blueser, combining social commentary in his songs with heartfelt guitar playing topped off with killer vibrato.” —Guitar World
 
“Confident and spot-on…Cannon is an explosive guitarist, a one-man champion of Chicago blues…an influential star capable of carrying the traditions of this music and city to the contemporary realm.” —Blues Music Magazine 
 
“Tough-voiced, lyrically eloquent and musically focused…hard-grinding blues rock and urbane pop-soul balladry...Melodically rich guitar that seethes with emotion. Most impressive is his songwriting: his lyrics are full of wisdom laced with humor and life-toughened resolve.” —Living Blues 
 
“Bluesman Toronzo Cannon is one of Chicago’s finest string-bending storytellers. A highly emotive singer and a fantastic guitarist, but what makes him stand out in the contemporary blues scene is his talent for songwriting. Cannon packs so much substance into every song.” —Chicago Reader 

On Friday, June 7, 2024, Alligator Records will release Shut Up And Play!, the long-awaited new album from award-winning, world-beloved Chicago bluesman Toronzo Cannon. Shut Up And Play! is the third Alligator album from Cannon, and will be available on CD, yellow vinyl LP, and at all digital services.

With his richly detailed, truth-telling original songs, blistering, inventive guitar work and impassioned vocals, Cannon is on the cutting edge of today’s contemporary blues scene, and is known as one of the genre’s most creative artists. His sound is inspired by his heroes, including Hound Dog Taylor, Muddy Waters, Elmore James, Albert King, Son Seals and Jimi Hendrix. On Shut Up And Play!, Cannon blazes his own path with 11 emotionally-charged originals. From serious to humorous, his imaginative songs are fueled by his powerful, cathartic guitar solos and his soulfully authoritative voice.
 
Shut Up And Play! was co-produced by Cannon and Alligator president Bruce Iglauer. The album finds Cannon, a former Chicago Transit Authority bus driver, delivering timeless stories of common experiences, often unfolding in uncommon ways. His passionate and focused guitar playing sets his lyrics ablaze. From the first radio single, the attention-grabbing I Hate Love, to the gospel-inspired, autobiographical Had To Go Through It To Get To It, to the slow-burning, reflective Guilty, to the deeply personal Message To My Daughter, Shut Up And Play! tackles the gamut of human emotions. Song subjects range from the heartbreak of lost love, to the humor of daily life, to the pain of feeling invisible in today’s society, all as seen through Cannon’s wide-open eyes.  
 
Shut Up And Play! is bookended by two of Cannon’s most striking compositions, both a mirror of the times. The opener, the exuberantly performed blues scorcher Can’t Fix The World, shines a light on hypocrisy and duplicity, while unleashing dynamic, memorable guitar solos echoing the intensity of the vocals. The closer, Shut Up And Play!, takes a deep look inside, as Cannon vents his anger at being told to keep his opinions about the world to himself. As the defiant vocals command attention, Cannon’s frustrations pour into every note. Chicago’s New City declared, “Toronzo Cannon spins the innate human capacity of misery and regret into a kind of furious ecstasy.”

Today, Monday, April 8, Cannon premieres the new video for Can't Fix The World.  Watch below.

"I write what I know, what I feel,” Cannon says, “I like to put myself in the shoes of the subjects of my songs. This record is about the things going on in my life since 2019—it’s a document of what I’ve seen and been through, but the stories are universal. And it’s my way to get past negative things and keep my own sanity. Listen to the lyrics. I am a Black man in America. These are NOT protest songs. I try to create honest, common sense understanding with my songs.”

Cannon has been nominated for ten Blues Music Awards, and, as his fan base expands, so do his friendships with famous musicians. Gary Clark, Jr. declared, “Toronzo is a beast. He lights the room up,” and Joe Bonamassa rightly pronounced, “Toronzo’s a great guitar player, excellent vocalist and an amazing personality.”

Cannon has performed at clubs and festivals at major cities all over the U.S. and continues to bring his music directly to his fans. He’s toured Canada, the UK, made his way across Europe and even to Japan. He has played the Chicago Blues Festival on ten separate occasions, bringing tens of thousands of his fellow Chicagoans to their feet. His live performances unfailingly earn him heaps of critical praise and hordes of wildly enthusiastic new fans. “Listen to a master bluesman at work,” declared the UK’s Blues & Rhythm magazine. “This is modern blues at its creative best.”

Now, with Shut Up And Play!, Toronzo Cannon delivers his songs with purpose and passion. “It’s not about the solos,” says the man whose blazing guitar work continues to impress, “it’s about the songs. People get used to everyday life, so it’s easy to miss the things around them. I know the problems of Chicago, the hardships. I write about those things. But I love my city, warts and all. I grew up here. It molded me and gave me the people and places I know and love. And it produced the Chicago blues giants that came here from down south. I’m proud to be from Chicago and to be able to stand on the shoulders of every great Chicago blues musician who came before me.”

All the attention he’s received only makes Cannon more focused. “I feel like I’ve become an ambassador for Chicago blues. People expect a lot from me,” he says. “But it’s good, because I’m forced to keep upping my game.” And like all the Chicago greats who have come before him, blues is his life’s calling. “You don’t choose the blues,” he says. “The blues chooses you.”

Rootsy stripped-down Southern soul and hard funk...uptempo rave-ups with spidery keys and squalling, fuzzed-out guitar...Masterfully written songs [featuring] Tierinii Jackson's soaring vocals.
—AllMusic

Southern Avenue are ushering in a brand-new era of Memphis soul...blending the classic sound of their Memphis roots with a fresh dose of optimism and resilience...heavenly vocals and wailing guitar.
—Relix

The Memphis-based collective has set the blues world abuzz....compelling, exhilarating anthems that urge the listener to lean in and create the world in which they want to live.
—No Depression


GRAMMY-nominated Memphis-based roots, blues and soul band Southern Avenue have signed with legendary blues and roots label Alligator Records. Southern Avenue are known for their positive, message-driven original songs and their melting-pot mix of Memphis blues and soul, fueled by frontwoman Tierinii Jackson's soaring, gospel-inflected vocals and Israel-born Ori Naftaly's mesmerizing guitar work.

The band's as-yet-untitled Alligator Records debut, due later this year, was recorded in Memphis at the famous Royal Studios (Al Green, Ann Peebles, Bruno Mars). The album was produced by GRAMMY winner John Burk (Ray Charles, George Benson, Melissa Etheridge) and engineered by GRAMMY-winning producer and engineer Boo Mitchell.

Southern Avenue overflows with thick grooves, memorable melodies, positive messages and hair-raising harmonies that would make The Staple Singers proud. The dynamic collective, more a family than a band, showcases the jaw-dropping talents of Memphis born-and-raised sisters -- lead vocalist/songwriter Tierinii Jackson, drummer/vocalist Tikyra "TK" Jackson and percussionist/violinist/vocalist Ava Jackson -- along with endlessly creative guitarist/songwriter Ori Naftaly and keyboardist Jeremy Powell. Tierinii's lyrics are defiant and straightforward, her mesmerizing vocals effortlessly moving from an emotional purr to an inspired and powerful roar, while the music explodes into a non-stop, all-inclusive celebration.

Southern Avenue have been turning heads since their 2017 self-titled debut album, for which they received the coveted Blues Music Award for Best Emerging Artist. Their 2019 release, Keep On, received a GRAMMY nomination. They've been nominated for the Blues Music Award for Band Of The Year in 2021 and 2022 and are currently nominated for this year's award, to be announced in May 2024.

Alligator Records founder and president Bruce Iglauer is elated to have Southern Avenue on the label, saying, "Southern Avenue carry forward the spirit of the glory days of Memphis soul music but bring an exciting contemporary sensibility to the classic sound. Listening to the Jackson sisters sing together is simply soul-stirring, and their original material, sparked by Ori’s lyrical guitar, is exhilarating. I’m so proud to have them as the newest members of the Alligator family."

Tierinii Jackson couldn't agree more. "Joining the Alligator family is like stepping into roots history," she says. "The songs we birthed are steeped in that old-school, raw energy, and it's a thrill to think they'll be hangin' with the legends. It's a dream come true."

Sharing the excitement of the entire band, Naftaly adds, "We are pumped to be part of the Alligator family!"

According to Burk, who originally signed the band in 2016 to the then newly re-formed Stax Records, "I'm thrilled to be working with Southern Avenue again and couldn't be more excited about this new album. They've written some of the best songs of their career in a real storytelling fashion from beginning to end. They've also grown as a band and further defined their unique blend of the great Memphis soul tradition coupled with deep gospel and blues roots."

Constant touring has brought Southern Avenue to destinations all across the U.S. and Europe, and earned them non-stop adulation from fans, press and fellow musicians. This summer, the band will perform on the main stage of the Chicago Blues Festival before hitting the road with Willie Nelson & Family, Bob Dylan and John Mellencamp as part of the highly-touted 2024 "Outlaw Music Festival Tour". 

SOUTHERN AVENUE At Royal Studios With Producer John Burk Left to right: Jeremy Powell (Keys); Tikyra Jackson (Drums, Vocals); John Burk (Producer); Tierinii Jackson (Lead Vocals); Ori Naftaly (Guitars); Ava Jackson (Vocals, Percussion, Violin)

       

“This band is the best in the land…superior songwriting infused with wit, humor, and streetwise insights, traditional and adventurous grooves, impeccable musicianship, creative arrangements, harmonica tutorials and savvy production…funky and original…always fresh and vital.”
—Blues Music Magazine 
 
“Rick Estrin & The Nightcats are a formidable force. They sound better than ever [playing] stellar rockabilly, jazz, blues and rock, often in the same song, creating a unique, time-tested sound rooted in the past, bolstered by harpist/vocalist Estrin’s time-warping original compositions.”
—No Depression 
 
“Estrin defines his own brand of hip. Original blues and vintage rock-style tunes also harbor his superb harmonica work. Estrin emotes with just the right mix of kitsch and sincerity. The current litter of ‘Cats, including guitarist Kid Andersen, reigns as the best band anywhere.”
—DownBeat
 
“Rick Estrin & The Nightcats are America’s greatest musical showmen…foot-stomping, wise-cracking contemporary songs, a combination of rockabilly, jazz, blues, rock, and big band swing. Estrin is a world class musician…the most colorful and entertaining showman around.”
—Forbes 

On Friday, May 10, 2024, Alligator Records will release The Hits Keep Coming, the long-awaited new album from award-winning, modern blues legends Rick Estrin & The Nightcats. The Hits Keep Coming, the band's sixth release, packs a powerful punch, with phenomenal musicianship and streetwise lyrics—both serious and humorous. Vocalist, harmonica master and songwriter Estrin, along with multi-instrumentalist/musical mastermind/producer Christoffer “Kid” Andersen, keyboardist/organ wizard/bassman Lorenzo Farrell and endlessly creative drummer Derrick “D’Mar” Martin, have created what Estrin calls, "the best music we've ever made together. This band is killer. I’m enjoying this all more than ever,” says the man who’s been performing and recording professionally since the early 1970s. “It’s a blessing—there’s so much energy, so much collaboration. The band is just so good right now. And the live show is off the charts.”

The first song released from The Hits Keep Coming is an album highlight, The Circus Is Still In Town. The musically rambunctious, lyrically harrowing song premieres today on all major streaming services and also via a new video. According to Estrin, "This one's special to me. It's got a catchy hook, an infectious groove, and ironically, some grim subject matter." 

Produced by Andersen at his legendary Greaseland USA studio in San Jose, California, the album captures the band’s chemistry and magic in what is certainly among their strongest and most urgent releases so far. The Hits Keep Coming is modern blues at its most potent, intense and fun in all the right places, as Rick Estrin & The Nightcats deliver twelve groove-heavy, hard-hitting songs, including ten written or co-written by Estrin and two surprising covers (one obscurity from Muddy Waters, one from Leonard Cohen that Estrin would have liked to have written). From the foot-stomping opener Somewhere Else, to the stark reality of the title track (with backing vocals by The Sons Of The Soul Revivers), The Hits Keep Coming is a lyrical and musical tour-de-force.  

In addition to Estrin’s celebrated songwriting and peerless blues harmonica playing, he and the band are among the most entertaining and colorful showmen around. Estrin’s signature streetwise vocals and hipster-cool look, Andersen’s eye-popping, off-the-cuff guitar pyrotechnics, Farrell’s mighty organ, piano and bass work and D’Mar’s dynamic, acrobatic drumming make every one of their live performances a must-see event.

Over the years, Estrin has won a total of seven Blues Music Awards, including awards for Song Of The Year, Traditional Male Blues Artist, Instrumentalist—Harmonica, and twice, the prestigious Band Of The Year (for Rick Estrin & The Nightcats). The band has performed at festivals and concert stages from San Francisco to Chicago to New York, and everywhere in between. They've toured extensively in almost every country in Europe, as well as in Australia, Turkey, Russia and South America.

“People don’t go out to see people who look like themselves,” says Estrin. “They want to see something special. I was schooled in this business to be a showman, and that’s what you get when you come to see us perform. We know how to put on a show. I feel sorry for anyone who has to follow us.”

The Chicago Sun-Times declares, “These are serious musicians having a hotter than hot good time. It’s tough to stay in your seat when Estrin and his musical cohorts get cooking.” As No Depression says, “This is a band that always delivers the goods.” 

W.C. Clark, the guitarist, bassist, vocalist, and songwriter known as “The Godfather Of Austin Blues,” died on March 2, 2024, of natural causes. He was 84. He released eight albums and performed countless live shows. But he was famous not only for his own music, but also for mentoring an entire generation of younger Austin blues artists, including Stevie Ray and Jimmie Vaughan, Angela Strehli and Lou Ann Barton. He was a prolific songwriter, including co-authoring Stevie’s classic song Cold Shot. As The New York Post declared, Clark was “a legend of the blues world.”
 
Born Wesley Curley Clark, his career spanned more than seven decades, starting with his first performance at the age of 16. He became a stalwart in Austin clubs before leaving to tour with soul star Joe Tex in the mid-1960s.
 
Upon his return to Austin in the early 1970s, he found the city exploding with young blues talent. He formed the band Southern Feeling with vocalist Angela Strehli and guitarist Denny Freeman. He then formed The W.C. Clark Blues Revue, which shared stages with James Brown, B.B. King, Sam and Dave and Bobby “Blue” Bland. In 1977, Clark joined Stevie Ray Vaughan in the Triple Threat Revue, with Lou Ann Barton as the other featured vocalist.
 
Celebrating Clark’s 50th birthday in 1989, the critically acclaimed PBS television show Austin City Limits brought Clark together with his disciples Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimmie Vaughan, Kim Wilson, Lou Ann Barton, Angela Strehli and Will Sexton, in front of a live audience. The broadcast, one of the series’ most popular, brought Clark to the attention of a national audience for the first time.
 
Clark made his recording debut with the album Something For Everyone on Drippin’ Records in 1987, followed by signing with New Orleans’ Black Top label. He recorded three albums for Black Top, Texas Soul, Heart Of Gold and Lover’s Plea. He then joined the roster of Chicago-based Alligator Records in 2002, releasing From Austin With Soul and 2004’s Deep In The Heart. He began doing extensive national touring and was hailed and celebrated by the blues press. Blues Revue magazine called his music “modern Texas blues at its best…soothing, sweet-as- molasses soul and flashy, jumped-up roadhouse blues. As a vocalist, he’s untouchable.” Living Blues magazine said, “W.C. Clark has it all…everything from good old rock ‘n ’roll and gritty R&B to strutting Memphis soul, second-line funk and contemporary blues.” 
 
Tiring of the road, Clark returned to performing primarily in Texas. He played as many as four nights every week as a solo performer and weekends with the W.C. Clark Blues Revue. He self-released two independent albums, 2011’s Were You There and 2018’s W.C. Clark. He was honored with induction into the Texas Songwriters Association’s Music Legends Hall of Fame in 2020. He also received a Special Citation of Achievement presented by BMI in recognition of the great national popularity as measured by over one million broadcast performances attained by Cold Shot.
 
W.C. Clark’s last show was a solo performance on Tuesday, February 20, 2024. He was hospitalized on Thursday, February 22 and moved to the Christopher House (Hospice Austin) on Monday, February 26.
 
W.C. is survived by his brothers Daniel Shelby, Charles Shelby, Joseph Shelby, and Willie Shelby, and his sisters Mary Ward and Lois Manor, his daughter Brittany Mays and six grandchildren. 
 
Funeral services will be March 14, 2024, at Grant Chapel AME Worship Center, 1701 Kramer, Austin, TX. Visitation will be at 10 a.m. with the service beginning at 11 a.m. Clark will be interred at the Texas State Cemetery in Austin.

Impassioned singing, riff-based Southern rock, cold blooded swamp funk and sly Memphis soul. Rich, funky blues celebrate life’s most fundamental joys. Grey is a singer-songwriter with unforced talent and deep feeling.
—The New York Times

A deeply-rooted blend of southern-fried rock and swamp funk…richly evocative lyrics…plainspoken, blue-collar American music.
—NPR

"Abundantly talented singer, guitarist, harmonica man, gritty-voiced JJ Grey delivers tuneful originals, funky good times, sinuous ballads, gospel and Southern rock spiced with moments of pure jazz …a pleasure."
—MOJO 

Today, JJ Grey & Mofro unveil their highly anticipated new album, Olustee, on Alligator Records. The album marks their first release in nearly a decade and first-ever release produced by Grey. With Olustee, JJ Grey has once again pushed the boundaries of his own creative musical, lyrical and vocal talents, delivering an album that is destined to become a classic. Many of the songs are steeped in the mythical Southern stories of his ancestral Florida home and filled with characters from JJ’s life. The songs overflow with the sights and sounds of the region as told through the eyes of a poet and sung with pure, unvarnished soul.
 
JJ Grey spoke on the inspiration behind the title track saying, "My grandfather was from the area immediately to the south of Olustee. "Olustee" the song is a compilation of a couple different stories I’ve heard, plus my own experience getting caught in a wildfire."  Watch the lyric video for “Olustee” here.
 
JJ Grey & Mofro have also announced a massive, months-long tour headlining iconic venues across the US, including The Ryman in Nashville, The Riviera in Chicago, The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY, among many others. Concert dates are below. JJ Grey & Mofro are also set to return to The St. Augustine Amphitheatre for their annual performance at the Blackwater Sol Revue May 25 & 26. The shows will feature JJ Grey & Mofro, Lucero, American Aquarium, Satsang, Smokestack, The Allman Betts Band, G Love & Special Sauce, Anders Osborne (duo), and Kendall Street Company. Tickets to all shows are available here: www.jjgrey.com/tour. As part of the Olustee World Tour, the band will perform in the UK and the Netherlands before joining Blues Traveler for a selected number of Western U.S. dates.
 
Songs released early from Olustee include “Wonderland”, "The Sea" and “Rooster.” The album’s eleven songs range from the raucous, celebratory first radio single,” Wonderland,” to an escape from an out-of-control wildfire in the title track, to the inward-looking closer, “Deeper Than Belief.” Singing of his own personal triumphs and struggles, his hopes and desires, his friends and family, Grey’s message is simple and strong -- respect the natural world and always try to live in the moment. And never forget the importance of having a good time. 
 
JJ Grey has also just launched Rolling Rooster, his own bourbon brand, in partnership with St. Augustine Distillery, that combines elements of his new album with his love for bourbon.  More info available here: https://www.jjgrey.com/rollingrooster

Impassioned singing, riff-based Southern rock, cold blooded swamp funk and sly Memphis soul. Rich, funky blues celebrate life’s most fundamental joys. Grey is a singer-songwriter with unforced talent and deep feeling.
—The New York Times

A deeply-rooted blend of southern-fried rock and swamp funk…richly evocative lyrics…plainspoken, blue-collar American music.
—NPR

"Abundantly talented singer, guitarist, harmonica man, gritty-voiced JJ Grey delivers tuneful originals, funky good times, sinuous ballads, gospel and Southern rock spiced with moments of pure jazz …a pleasure."
—MOJO 

On Tuesday, February 20, renowned singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist JJ Grey, leader of JJ Grey & Mofro, announced UK and Netherlands dates on the band's "Olustee World Tour." JJ Grey & Mofro will perform June 12, 13 and 14 in the Netherlands, and June 15, 17 and 18 in the United Kingdom.

Grey couldn't be more excited about these dates "It’s been almost a decade since we've played there y’all! We can’t wait to finally get back to the land of a million accents and the only place on earth to have a real cuppa and a proper fry-up! UK massive!"

The new album, Olustee (with cover art by Grey), is set for February 23rd release on Alligator Records. This is Grey's first album in nine years, and the first he has self-produced. Popular UK national broadcaster Jazz FM has declared Olustee their "Album Of The Week" starting February 19. 

On Olustee, the North Florida-born and bred artist sings his personal stories with universal themes of redemption, rebirth, hard luck, and inner peace. With his music, Grey also celebrates good times with lifelong friends, often mixing the carnal with the cerebral in the very same song. Fueled by his vividly detailed, timeless originals, spun from his own life and experiences in the swampland, Grey’s gritty baritone drips with honest passion and testifies with a preacher’s foot-pounding fervor.

Grey has released three singles from the album: "The Sea," “Rooster," and most recently, "Wonderland". AllMusic says JJ Grey’s music is “as authentic as the ground under your feet, because that’s where it comes from -- just before it moves, simply and directly, through the body of the listener, into the human heart.”

TRACK LIST 1. The Sea 2. Top Of The World 3. On A Breeze 4. Olustee 5. Seminole Wind 6. Wonderland 7. Starry Night 8. Free High 9. Waiting 10. Rooster 11. Deeper Than Belief

With Olustee, JJ Grey has once again pushed the boundaries of his own creative musical, lyrical and vocal talents, delivering an album that is destined to become a classic. Many of the songs are steeped in the mythical Southern stories of his ancestral Florida home and filled with people from JJ’s life. The songs overflow with the sights and sounds of the region as told through the eyes of a poet and sung with pure, unvarnished soul. The album’s eleven songs range from the raucous, celebratory first radio single, "Wonderland," to an escape from an out-of-control wildfire in the title track, to the inward-looking closer, "Deeper Than Belief." Singing of his own personal triumphs and struggles, his hopes and desires, his friends and family, Grey’s message is simple and strong -- respect the natural world and always try to live in the moment. And never forget the importance of having a good time. 

       

"One of the finest albums of Mavis' career...blues-tinged gospel about making the most of troubled times, a message Staples has been delivering her entire life."
–The Chicago Tribune

"A glorious album...filled with the kind of gutsy, emotional performances that have defined Mavis Staples' stellar career."
–Billboard

On April 20, 2024, Record Store Day, Alligator Records will release the deluxe 20th Anniversary 2-LP vinyl reissue of soul and gospel legend Mavis Staples' landmark 2004 release, Have A Little Faith. The album, when first released, sparked Mavis' solo career and launched her into the musical mainstream.

Have A Little Faith is an exhilarating collection of timeless, uplifting songs deeply seated in Mavis’ faith and spirituality. It has now been remastered and will come in a deluxe gatefold jacket with expanded artwork. The set also features a spirited remembrance of how the record came to be by Mavis herself. The two 12-inch records, pressed on silver vinyl, will spin at 45 rpm, and will deliver the best possible sound.

Mavis possesses one of the most recognizable and treasured voices in contemporary music. From her early days sharing lead vocals with her groundbreaking family gospel group, The Staple Singers, to her storied solo recordings, Mavis Staples is an inspirational force in modern popular culture and music.

So it was surprising, upon the passing of Mavis' father -- family patriarch and Staple Singers leader Pops Staples -- in 2000, that Mavis' future was uncertain. She self-financed and recorded her own solo album, and after being turned down by major labels unable to see the commercial appeal of this legend’s fresh, genre-busting approach to spiritual music, it was embraced by Alligator Records. The label's unbridled enthusiasm in working the album to press, radio and the public helped Mavis fulfill her dream and ignite her solo career.

Upon release, Have A Little Faith brought Mavis' powerful music and message songs into the 21st century. From the positive and uplifting title track to the spiritual fervor of God Is Not Sleeping to the reinterpretations of Staple Singers classics Will The Circle Be Unbroken and A Dying Man's Plea (with Mavis singing lead on these two songs for the first time), the album re-introduced the world to Mavis Staples.

"I was a Staple Singer," Mavis remembers in the album's new liner notes. "I wasn’t no Mavis Staples, the solo artist. But, all of a sudden, I was so busy with interviews and television shows and radio stations and concerts. That was a shock to me, because I started asking myself, 'Now how long can this last?' Because they were playing that record everywhere, and the record sounded pretty good!"

Ever since the release of Have A Little Faith, Mavis has been embraced by new generations of fans through her collaborations with the likes of Jeff Tweedy, Run The Jewels, Neko Case, Ry Cooder, Justin Vernon and many others. On April 18 in Los Angeles, an all-star 85th Birthday Party concert celebration will take place at the YouTube Theatre, featuring some of today's biggest musical stars, including Chris Stapleton, Hozier, Jackson Browne, Norah Jones, Jeff Tweedy, Black Pumas, Grace Potter, Michael McDonald, Keb’ Mo’, Nathaniel Rateliff, Robert Randolph, Taj Mahal and others. This is a testament to the far-reaching, ongoing influence of Mavis Staples, and the lasting impact and beauty of Have A Little Faith.