Michael Garrett, who has played guitar and sung with Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials for over 25 years, recently suffered a heart attack and required quadruple bypass surgery. The good news is that the surgery went well and a complete recovery is expected, though Mike won’t be able to perform for some weeks. The bad news is that Michael and his family are without income until he can get back on the road. Here’s the story from Mike’s wife, Lisa Wolancevich. Read the full story here and see how you can help.

Check out blues sensation and Alligator Records recording artist Selwyn Birchwood today, January 14th, on WXPN-Philadelphia at 6 PM ET. Selwyn will join host Dan Reed on the popular cover song feature Like A Version. Today Selwyn will tackle the Jimi Hendrix song Angel. www.wxpn.org Pick up your copy of his Alligator Records debut, Don't Call No Ambulance here. 

Chicago's own Lil' Ed & The Blues Imperials will be appearing live on the WGN-TV Midday News Dec 23rd at Noon CT. The show is also broadcast nationally on WGN America. Possible song leading into the program. Two quick "bumpers" and one full track to end the show. Will post video after show.  Order you copy of their latest release, Jump Start.

Nine brand new digital-only Best Of collections from Alligator are available starting today. These nine are available exclusively through iTunes until 1/14. Also included is the already-available Best Of Michael Burks. Perfect gifts for the holidays (and a perfect gift for you to give to yourself)! Order yours here. 

The Blues Foundation announced the nominees for the 2015 Blues Music Awards, the blues world's highest honors. Seven Alligator recording artists received a total of 19 nominations: Elvin Bishop (6), Rick Estrin & The Nightcats (4), Jarekus Singleton (3), Marcia Ball (2), Joe Louis Walker (2), Selwyn Birchwood (1), Curtis Salgado (1) and . For additional details see here.

TuneIn -- the world's largest audio network -- officially launched Alligator Records Radio today (12/9). The Alligator Records Radio station will stream songs 24/7 from Alligator's extensive catalog of music covering 43 years of blues and roots rock releases. The station, featuring themed and special programs, is available here or fans can simply search "Alligator Records" on the free TuneIn Radio app (at iTunes or Google Play) or on TuneIn.com to listen to Alligator Records Radio. 

On Wed, Nov 19th at noon ET, Alligator recording artist Selwyn Birchwood, the winner of the 2013 International Blues Challenge, stops in at SiriusXM’s Bluesville for a performance featuring songs from his Alligator debut Don’t Call No Ambulance and a talk with Tony Colter. There will be subsequent airings over the four days following the initial broadcast: Weds 11/19/14 3 PM ET, Thurs 11/20/14 9 PM ET, Friday 11/21/14 3AM ET, Sat 11/22/14 6PM EST, Sun 11/23/14 12 noon EST.

Selwyn Birchwood performed on Wednesday night (10/15) on Music City Roots Live From The Factory (10/15). If you missed it, you can see the performance and interview here. Selwyn opened the broadcast with a scorching 4-song set which runs about 29 minutes (from time 8:30 – 37:30). He was interviewed in the second hour (from time 1:11.45 – 1:17.40). 

An in-depth interview with Selwyn Birchwood in Nashville Scene. “The blues’ next great hope…a 29-year old playing with fervor and passionately singing.” Read it here. 

Marcia Ball's brand new CD, The Tattooed Lady And The Alligator Man, is reviewed by No Depression. “This is the one Ball fans have been waiting for -- a studio album that captures the fire and frenzy of a live Marcia Ball show. Step right up, folks. This show's one you don't want to miss.”  Read the full review here. 

The nationally syndicated NPR radio program World Cafe featured Alligator recording Selwyn Birchwood  September 18th. NPR’s World Café with host David Dye can be heard on over 200 stations nationwide. Listen to the interview and performance here.

Yahoo Music’s Hear It First is premiering the full album stream of Marcia Ball’s brand new release, The Tattooed Lady And The Alligator Man, which will be in stores next Tuesday. Get a first listen of Marcia’s new CD and hear why she’s able to ignite a full-scale roadhouse rhythm and blues party every time she strolls onto the stage. Check it out here.

American Blues Scene conducted an in-depth interview with Jarekus Singleton while he was in Canada for the Mt. Tremblant Blues Festival. Read up on his history, the personal stories incorporated into writing, his influences and more. Read the interview here. 

Blurt Magazine reviews Jarekus Singleton's Alligator debut, Refuse To Lose, "On Refuse to Lose he joints together hip hop wordplay, rock and roll energy, R&B grooves and both contemporary and traditional blues into something so unique as to be visionary." Read the full review here.

Senior editor for Rolling Stone, David Fricke, selects Elvin Bishop's "Can't Even Do Wrong Right" for his weekly piece Fricke's Radio Picks. Check out his Spotify playlist -- TRACK #11 -- here.

Elvin Bishop’s brand new Alligator Records CD, Can’t Even Do Wrong Right, received high praise on today’s edition of the nationally syndicated NPR program, Fresh Air. In his review, Fresh Air’s Pop Music critic Ken Tucker called Bishop’s music “completely fresh” and “enduring and fun,” and said, “Few young whippersnappers feature the stuff that makes Elvin Bishop such a continuing gas--the raspy chuckle in his singing and the sharp sting of his guitar. He invites you to contradict the title of this album, to insist that he can do wrong right. Just right.” You can listen to the entire review online here. 

Selwyn Birchwood’s electrifying afternoon performance today for WXPN’s Free At Noon series (8/22)...he held nothing back! You can see great action shots from the show and hear the set here.

Award-winning pianist/vocalist/songwriter Marcia Ball will release her new Alligator Records CD, The Tattooed Lady And The Alligator Man, on September 23, 2014. For all the info on the release, see here.

The nationally syndicated NPR radio program World Cafe featured Alligator recording artist Jarekus Singleton today, July 30th. Listen to the interview and hear his story here.

Just in time for the double-pronged guitar attack that will happen when Selwyn Birchwood and Jarekus Singleton come to Evanston’s SPACE next Thursday, July 31st, Greg Kot features both young, up-and-coming bluesmen in today’s Chicago Tribune Entertainment Section. This is the first time that these two incendiary rising stars have ever shared a stage…a show that shouldn’t be missed! Read about it here.

Alligator Records president Bruce Iglauer to receive “Iconic Innovators” Award from Airplay Direct.  Read all about it here. 

Don’t Call No Ambulance, the brand Alligator Records debut from Tampa, FL’s Selwyn Birchwood, receives high praise in a review at RollingStone.com, "a powerhouse player and emotive performer whose work respects blues tradition but could not be more contemporary…Highly recommended.” Read the full review here.

Bruce Iglauer, Alligator founder and president, was honored last week when he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from A2IM (American Association of Independent Music). His acceptance speech was hailed as one of the highlights of last week's A2IM Libera Awards. Iglauer discussed the history and perseverance of Alligator and the many challenges facing the indie music community. You can read the entire speech here. 

On June 25, The National Endowment For The Arts (NEA) announced that soul/blues/gospel legends The Holmes Brothers (Wendell Holmes, Sherman Holmes and Popsy Dixon) will receive a coveted and prestigious National Heritage Fellowship. For the full story, see here.

Blues Blast Magazine, the online blues publication, today announced that five Alligator Records artists received a total of seven 2014 Blues Blast Music Award nominations. Voting is open to subscribers and non-subscribers alike at www.BluesBlastMagazine.com beginning July 15, 2014 and continuing until September 15, 2014.  See all the Alligator nominees here.

Alligator’s two young bluesmen, Selwyn Birchwood and Jarekus Singleton, are featured in the Washington Post Style Section this weekend. These visionary singer/songwriter/guitarists are carrying the torch for the next generation of blues! Read the feature here. 


The Wall Street Journal’s Speakeasy blog premiered full album stream of Selwyn Birchwood’s Alligator debut, Don’t Call No Ambulance, yesterday, June 3rd. The stream will be available all week leading up to the release on June 10th. Check it out here