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  • Blues is the Truth 799

    Blues is the Truth 799
    2026/04/25
    The latest Blues is the Truth is live and this week we’re shifting gears. There are no awards or trophies this time around, just a deep dive into the kind of music that keeps the pulse of this scene beating.

    We’ve got a massive lineup that spans the full spectrum of the craft. You’ll hear the raw energy of The Milkmen, The South Island Rhythm Kings, and The Paul Michael Band alongside the world class talent of Geoff Achison and harmonica ace Giles Robson. The vibe stays heavy and authentic with tracks from John Cee Stannard, Tom Waits For No Man, and the effortlessly cool Stray Cat Willy and the Strays.

    We’re also honoring the storytellers and the technicians like Michael Messer, Half Deaf Clatch, and the Geoff Garbow Band. And because we always respect the lineage, we’ve brought the giants into the room. BB King, Freddie King, Mike Bloomfield, and Stevie Ray Vaughan are all here to remind us why we fell in love with this music in the first place.

    From the modern fire of Samantha Fish and Alice Armstrong to the deep pocket grooves of Willie Buck and Bob Corritore, Dave Specter, and The Steady Rollin’ Revue, there isn't a wasted second. Rounding it all out with the Backyard Casanovas, Kilborn Alley, Mighty Mike Schermer, and Charlie and the Fez Kings, it’s an hour of music that flows perfectly from one story to the next.

    It’s a masterclass in why the blues is and always will be the truth.
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    2 時間
  • Blues is the Truth 798

    Blues is the Truth 798
    2026/04/18
    The latest Blues is the Truth just dropped, and honestly? The energy in the room for this one was something else. We’re taking you straight to the heart of the 2026 UK Blues Awards—no fluff, just the raw news from the night and the incredible music that defined it.

    When you see names like Alice Armstrong, Connor Selby, Will Wilde, and The Cinelli Brothers all in the mix, you realize just how much fire is in the scene right now. We’ve packed the episode with the winners and the heavy hitters like Mississippi Macdonald, Zac Schulze Gang, The Whiskey Flowers, and Jump 66, giving you a front-row seat to the best of the night.

    But we never forget the foundations. We’re bridging the gap between the legends—Eric Clapton, Gary Moore, John Lee Hooker, and The Staples Singers—and the powerhouses pushing the genre forward like Joanne Shaw Taylor, Caitlin Krisko and the Broadcast, Albert Castiglia, Tedeschi Trucks Band, and Mike Zito.

    The flow is relentless; with Catfish, Mud Morganfield, and The Robert Cray Band in the ears, the quality never dips. One track leads into the next until you’re right in the thick of it. It’s a proper snapshot of the blues as it stands today—plenty to enjoy and a few moments that will stay with you long after the final note.
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    2 時間
  • Blues is the Truth 797

    Blues is the Truth 797
    2026/04/11
    The new episode of Blues is the Truth is live, and Ian McHugh is not messing around this week. It kicks off with a fantastic, high-energy mix that hits the ground running. It is one of those shows that just flows, keeping you hooked from the first track to the last.

    Ian has done a great job balancing the legends with the modern scene. You have the deep-rooted classics from Pinetop Perkins and Mississippi Fred McDowell, B.B. King’s effortless class, and that signature, laid-back vibe from Taj Mahal and the Phantom Blues Band. Then, he brings it right up to the present with fresh cuts from Mike Ross, Dani Wilde, When Rivers Meet, and Henrik Freischlader.

    The mood keeps shifting, too. You get that gritty, raw roots feel from Michael Messer, Marco Pandolfi with Richard Ray Farrell, and Corey Harris, which contrasts perfectly with the punchy, full-throttle sound of Tedeschi Trucks Band, Russ Green, and Errol Linton. There is also a really strong showing from closer to home, with tracks from Jump 66, Dan Sowerby, Mick Clarke, and The Weekend Blues Band holding their own in the mix.

    The lineup does not stop there, and it is absolutely packed. You will hear Mike Finnegan, Breakout Blues, CD Woodbury Trio, Grey DeLisle, Les Greene, Spencer Mackenzie, The Diving Ducks, and Peter Vekesta and Blues Train.

    Honestly, just when you think you have settled into a groove, the track changes and picks things right back up again. It is a great listen, so give it a spin.
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    2 時間
  • Blues is the Truth 796

    Blues is the Truth 796
    2026/04/04
    The new episode of Blues is the Truth is up now, with Ian McHugh straight into it from the off.

    Junior Wells, Little Walter and Freddie King set the tone early, with Ry Cooder and Elvin Bishop not far behind. It keeps moving with Gary Clark Jr, Mike Zito, Tinsley Ellis and Shemekia Copeland, alongside Will Johns, Nick Curran and Gabe Stillman.

    There is a strong band feel running through it as well. The Robert Fossen Band, The Steady Rollin Revue and The Cadillac Kings all in the mix, plus Peter Vekesta and Blues Train, Doc Stenson and the Amazing Hot Shots and Guy Verlinde.

    Brother John, Garrett T Willy, Stefan Hillsheim, Johnny Burgin and Mike Finnegan all get a look in too, so it never settles in one place for long.

    Plenty of great music, no fuss, just how it should be.
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    2 時間
  • Blues is the Truth 795

    Blues is the Truth 795
    2026/03/28
    New Blues is the Truth is up now, with Ian McHugh bringing another show that just rolls along nice and naturally.

    Plenty to get into this week. You’ve got John Lee Hooker in there, Will Johns, Thørbjørn Risager and The Black Tornado, Tommy Castro and the Painkillers, Bernie Marsden and The Hoax, plus The Paul Michael Band keeping things right where they should be.

    There is also Hans Theesink and Terry Evans, Ian Siegal Meets Johnny Maestro, Buddy Guy with Eric Clapton, The Dirty Aces, Frank Bey, Albert King and The Paul Butterfield Blues Band. Selwyn Birchwood, Bruce Mississippi Johnson, Mike Zito, Devon Allman and a bit of Muddy Waters all turn up as well, so it never really sits still for long.

    Stick it on, let it play, see what grabs you
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    2 時間
  • Blues is the Truth 794

    Blues is the Truth 794
    2026/03/21
    The new episode of Blues is the Truth is out now. Ian McHugh back in the chair, and as ever it is supported by the Tuesday night Blues Jam at the Rising Sun in Isleworth.

    This one feels like a proper wander through the blues. You dip into one corner, then another, and before long you are somewhere completely different but it all still hangs together. That is the joy of it.

    There is real pedigree running through the show this week. Bob Margolin brings that deep connection to the Muddy Waters sound, and you will hear Muddy himself in the mix too, along with a nod to the Muddy Waters 100 celebrations. Albert Collins turns up with that sharp, stinging guitar, and Buddy Guy reminds you why he is still one of the greats.

    There is plenty of character elsewhere. Rick Estrin and the Nightcats doing what they do so well, Joanna Connor bringing serious fire, and Matt Schofield alongside Will Johns showing just how strong the modern scene is. You will also hear Marco Pandolfi, Papa George, Junior Watson and Tail Dragger, each bringing their own flavour.

    Closer to home there is some really nice stuff in there too. Leoni Jane Kennedy, Andrew Duncanson, Tim Staffell and Paul Stuart all make an appearance, along with Mark Harrison and Slim Butler. There is also music from Anderson East, Devon Allman, Chris Duarte, Vanessa Collier, Ton O Blues and Doc Stenson and the Amazing Hot Shots.

    It is one of those shows you can just stick on and let it roll. Plenty of groove, a few surprises, and more than a couple of moments that make you stop and listen properly.
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    2 時間
  • Blues is the Truth 793

    Blues is the Truth 793
    2026/03/14
    The new episode of Blues is the Truth is up now. Ian McHugh is back at the helm and, as always, the show is supported by the Tuesday night Blues Jam at the Rising Sun in Isleworth.

    It is one of those weeks where the playlist just seemed to fall into place. You start with a couple of tracks and before long the whole thing takes on a life of its own. There is some proper heavyweight blues in the mix too. Stevie Ray Vaughan turns up in fine form, John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers take things right back to the British blues boom, and there is early Fleetwood Mac reminding everyone just how good they were when the blues was front and centre.

    This week’s show also includes a couple of respectful nods to people who meant a great deal to the music. There is a tribute to Mike Vernon, whose work helped shape the British blues scene, and another to John Hammond, a true keeper of the tradition who left an enormous mark on the blues world.

    You will also hear the great Freddie King, Albert Collins, Junior Wells and Otis Rush. That alone would make for a decent show, but there is plenty more going on. Selwyn Birchwood brings a modern edge, Duke Robillard is on terrific form as always, and John Hammond appears twice with a couple of tracks that are well worth the space.

    Elsewhere there is music from Nick Curran, Jordan Officer and Laura Chavez, plus a welcome appearance from Connie Lush. Terry Marshall and Friends keep things moving nicely, the Paul Michael Band are in there again, and you will also hear Mike Vernon and the Mighty Combo, Doc Stenson and the Amazing Hot Shots, Richard Carr, Boogie Beasts, Jerry Portnoy and the Streamliners, and Studebaker John.

    It is a cracking mix this week. Old school blues, newer sounds, a few surprises along the way. Give it a spin and see what you think.
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    2 時間
  • Blues is the Truth 792

    Blues is the Truth 792
    2026/02/28
    A new episode of Blues is the Truth is ready to go, and this one carries a real sense of connection, past and present. Hosted by Ian McHugh and supported by the Tuesday Night Blues Jam at the Rising Sun in Isleworth, the show brings together legends, rising stars and some very special tributes.

    There is beautiful, heartfelt music from the album With a Little Help from my Friends, a Tribute to Matt Long, celebrating a musician who meant so much to so many. Alongside that, you will hear the unmistakable voices and guitars of John Lee Hooker, The Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Albert King, sitting naturally alongside the contemporary brilliance of Sunjay, Alice Armstrong, The Paul Michael Band, Omar Coleman and Igor Prado, Teresa James and the Rhythm Tramps, Crystal Shawanda and Duke Robillard.

    There is space too for the deep roots and storytelling that make this music what it is, with sounds from Andy Cohen, Eleanor Ellis and William Lee Ellis, Studebaker John, Hurricane Howl, Theo Sieben, Brother Ray Lemellin and the Matinee Kings, and a moment featuring Matt Long alongside Joe Bonamassa that feels especially meaningful.

    This is what the show has always been about. Keeping the music alive, respecting where it came from, and sharing where it is going next.
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    2 時間