Malta isn’t the first place that comes to mind when you think “Blues capital of the world.”

No, rather, it’s a sun-baked speck in the middle of the Mediterranean — three main islands, stone alleys, and centuries of history crammed into 316 square kilometers. But if you know where to look, the blues have a way of finding you, even here.

And sometimes, it comes roaring back out — louder, tighter, and hungrier than you expected. That’s Vinyl Paradise: Ben Bailey on guitar and vocals, Patrick Camilleri on drums, and Antoine Tonna on bass. A blues/blues-rock power trio with the chops to match their influences — Cream, the 3 Kings, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Hendrix, and the audacity to make it their own.

Their roots run deep in Malta’s rare musical advantage: free music education for every child. They were nurtured, encouraged, and — in Ben’s case — sparked by a certain video game that put a plastic guitar in his hands and an idea in his head. The toy didn’t last, but the idea did. One day, he was pretending. The next, he was the real thing.

It’s the sort of environment where music isn’t just an afterthought — it’s part of the social fabric. Street festas with brass bands, school programs that hand real instruments to real kids, and a cultural crossroads where Mediterranean rhythm, European melody, and African groove all pass through. Vinyl Paradise grew up in that mix, and you can hear it in the way they play — tight, confident, and unafraid to color outside the lines.

So join us as we take a ride across the Atlantic and the Med to check in on Malta’s blues scene — and meet the island’s number one blues export. You’ll hear the accents, the stories, and the sound that’s already crossing borders.

🎧 Listen now — your ticket to Malta’s salt air, stage lights, and a band built to go global.

Talking Blues with Vinyl Paradise – Listen to the full episode at:

https://www.TalkingBluesPodcast.com - Listen to the Talking Blues Podcast – Stream it now or wherever you podcast.

Connect with Vinyl Paradise:

Website: https://linktr.ee/vinylparadise

Connect with Author | Broadcaster | Podcaster Matt Cooper – Host Talking Blues Podcast

Website: www.TalkingBluesPodcast.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TalkingBluesPodcast/

If this conversation moved you or got you thinking, join the Talking Blues Backstage Pass at https://www.TalkingBluesPodcast.com It’s free, and you’ll get early access, behind-the-scenes stories, and the chance to shape future episodes.

Some musicians survive the blues. Others elevate it.

Ira Walker was shaped by a world where thought, art, and sound mattered—a home where classical compositions weren’t background noise, they were conversation. Where intelligence wasn’t just valued, it was expected. And yet, somewhere between the string section and the silence, a different rhythm called out.

It wasn’t rebellion—it was recognition. The blues had always been there. In his father’s record collection. In the quiet encouragement of neighbors who knew talent when they heard it. In the moments of stillness that only music could fill.

Raised by intellectual parents with a deep respect for the arts, Ira’s early life wasn’t so much a departure from the blues as a slow orbit toward it. Classical music gave him language. Academia gave him perspective. And a series of unforgettable live performances—Hendrix, SRV, and others—gave him fire.

His West Coast vantage point gave the blues room to breathe. It let him blend structure with soul, head with heart, and instinct with insight.

Over the years, Ira has built not just a career but a circle—of collaborators, confidants, and creative allies. He knows how the business moves, but more importantly, he knows how to move through it with grace. Still writing. Still playing. Still rising to the moment.

In this episode of Talking Blues, Ira Walker sits down with Matt Cooper for a wide-ranging conversation about identity, influence, and the quiet power of staying true. They talk roots, records, relationships—and the kind of legacy that doesn’t chase trends, it outlasts them.

If you want a glimpse into the mind of a musician who’s walked both sides of the street—conservatory and club—this is the one to hear.

Stream it now on the Talking Blues Podcast.

Connect With Singer/Songwriter Ira Walker [https://irawalker.net/]

Connect With Author | Broadcaster | Podcaster Matt Cooper [https://www.facebook.com/TalkingBluesPodcast/]

Mark Hunt’s Story in Wood, Wire, and Willpower

Some musicians write songs. Some build guitars. Mark Hunt does both.

Raised in rural Eastern Ontario, Mark is a self-taught guitarist, songwriter, and builder who’s carved out a life in music one honest note at a time. Whether he’s crafting unique, custom guitars from reclaimed materials or pouring his heart into his own blend of blues, rock, and Americana, Mark brings quiet intensity and a working-class soul to everything he touches.

In this episode, we talk about:

• How growing up outside the city shaped his sound and spirit
• The creative process behind his new blues project
• Why he builds guitars from crates, sticks, and whatever sings when you tap it
• The joy of playing with Outskirts, a band that covers Blue Rodeo with love and respect, not imitation

This is a conversation about tone, time, and truth—from a musician who never stopped creating, no matter who was watching. If you believe in honest craft over flash, this one’s for you.

🎧 Listen to the full episode → http://talkingbluespodcast.com/

🔗 Connect with Mark Hunt:

https://www.facebook.com/huntguitars

https://www.instagram.com/huntguitars

Connect with Matt Cooper – Host & Broadcaster – Talking Blues Podcast

Website: www.TalkingBluesPodcast.com

Personal Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Matt.Cooper.Broadcaster/

Talking Blues Podcast on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TalkingBluesPodcast/

If this conversation moved you or got you thinking, join the Talking Blues Backstage Pass at https://www.TalkingBluesPodcast.com. It's free, and you’ll get early access, behind-the-scenes stories, and the chance to shape future episodes.