Singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist, Erin McCallum, has been delivering her brand of Blues for over 20 years. Best known for her unmistakable contralto voice, McCallum’s name has been on the marquee at countless national and international festivals and events, and the list continues to grow. With five all-original albums to her name, McCallum has received recognition (Maple Blues Award nominations for Female Vocalist of the Year and Artist/Group of the Year, International Songwriting honours, OIMA nominations for Blues artist of the year, BluesSource Canada Album of the Year for “It’s Time”, and more) from the music industry and listeners alike. McCallum’s original music is broadcast on commercial radio stations in 63 countries (terrestrial, digital, and satellite) worldwide; however, it is her authentic live performance that sets her apart from others, and justifies the tagline “Big Voice. Big Sound.”.

👉 Go behind the curtain and discover what fuels Erin’s blues—now on the Talking Blues Podcast.

CONNECT WITH Erin McCallum

Website: www.erinmccallum.com

Facebook: @ErinMcCallumMusic

Instagram: @erinmccallummusic

YouTube: www.youtube.com/ErinMcCallum

CONNECT WITH Matt Cooper

https://www.facebook.com/TalkingBluesPodcast

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

What if one song in your teens could change the whole direction of your life? Seattle guitarist Jon Clemence holds a master’s degree in biblical studies and runs a publishing firm by day — yet the blues remain his lifelong compass. On Talking Blues, Jon shares how a single spark ignited his journey and why the music still shapes his path today.

Stream it now on the Talking Blues Podcast.

Connect with Guitarist Jon Clemence:

https://guitarophile.com/

https://www.facebook.com/jon.clemence.7

https://cedarpressproofreading.com/

Connect With Author | Broadcaster | Matt Cooper

https://www.facebook.com/TalkingBluesPodcast

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

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.