If you love the Blues, you are in the right place ...

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Welcome to the Blues Café with me Steve James

Previous Blues Café shows are available for replay via Mixcloud.        Please click here —-> Blues Café on Mixcloud

Welcome to the Blues Café, a weekly radio show of the best Blues music across the decades presented by me, Steve James …

Come inside to enjoy :- 

  • Music from the early origins of the Blues to contemporary Blues artists, (with some artist / song history)
  • A featured ‘Artist of the Week’ where I showcase the work of a Blues artist
  • The ‘Joker in the Pack’ slot where I play a song that is not necessarily Blues, but one I really love.

A chance for you to contribute to the show with :- 

  • The ‘Three in a row’ slot, send in your top three Blues songs, tell me the reason for your choice and they will go out on air back to back
  • The ‘Something old, something new’ slot where we play an original song followed by a modern day take on the same song
  • An opportunity for emerging Blues talent to send in a MP3 of their work with details of themselves and the song(s)
  • And of course, the opportunity to give a shout out and dedication to anyone you wish, has to be Blues though.

Broadcasters … register for a weekly show download.

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The Blues

The Beginning

Blues originated in the Deep South of the United States in the 1870s – 1880s by African Americans. It was derived from their roots in African music, work songs and songs of worship .

For example, American blues singer Robert Johnson (1911–1938). His recordings in 1936 and 1937 display a combination of skill and songwriting talent that has influenced many current Blues musicians and will continue to influence for future generations .

Chicago Blues

Urban blues evolved from classic blues following the movement of African Americans from the southern United States to northern industrial cities like Chicago. The Chicago Blues scene was heavily influenced by Mississippi bluesmen who travelled the “Blues highway” to Chicago in the early 1940s, for example Big Bill Broonzy and Muddy Waters.

Bruce Iglauer, founder of Alligator Records stated that, “Chicago Blues is the music of the industrial city, and has an industrial sense about it.” Additionally, recognising the shift in Blues, Chicago Blues singer and guitarist Kevin Moore described the Blues transition, “You have to put some new life into it, new blood, new perspectives. You can’t keep talking about mules, workin’ on the levee”.

Modern Blues

Ten great modern Blues artists in no particular order, who are keeping the Blues alive …

  • Kenny Wayne Shepherd
  • Joe Bonamassa
  • Warren Haynes
  • Janiva Magness
  • Tab Benoit
  • Larkin Poe
  • Robert Cray
  • Bettye LaVette
  • Joe Louis Walker
  • Susan Tedeschi
  • Elles Bailey
  • Connor Selby
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