The 284th Roadhouse presents a typically strong mix of blues. New tracks, classic artists and a full set of pre-war blues light up the bandstand in the corner of The Roadhouse. Robert Cray, Eddie Turner, Lonnie Johnson, Pinetop Perkins & Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, and Mavis Staples are just a few of the artists providing […]

Summer vacation takes over The Roadhouse this week, with an archived show taking the stage. From late 2007, show 150 brings Kevin Mark, Billy Jones, Janiva Magness, Marie Knight, and Mavis Staples. They’re all important threads in the tapestry of The Roadhouse, and they set the stage for another hour of the finest blues you’ve […]

The tagline I’ve used through the life of the show is beginning to take on yet another meaning. In the 292nd Roadhouse, “the finest blues you’ve never heard” are brand new blues. Nearly 80% of the tracks in this edition have been released in the past 3 months. Teeny Tucker, Matt Schofield, Eddie Turner, Vance […]

High temperatures and near-recovery from the Mississippi Valley Blues festival make for the perfect reasons to stay indoors and listen to some great blues. The summertime mix includes Meena, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Magic Slim & The Teardrops, Luther Allison, and Chris James & Patrick Rynn. The 281st Roadhouse is one quick hour of the finest blues […]

We’re in a festive mood in the 280th Roadhouse. I took the show on the road this week to the 26th annual IH Mississippi Valley Blues Festival in Davenport, IA. Tight to the banks of the Mississippi, it’s one of the longest-running and most well-respected festivals in the country. Bernard Allison, Ana Popovic, Billy Branch, […]