Best 25 Blues Rock Albums of 2022 (so far)

Best 25 Blues Rock Albums of 2022 (so far)

Can you believe it’s been six months since the beginning of the year? We can’t. Time is moving at a fast clip.

Here’s our mid-year rundown of our favorite albums of 2022 so far. In the midst of world turmoil, we decided to spruce up your summer with albums we believe in. Gifted songwriters and musicians delved into their creativity for a respite from world problems. Covid is far from over, but at least in some parts of the world, it has subsided a bit.

Music gives us hope and joy so give these albums a listen. See if you don’t agree with us.

Each one is hand-picked and includes info on the artist/band, their new album, music from that record, and a link to their website should you decide to explore a little further. Check them out. Even if one song doesn’t do it for you, dive in and see if there are other songs that you like. These aren’t just ordinary musicians—they are highly talented artists and bands. There’s nothing like the thrill of discovering new music.

We included a couple of albums that are about to be released, just to get your enthusiasm ramped up for new music.

The albums are listed in no particular order, just a list of our favorites. We welcome your comments below.

Marcus King
Marcus King might be known for blues/rock and Southern soul, his exquisite guitar chops and old-soul vocals, but his upcoming album, Young Blood is rock & roll that cooks. The Grammy nominated red hot Southern guitar player and soulful singer dives headlong into 70s swaggering rock with a modern spin, chunky guitar riffs and innovative songwriting and of course his one-of-a-kind voice. Young Blood is out August 26 and produced by Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys.
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Eric Gales
Crown by Eric Gales is an exhilarating journey by the blues/rock guitarist, vocalist and songwriter who needs no introduction. Out January 28 via Provogue/Mascot Label Group, Crown is a compelling album of blues, rock, soul and funk with Gales’ masterful guitar, warm vocals and gutsy emotional songs. The record is as moving as it is brilliant.
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Beth Hart
Grammy nominated vocal powerhouse Beth Hart takes on one of her most weighty ventures with her new release, A Tribute To Led Zeppelin, out February 25 via Provogue/Mascot Label Group. Hart doesn’t attempt to channel Robert Plant—she conveys her badass self in service to some of Led Zeppelin’s most popular songs. If there is any female vocalist who can do a nine-song set of Led Zeppelin, it is Beth Hart. She bares her all and nails many of these tracks with the heart of a warrior, the voice of a generation.
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Joanne Shaw Taylor
British blues/rock guitarist, vocalist, songwriter Joanne Shaw Taylor’s first live U.S. album and concert film, Blues From the Heart Live, was released June 10th on Joe Bonamassa’s KTBA Records. The album features guest performances by Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Mike Farris, and Joe Bonamassa. Her first live performance in two years, Taylor is backed by a stellar group of musicians including Rob McNelley (guitar), Steve Mackey (bass), Jimmy Wallace (keyboards, piano), Nick Buda (drums), Devonne Fowlkes (backing vocals), Kim Fleming (backing vocals).
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Bennett Matteo Band
The Bennett Matteo Band puts forth a transcendent blast of dirtfunk and desert soul on its new album Shake the Roots out May 20th on Gulf Coast Records. The set is a genre-crossing, game-changing stick of roots music dynamite created by improvising and experimenting with the elements of American traditions and taking them in a fresh direction. The album was co-produced by multi-Blues Music Award nominee Kid Andersen and the lineup of musicians is beyond impressive.
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Bonnie Raitt
Ten-time Grammy Winner, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, Bonnie Raitt released Just Like That… on April 22 via Redwing. Her first release in six years, the singer, songwriter, guitarist, recorded the album with James ‘Hutch’ Hutchinson (bassist), Ricky Fataar (drummer), Glenn Patscha (keyboardist, backing vocalist) and Kenny Greenberg (guitarist) and is produced by Raitt along with Ryan Freeland (mixing engineer.) The mix of sounds and approaches on Just Like That… reveals how, 50 years after the release of her debut album, Raitt continues to personify what it means to stay creative, adventurous, and daring over the course of a life’s work. The album is a gem.
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Kenny Neal
Grammy-nominated Louisiana blues master Kenny Neal brings it all full-circle on his new record Straight From The Heart. The album came out May 20th, 2022 thanks to Ruf Records. Neal made the record with a top-shelf crew of local players and got some extra flavor from special guests Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Tito Jackson, and Rockin’ Dopsie Jr & The Zydeco Twisters.
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Troy Redfern
We’re a wee bit early on The Wings of Salvation by slide guitar master Troy Redfern but honestly we had to include this one because the album is just so damn good. Out September 23rd, Redfern is about to release the album of his career. Redfern sings and plays slide guitar with a hard rock intensity that elevates his blues to an unforgettable new level where witnessing an entire stadium full of fans singing along with this chorus becomes a distinct possibility.
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Kirk Fletcher
Regarded as one of the best blues guitar players in the world, Fletcher has been tapped to play with everyone from Joe Bonamassa and The Fabulous Thunderbirds to Charlie Musselwhite and many others, on stage or in the studio, inciting high global praise. His upcoming seventh album, Heartache By The Pound is set to release July 29. The Los Angeles-born, Nashville-based singer, songwriter, guitarist has been nominated for five Blues Music Awards and a British Blues Award. The album is a blast of blues/rock and soul fresh air with an all-star cast backing him up.
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Edgar Winter/Johnny Winter
The all-star tribute to Johnny Winter organized by his brother Edgar Winter, Brother Johnny, was released on April 15th. Joining Edgar on the inclusive project is an impressive array of renowned musicians who knew, or were inspired by Johnny, including Joe Bonamassa, Doyle Bramhall II, Robben Ford, Billy Gibbons, David Grissom, Taylor Hawkins, Warren Haynes, Steve Lukather, Michael McDonald, John McFee, Keb’ Mo’, Doug Rappoport, Bobby Rush, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Ringo Starr, Derek Trucks, Waddy Wachtel, Joe Walsh, and more.
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Black Stone Cherry
Kentucky’s favorite sons Black Stone Cherry live out their dreams and share the results with the world on the band’s new album Live from the Royal Albert Hall…Y’all!. The set captures the sound of Black Stone Cherry blowing the lid off of the legendary Royal Albert Hall in London, England. Throughout the set they tear through an impressive back catalogue, playing songs from their most recent studio album The Human Condition, a killer album if we’ve ever heard one with thoughtful lyrics and stomping rock with a blues base.
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Supersonic Blues Machine
Voodoo Nation by Supersonic Blues Machine dropped June 24th via Provogue/Mascot Label Group. The album is a thundering blast of blues/rock with insightful, sometimes biting lyrics, and a band that just won’t quit. The guests alone are worth your time and include Eric Gales, Charlie Starr, Joe Louis Walker, Ana Popovic, Kirk Fletcher, King Solomon Hicks, Josh Smith and Sonny Landreth. The core group of Fabrizio Grossi (bass, producer), Kenny Aronoff (drums) and Kris Barras (vocals, guitar) is a supergroup if there ever was one.
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Janiva Magness
Seven-time Blues Music Award winning vocalist and Grammy nominee Janiva Magness returns to the top of the roots music scene with a hard-hitting, autobiographical new album Hard to Kill. The set dropped June 24th, 2022 and is her first new material in three years. There’s no shortage of quality songwriting on the album and Magness fans old and new are bound to pick out their favorites. Hard to Kill is a high-water mark for Janiva Magness, reaffirming her status as one of the top vocalists in the blues business and demonstrating her commitment to continually growing as an artist.
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The Black Moods
Arizona hard rockers The Black Moods deliver the straight-up strong stuff on the band’s new album Into The Night. Released June 3rd, 2022 by Wit Hustle/The Orchard /Steelhorse Entertainment and produced by Grammy Award-nominated producer Johnny “K” Karkazis (3 Doors Down, Disturbed), the set blends the most elemental components of rock and roll music into new songs that achieve a nearly-perfect balance of guts, glory, guitar, and big-league hooks. The Black Moods have a talent for melding rock, blues, punk, and pop influences into a sound that’s physical, and emotive. They have an urgent, live band style built upon the obvious chemistry shared by band members.
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Robin Trower
British guitar maestro Robin Trower takes us up into the heavens once again on his album No More Worlds To Conquer out April 29th, 2022. Trower is still reaching for that next meaningful song, solo, or tone that will ignite his creativity and allow him to move into the future with relevance and grace. He carves out distinct guitar tones for each song and uses them to help articulate the emotional phrasing he’s long had a gift for, leaving hypnotic trails in his wake.
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Dom Martin
Award-winning Irish blues guitarist and vocalist Dom Martin comes across like a legend in the making on his new sophomore album A Savage Life out on April 8th, 2022, the record is an outstanding effort that explores the intersection of blues, rock, and singer-songwriter styles and shows how much creative power resides there. Martin is a standout guitarist on both electric and acoustic and can craft a pretty mean set of lyrics, too, which makes A Savage Life compelling and inspiring from end to end. The set was produced by the Grammy-nominated Chris O’Brien
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Albert Castiglia
Acclaimed blues-rock guitarist Albert Castiglia released his new album I Got Love out March 25 via Gulf Coast Records. The album was produced by Gulf Coast Records guitarist and co-owner Mike Zito and features a stellar cast of musicians. The new album, which showcases 11 blistering, blues-drenched tracks, and is a personal and powerful statement from Castiglia about the last two years of his life.
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Sugaray Rayford
Soul-blues powerhouse vocalist and songwriter Sugaray Rayford released his newest album In Too Deep on March 4 via Forty Below Records, produced by Eric Corne. This isn’t just a modern soul record—In Too Deep blends funky grooves, rocking blues and R&B with Rayford’s raw power as a vocalist and entertainer. His vocals are unmistakable—full bodied and incredibly soulful. Sugaray is a force. He welcomes listeners into his world, guided by Corne’s skilled songwriting/producing hand. The record is part insight and reflection and part party time jubilee.
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Elles Bailey
Multi award-winning UK vocalist, songwriter and bandleader Elles Baily has powered her way to the forefront of the British blues and roots scene not just with her rich, smoky voice but with her strong songwriting chops that reveal a young artist with passion, grit and determination. She won Artist of the Year at the UK Blues Awards in both 2020 and 2021 and is nominated for the 2022 Artist of the Year by The UK Americana Awards. She released her third album, Shining In the Half Light on February 25th.
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Bernard Allison
World class contemporary bluesman Bernard Allison reunited with Grammy-winning producer Jim Gaines for his release, Highs & Lows, out February 25 on Ruf Records, featuring guests Bobby Rush and Colin James. The album is a joyous blast of funky blues with Allison at his absolute best. A six-string guitar master, Allison’s vocals have never been better and the 11 songs are pure blues bliss.
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Mike Zito
Blues/rock guitar king Mike Zito puts his house-rocking credentials on public display all over his new double live album Blues for the Southside. The set dropped February 18th on Zito’s own Gulf Coast Records and captures an amazing night of his blues done live in front of an appreciative crowd in Zito’s hometown of St. Louis, Missouri. Mike Zito is a top-tier guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter who has become a major presence in the roots music scene and is a multiple Blues Music Award winner.
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John Mayall
Blues legend John Mayall teamed up with an all-star cast for his album, The Sun Is Shining Down, out January 28 via Forty Below Records, co-produced by Mayall and Grammy nominated producer, Eric Corne. This soulful, funky release is flush with brass, violins, harmonica, electric ukulele and the inimitable stamp of the Godfather of the British Blues himself. Having chosen stellar guitarists along with his longtime Chicago rhythm section, Mayall might have outdone himself with The Sun Is Shining Down.
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Keb’ Mo’
Uplifting others is the five-time Grammy Award-winner’s trademark and something he accomplishes with every record he releases. Good To Be was released January 21 on Rounder Records. It’s a slice of contemporary blues and Americana that sparkles with a jewel-like gleam. The album is about honoring roots, hope and gratitude. Features Vince Gill, Grammy winner Tom Hambridge (B.B. King, Buddy Guy) and Darius Rucker, Kristin Chenoweth, and Old Crow Medicine Show.
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Tinsley Ellis
World renowned Southern blues/rock guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter Tinsley Ellis is one of the most popular and hard-touring guitarists in the world, beloved for his incendiary guitar playing, gritty, soulful vocals and songwriting with emotional depth. He is a true blues/rock contemporary legend. His Alligator Records release Devil May Care dropped January 21st, 2022.
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Charlie Musselwhite
Any new record by Grammy Award-winning, legendary bluesman Charlie Musselwhite is something to look forward to, and this one brings special significance. Mississippi Son, released June 3rd via Alligator Records, celebrates Musselwhite’s physical return to the beloved state of his birth. This is a player who is justly celebrated as one of the best blues harpists around, having released over forty albums across a highly accomplished career, not least 2020’s Grammy-nominated, Blues Music Award-winning 100 Years Of Blues (with Elvin Bishop.) With an artist who lives and breathes his craft, you would expect Musselwhite’s return to his spiritual homeland to result in something special, and you wouldn’t be wrong.
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Larry McCray
Award-winning blues guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter Larry McCray released the record of his 30-year career, Blues Without You on March 25 via Keeping The Blues Alive Records featuring Joe Bonamassa, Warren Haynes, Joanna Connor and Reese Wynans. Produced by Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith, the 12-track album refreshes the formidable bluesman’s career and reminds us that Larry McCray is the real deal with loads of talent.
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Xander and the Peace Pirates
Soulful, grooving, thought-provoking British blues rockers released Order Out Of Chaos on May 6, 2022. This is a band with something to say and a distinctive style all their own. These are a group of players who don’t rely on fireworks or flashiness and are fine musicians. Strong guitar hooks, ace vocals and infectious melodies abound. You won’t be able to turn away from the band’s conviction and moving lyrics.
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Listen to the Best 25 Blues Rock Albums of 2022 (so far) PLAYLIST HERE