Photo: Samantha Fish (Kaelan Barowsky), Black Stone Cherry (Jimmy Fontaine), Selwyn Birchwood (courtesy of Alligator Records), Joanna Connor (Maryam Wilcher)
10 Rock and Blues Albums You Need To Know About Summer 2023
By Martine Ehrenclou
At long last, summer is upon us. Did it seem like a long, cold winter to you? Even in “sunny” California we had more than our fair share of rainy cold days.
Bring on the new music, concerts and music festivals! Time to throw open the doors and let the sunshine in while listening to great new blues and rock music. And 2023 has been stellar so far for new and upcoming albums and singles. With all the music coming at you on streaming services, it’s not easy to keep track of it all. Besides, Spotify doesn’t give you information on the artist or band, where they come from, and where they’re headed.
The thrill of music discovery is real. And we’re all on the hunt for the next great album or single. I’m making it easy for you. Here are 10 (actually 12) brand new or upcoming rock and blues albums that you can dig into right now or get excited about for the near future.
Check them out and let us know which are your favorites. We like to know which artists/bands you love the most.
SPOTIFY playlist below.
Gov’t Mule, Peace…Like A River
Renowned Grammy-nominated band Gov’t Mule are set to release their new studio album, ‘Peace…Like A River’, on June 16th. For their latest single, Grammy Award-winning vocalist, songwriter, guitar legend, and producer Warren Haynes wove together inspirational quotes from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Robert and John Kennedy, and the late civil rights leader and U.S. Representative John Lewis for their new single. Their 12th studio album, following their Grammy nominated Heavy Load Blues. Dig in deep.
Info and Video Here
Joanna Connor, Best Of Me
Acclaimed blues guitarist, singer and songwriter Joanna Connor makes her Gulf Coast Records label debut with her newest album ‘Best of Me’ released on June 9th. A fiery blend of blues, funk, R&B, soul and even Country, the Chicago-based Connor created one of the best albums of her career. Joanna Connor is one of the most powerful female musicians in blues/rock, known for her incendiary slide guitar chops and soulful voice. Special guests include Joe Bonamassa (guitar), Josh Smith (guitar), Jason Ricci (harmonica) Eric Demmer (saxophone), Gary Hoey (guitar), Gulf Coast Records president Mike Zito (guitar), and The Grooveline Horns.
Info and Video Here
Rival Sons, Darkfighter
Grammy-nominated rockers Rival Sons punch hard and get loud on their highly-anticipated new album Darkfighter out June 2nd. The set was produced by Grammy Award-winner Dave Cobb and reaffirms Rival Sons’ status as masters of straight up, song-focused rock and roll.
Info and Video Here
Eric Clapton, The Definitive 24 Nights
Warner Brothers is giving the concerts the release they deserve this summer with nearly six hours of live music and 35 unreleased performances. The collection distills Clapton’s 1990-91 Albert Hall residencies using the best performances from the rock, blues, and orchestral nights to create full concerts for each genre. The roster includes Johnnie Johnson, Jimmie Vaughan, Chuck Leavell, Phil Collins, Robert Cray, Buddy Guy, Albert Collins, Nathan East, Greg Phillinganes, Steve Ferrone, Ray Cooper, and Jerry Portnoy. Out June 23rd
Info and Video Here
Joe Bonamassa, Blues Deluxe Vol. 2.
Joe released a new single recently and announced the release of his highly anticipated new studio album “due out later this year” on his J&R Adventures label. Josh Smith produced the new single you can listen to below. Check our site for the new Bonamassa video out Friday June 16th.
In between recording a new Black Country Communion album titled ‘BCC V’ with Glenn Hughes, Jason Bonham, and Derek Sherinian, a long awaited album by this supergroup, Bonamassa is continuing his prolific streak.
Info and Video Here
Robert Jon & The Wreck, Ride Into The Light
Southern California roots rockers have been getting the attention they deserve. With their new album Ride Into The Light, produced by heavyweights Don Was, Dave Cobb, Kevin Shirley, Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith, out August 4th via Bonamassa’s Journeyman Records.
Info and Video Here
Black Country Communion, BCC V
Black Country Communion has started recording their highly anticipated fifth studio album ‘BCC V’. The supergroup includes guitarist Joe Bonamassa, vocalist/bassist Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple, The Dead Daisies), drummer Jason Bonham (Led Zeppelin) and keyboardist Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater, Alice Cooper). The band entered Sunset Sound studio in Hollywood California to record their fifth studio album.
Info See Here
Popa Chubby, title not yet announced
New York City based blues/rock guitar hero Popa Chubby signed with Mike Zito’s Gulf Coast Records and announced recently that he’ll be releasing a double live CD in the Fall of 2023. Born Ted Horowitz, Chubby has become one of the genre’s most endearing and popular figures. Backed by The Beast Band on the new release including Mike Merritt -bass, (Conan O’Brien, Billy Gibbons), Mike Dimeo-keyboards (Johnny Winter, Tommy James), and Stefano Giudici (drums.) The Beast From The East!
Info Here
Black Stone Cherry, Screamin’ At The Sky
Kentucky’s finest rock band Black Stone Cherry has been tearing it up for years and they are fired up for a new album ‘Screamin’ At The Sky’ out September 29th on Mascot Records. It’s their eighth studio album and the follow up to The Human Condition released in 2020. The band consists of Chris Robertson (lead vox/guitar), Ben Wells (guitar/bkg vox) and drummer John-Fred Young (drums/bkg vox), are joined for the first time on an album recording by ‘new’ bassist, Steve Jewell Jr. (ex-Otis).
Info and Video Here
Samantha Fish/Jesse Dayton, Death Wish Blues
Roots music stars Samantha Fish and Jesse Dayton break new ground by mixing old-school skills with the fire of indie rock/blues rock on their new collaborative album Death Wish Blues. A collaboration was new to both of these artists but something they’d wanted to do for quite some time. Out May 19th on Rounder Records, this album boosts something new and outstanding from this pair.
Info and Video Here
Crashing Wayward, Listen!
Modern rock outfit Crashing Wayward make an impressive showing on the group’s debut album Listen! out June 9th. The result of this recipe is 11 tracks of fresh, tough-toned rock music full of top-flight vocals, guitar ideas, and an intense desire to not sound like any other band. Check out the lead vocals.
Info and Video Here
Selwyn Birchwood, Exorcist
Award-winning blues visionary Selwyn Birchwood creates the future of American music in real time on his incendiary new album Exorcist out June 9th on Alligator Records and produced by Grammy winner Tom Hambridge. Birchwood shows us all what it means to make smart, relevant, and body-rocking modern blues-blazing psychedelic rock, rump-shaking funk, and Southern soul.
Info and Video Here
These are only twelve. There are a lot more you can find on our website.
Let us know which artists/bands are your favorites. We welcome your comments.
Spotify Playlist ’10 Rock and Blues Albums You Need To Know About Summer 2023′
You left out D K Harrell The Right Man. A talent for the ages!
Just damn https://youtu.be/d8ZpAy8JHVw