75 Modern Blues & Blues Rock
By Martine Ehrenclou
Discovering great music is a musical pastime that we all love, a necessity for many of us. Since most current blues and blues/rock doesn’t receive commercial airplay, sometimes uncovering outstanding new songs and albums isn’t easy. Some even claim that great blues and blues/rock doesn’t exist anymore. But it does and it’s better than ever.
I’m making it easy for you. Here are more than 75 outstanding blues and blues/rock artists and bands you simply must listen to. This is real music by real musicians. These artists are current with stellar musicianship. Your music discovery awaits. Dig in and enjoy.
In 2019, I wrote “50 Modern Blues Rock Soul Artists You Must Hear in 2019.” You can see that article here. After that, I wrote “Your Additions to 50 Blues Rock and Soul Artists 2019,” gathered from your suggestions in the comment section. See that article here. That’s over 100 artists that we featured in two articles, some of which I considered under the radar and needed more recognition. Many of those artists are no longer under the radar and have earned or won Grammy Awards, Blues Music Awards, Juno Awards, Maple Blues Awards, UK Blues Awards and many others.
2020 and 2021 brought the worldwide pandemic and the music industry suffered a crushing blow. Although a few are starting up again now, musicians’ tours have been cancelled. Artists and bands have been forced to pivot to livestream performances, online teaching, and other sources of income. Not easy for any artist/band who has relied on touring.
Instead of adding to those two previous articles, which is too weighty for Google and causes lags in upload time, it’s time to feature 75 more outstanding artists. But for this article, I’m limiting it to blues and blues/rock. The next article will be on Rock, Southern rock and Roots music.
Each artist/band listed has a link for information and a video or song so you can sample to discover what they’re all about. Most links have their websites and social media links. Please support them by signing up for their email lists and follow them on social media. Consider purchasing their music. Musicians don’t make much on streaming. They need your support now more than ever.
If you don’t find the artist or band you are looking for, see this previous article and this one.
If you’re a fan of blues and blues/rock, some of these artists you know well. I purposely left off widely celebrated names such as Eric Clapton, Bonnie Raitt, Buddy Guy, John Mayall, and more. All of them deserve to be heard.
These artists/bands are in no particular order. This is not a “best of” or an all-encompassing list as there are so many more outstanding musicians. We welcome your suggestions in the comment section below in this article.
Christone Kingfish Ingram
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
Info-video
Tinsley Ellis
Info-video
Chris Cain
Info-video
Walter Trout
Info-video
Toronzo Cannon
Info-video
Joe Bonamassa
Info-video
Ana Popovic
Info-video
King King
Info-video
Danielle Nicole
Info-video
Tom Gilberts
Info-video
Selwyn Birchwood
Info-video
Peter Parcek
Info-video
Artur Menezes. Photo by Allison Morgan
Artur Menezes
Info-video
Jeremiah Johnson
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Joanna Connor
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Robben Ford
Info-Video
Dan Patlansky
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Josh Smith
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Mike Zito
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Kirk Fletcher
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Elles Baily
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Joanne Shaw Taylor
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Rick Estrin & The Nightcats
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Ben Poole
Info-video
Samantha Fish. Photo by Michael Emanuele
Samantha Fish
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JP Soars
Info-video
Alastair Greene
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Sari Schorr
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Kenny Wayne Shepherd
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Popa Chubby
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Shemekia Copeland
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Albert Castiglia
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Matty T Wall
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Quinn Sullivan
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Larry McCray
Website
Matt Schofield
Website
Eric Gales. Photo by Sten Thorborg
Eric Gales
Info-video
Eric Johanson
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Chris Roberts
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The Nick Moss Band
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Tommy Castro & The Painkillers
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Sue Foley
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Colin James
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Tony Spinner
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Jontavious Willis
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Mr. Sipp
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Eliza Neals
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Beth Hart. Photo by Greg Watermann
Beth Hart
Info-video
AJ Fullerton
Info-video
Eric Tessmer
Info-video
Gary Hoey
Info-video
Jimmy Thackery
Website
Grainne Duffy
Info-video
Fantastic Negrito
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Dennis Jones
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When Rivers Meet
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Bernard Allison
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Ryan McGarvey
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Larkin Poe
Larkin Poe
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Damon Fowler
Video (Thanks to datflys for the video)
Website
Chantel McGregor
Info-video
Ronnie Earl
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Curtis Salgado
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Joyann Parker
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Erja Lyytinen
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Jonathon Long
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Sonny Landreth
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Ally Venable
Ally Venable
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Kevin Burt
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Keb’ Mo’
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Ruthie Foster
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Jonny Lang
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David Grissom
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Gary Clark Jr
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Mary Jo Curry Band
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Laurence Jones
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John Nemeth
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Anthony Gomes
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Tab Benoit
Tab Benoit
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Bobby Rush
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Kat Riggins
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Shaw Davis & The Black Ties
Info-video
Celso Salim Band
Video
Website
Sugaray Rayford
Info-video
Tyler Morris
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Layla Zoe
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Tony Campanella
Info-video
Kenny Blues Boss Wayne
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Duke Robillard
Info-video
Mike Zito
Mike Zito
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Philip Sayce
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Albert Cummings
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Nora Jean Wallace
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Joe Louis Walker
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Anthony Geraci
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Kim Wilson
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Deb Ryder
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Peter Karp
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Elvin Bishop & Charlie Musselwhite
Info-video
Shawn Pittman
Info-video
Bands like Blackberry Smoke, Gov’t Mule, Rival Sons, Black Stone Cherry, Allman Betts Band, Richie Kotzen, Robert Jon & The Wreck, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Vintage Trouble, The Immediate Family and others will be in the next article on Rock, Southern Rock and Roots.
We welcome your comments below in the comment section. Thanks.
I gotta say, Martine, this is a fine list!
Laura,
Thank you. Hope you enjoy.
Eric Steckel
Ed,
In previous article, list. Read the article and the two previous article/ links are right there. Eric is a monster player and we have featured him a lot.
Great list. Disappointed that Danny Bryant is missing though. Other than that, awesome.
Dave Keller Band
Good list but where is John Hammond?
Phenomenal List!! Thank you for bringing them all this talent together in one place!!
Marlene,
Thank you. Hope you enjoy. Welcome.
How did we miss Danielle Nicole?
J Miller,
We didn’t miss Danielle Nicolle. She is in one of the two other lists. Check those links in the first few paragraphs.
Another outstanding list Martine. Great links lots of Buffalo alumni.
Please add Danielle Nicole to this awesome list!!!
Chuck,
Danielle is in the previous list.
New comer to watch Skylar Rogers
Mark,
We just received her album. You can type her name into the search bar.
Another add… Jontavious Willis
Chuck,
Jontavious is in there. We love his music.
And another… Marquise Knox
Absolutely need to add Marquise!
Please check out the talented and dynamic Diedrea Hurdle-Huff. When it comes to the Blues, no list is complete without her!
Great list Great artists Keep The Blues Alive USA # 1**
Yes Jontavious is… sorry I missed him!
Chuck,
Danielle was in the Your Additions to the 50 article but she’s in this one now. We love her. Reviewed her album.
You should add
Diedra Hurdle-Ruff
Excellent list and I look forward to exploring some of those I don’t know. I suggest adding Australian artist Lloyd Spiegel.
Peter,
He’s an incredible guitarist, singer, songwriter. Reviewed his last album.
Great list and some more bands for me to discover.
I like to say you missed a few though
Eric Steckel
Albany Down
Hundred Seventy Split
Pebbleman
Paul,
We love Eric Steckel. He’s in our other two lists linked inside this article. We’ve reviewed and featured him a lot.
Will check out the others. Thanks.
Thank-you Martine
I forgot to add The Cold Stares
Great list. Check out The Starlite Campbell Band. Well worth a listen and great vibe live. Especially if you like quality vintage kit.
Really nice list Martine! Wonderful to see the wickedly talented Grainne Duffy inside.
I guess Trigger Hippies will be in Southern Rock list?
Here’s a few that I’d add:
1) John Primer
2) Billy Branch
3) The Cash Box Kings
Not sure how Patrick Sweany isn’t on this list, or any of your lists, but he certainly should be. Maybe you define him as a style other than blues since he’s got a pretty diverse set of influences?
And for your “Rock, Southern Rock and Roots” list, The Steepwater Band and Radio Moscow should make the cut. And Ape Machine too, if you branch off into more “heavy metal” styled rock.
If the omission of Kevin Burt was an oversight, do yourself a favor and look him up. If it’s my oversight, pleas accept my apologies. Either way great article/resource. Thanks
John
Kevin Burt is in fact in the list. Please look carefully because he is there.
We love our home grown Iowan Kevin Burt!! He is awesome!
This list gives us faith in the future. Let’s add new comer, Veronica Lewis, who has stepped onto the scene with her Feb 2021 Debut “You Ain’t Unlucky” – Debuted at # 2 on Billboard last week.
Liz Melendez should be listed
Nice list, here’s one for you to check out not on your list. Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado
Just love this list, a lot of artists that I will try to follow.
Thanks
Terry
You missed Aynsley Lister. He’s tremendous.
JOHN,
Aynsley is tremendous.
Add to this list
The ALABAMA BLUES QUEEN!!!!! DieDra Hurdle-Ruff babyyy!!!!
You’ve got to add Diedra Hurdle-Ruff to your list! Phenomenal blues singer and her husband Keith is Jimi Hendrix meets Barry White! She is a must listen for any blues enthusiast!
Michael Hornbuckle, Austin Young, Taylor Scott and Nic Clark.
You missed Jimmie Vaughn, Steve Freund, and Anson Funderburgh
Steve,
Jimmie Vaughan is a highly celebrated artist. Please read the article. And how about, thanks for this list!
Have a listen to Ash Grunwald and The Tedesky Brothers.
Good Aussie talent
Love the Tesky Brothers. Wish their publicist would put us on their email list. Will check out Grunwald. Thanks
Willie J Laws. Highlighted in this month’s issue of Living Blues Magazine
Great List but i would add Scott Holt , Keb Mo and 2 Canadian Bands Jack DeKeyzer and fantastic Harmonica from Guy Belanger, a must listen
Rob,
Keb’ Mo’ is in the list. Thanks for the suggestions.
Hi There! How do I submit our CD for review? “I’ll Drink To That” debuted at #9 on the Billboard Top Ten Blues Artist page in May 2019 and #1 on iTunes in April 2019. We are played in regular rotation on BBKing’s Bluesville station on SiriusXM. Name of our band is Griff Hamlin and the Single Barrel Blues Band. Killer 8 piece, 4 horns and all original. http://www.ghsbbb.com. Would love to be considered. Thanks! Laura
Fantastic list….I don’t know how you could possibly get them all but I missed North Mississippi All Stars, Matt Schofield, Anders Osbourne and the Landreth Bros…..Appreciate your efforts….I’ve only seen 45 of these so I got my work cut out for me too….
Pat,
I was planning on North Mississippi Allstars going in the Roots music, Southern rock and rock article
Landreth Bros I don’t know how to classify- I love them. Together and Joey Landreth solo.
Matt Schofield should be in this list, definitely. Anders too. But I can’t add 100 more. It’s already going to start affecting website speed, which is why I broke them up into different articles. Seems a number of people didn’t see the references and links to other articles.
Don’t get me wrong….I’m not complaining….it seems like an impossible task to me and you did a fantastic job…..I understand your placement of NMA….Keep up the good work….It’s fun to see others opinions….
What about Southern Avenue??
Joe,
Southern Avenue is in the first list. Please read the article. And we love them. Great band. Thank you.
Thank you!
Leon, welcome!
The list of on point, but don’t sleep on both Jeff Massey and Eric Saylors from the Steepwater Band. Relentless tourers of both the US and Europe (pre-covid anyway) with appearances at events like the Big Blues Bender and Joe Bonnamassa’s Blues at Sea, they bring the goods night in and night out!
Hey guys!, Can you please add DieDra Hurdle-Ruff? She is truly a blues queen!
Where is Corey Stevens?
Great list! You should check out Big Harp George. He released his fourth album, Living in the City, last October and it’s phenomenal!
How dare you leave out every blues artist that has ever played. Seriously, this is a great list Martine.
Richard,
Lol! Thank you.
Wow cool list of talent – Samantha Fish was here in Western Colorado about a year ago touring with AJ Fullerton opening for her — both incredible and both on this list !!! AjFullerton has a new single out “Say You’ll Stay” and there is a video for it too.. !!! see link here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4QDYk9uajU
Did not see “Monster” Mike Welch, Marcus King or Victor Wainwright and the Train, maybe I missed them? Nice having Philip Sayce, he is outstanding! Jon Hay (guitar) is with John Nemeth, great player.
Steve
Marcus King and Victor Wainwright are in previous lists. Check the article for the 2 links to articles. Thanks for suggestions
Avey Grouws Band would be a great add! Debut album made the top 10 during the pandemic. Vocals and guitar are top notch!!
Alias Smith & Jones…should be on your radar very soon.. https://open.spotify.com/artist/6P3HKjuxtI95gzwbGcnvhP?si=FRH4OV2LRBifY6BKKcLkaA
Play it loud!
Great collection, I’m happy to say I’ve had the supreme joy of seeing at least half of them perform live. Two artists I’m going to mention for you:
Brandon “Taz” Niederauer — I only found him on YouTube as I’m a Deadhead and there’s a video featuring him on a cover of Shakedown Street. There’s another video of him jamming on new D’Angelico guitar.
Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio — Every song lays down a groove making you want to dance, and Jimmy James is phenomenal on guitar.
Where is anson funderburgh and Jimmy vaughan I don’t think I Saw Duke Robillard in there eithe and of course junior watson most of the guys you listed are young players that learn from these guys
We would love to be included on the “Roots” list! briangoldenblues.com.
Well it seems a couple decades of playing and earning my wings hasn’t got me noticed at all. Guess I got to work harder
Like the list a little though when some friends made it who deserve it
Frank Bang
yeh..but you missed me off :)
https://youtu.be/FHhY8P9PXYQ
Need to make room on the list for Whitney Shay.
There’s one guitarist missing from here you really need to check out or consider including, Simon McBride. I have never in my life heard someone with the tone and the skills like him. Makes Bonamassa look like an amateur. Plays in Ian Gillan & Don Airey’s solo bands as well his own material…. REALLY worth check king out
No Davy Knowles? Come on man! And if your going to include an old timer like Elvin Bishop then you should also include Savoy Brown. Going as strong as ever.
Steve,
Davy Knowles is in the previous list. Please read the article and you’ll see the two links to the previous lists. We could not include every single artist in one article. And Savoy Brown is also there.
GREAT EDITORIAL! How about “Kids You Must Hear 2021?”
Dylan James “Boogie Boy” Shaw
https://spark.adobe.com/page/y7d1c3Ovb3Ptb/
Cool list! I’m sorry not to see The Imperial Crowns on this though. They are such a great original blues/rock band. Live shows are so fun. An often overlooked gem, in my option.
Suggested additions are Dana Fuchs, Vanessa Collier, and Danielia Cotton.
Thanks. Dana Fuchs and Vanessa Collier are in one of the two previous lists mentioned in this article. There are links to them.
You will never get everybody on any list.
So no complaints .
If anyone one wants to. He knout some heavy blues rockers I will throw in
Head Honchos
Dave Osti
Guitar Pete
Lance Lopez
Bryce Janey
Gary
Agree about Lance Lopez. He’s in the list. Bryce Jamey is great too. Thanks
Thanks for a great list. I’m working my way through it, but so far I’ve only run across one group that features a harp player predominately: Rick Estrin & The Nightcats.
Guitar players are far more prominent (look at all the photos in the article).
Where are the heirs to Muddy Waters, Charlie Musselwaite, and Little Walter? Has Blues moved away from harmonicas?
Adam,
Welcome.
Charlie Musselwhite is in the article as is Jason Ricci. And more in the articles you’ll find in this one. And yes, we do focus on great guitar players. Read our ABOUT section. Thanks for commenting.
Hey Adam, I’m with you…as a harp player…but unfortunately reviewers overlook us..and if your Indie Blues Band it’s even harder..My wife an I just released a indie blues cd with of course harmonica..vocals and killer guitar work…including Michael Hill from Aliagator Records.. however Blues Blast magazine & a couple European sites gave us are due…Alias Smith & Jones Hit & Run…
excellent list
Good list – not great because Marquis Knox is not on it. Heralded and put on tour with ZZ Top – serious young blues man who should be on any top ten.
Don’t forget Slam Allen!!
Interesting lists with many good tips, Martine. I miss Heather Newman (or if I just did not spot her) who, like Samantha Fish and Danielle Nicole, is from Kansas City. Aynsley Lister from the UK is also great. /Niklas
A great list, and thank you for compiling it. One other suggestion is a newly formed band “HOROJO Trio from Ottawa, Canada. https://www.facebook.com/horojotrio
A great list but astounded that
N. Ireland’s Dom Martin wasn’t included! Hit the scene in 2019 and has picked up 3, yes 3 blues awards in Europe and UK……. He’ll be hitting the US in 2022…….watch this space, you heard it here first! @musicdommartin http://www.dommart.in
What about Paul Rose
Where is Joji ?
But no mention anywhere of the mind blowing German band – Muddy What?
https://youtu.be/tH1oROR6L40
Yea, good one! Here is another German band deserving to be on the list – Henrik Freischlader https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZ-FfQrOlOQ
Fantastic list!
Alexis Didier french guitarist from Jesse lee and the Alchemists with the last album let it shine (2021)!
Gaelle Buswell a french guitarist
Holland K. Smith has a couple of very good albums.
I recommend you check out Troy Redfern in the UK.
I recommend you use the search bar on our site and find out just how many times we have featured Troy Redfern
Robin Trower! With a guitar tone described as warm honey, the man has been a legend since the 60’s!
Thanks for this great list!
A must have for every guitar driven southern rock enthousiast is Rebel Pride with the album “It Is What It Is”.
Check out The Harlis Sweetwater Band, Earl Slick,Ben Poole,The Temperance Movement,Les Dudek,Jive Mother Mary,Red Beard,Bywater Call and Saint Jude.
Keep up the good work!
Greetings from Belgium.
Rikki
Thanks. We’ve featured 95% of the great artists you listed. Use the Search Bar.
No Marcus King? Dude is one of the most talented musicians on planet earth right now…
Of course Marcus King is there
How in the WORLD could this list leave out a modern blues guitarist that even B.B. King said was :the greatest blues guitarist of all time”, in Stevie Ray Vaughn?
James,
Please read the title again. It says 75 Modern Blues and Rock artists you must hear. MODERN.
Not one of those artists listed is living, unless they have passed since it was written.
Marcus King top of list
Great list!
You left out Lionel Young in Denver and Chris Fisher in Chicago and Scott McGill in Beaumont, TX
Roy,
How about Thanks for putting this together. Have a listen to Chris Fisher etc.
great list! Have you heard of a guy in Austin Texas by the name of Gary Cain? He’s incredible
Where the hell is Robert Cray. I would rather see him than anyone on that list.
Lisa Mann, great bass, fantastic voice