Slideways is bursting with Lil' Ed's rollicking slide-work and rough-hewn vocals on a joyous blend of smoking slide guitar boogies, raw-boned shuffles, and heart-stopping slow blues. Mixing smoking slide guitar boogies and raw-boned shuffles with the deepest soul-burners and heart-wrenching slow blues, Lil' Ed Williams and The Blues Imperials bring it all back home, playing each track with an impassioned sense of wild abandon. "Electrifying, raucous, pure Chicago blues... Lil' Ed is a guitarist extraordinaire... slashing slide and flamboyant stage persona." - Chicago Tribune

Rolling Stone calls award-winning Florida musician Selwyn Birchwood "a remarkable, contemporary bluesman... a powerhouse young guitarist and soulful vocalist." Now, this mesmerizing guitarist, lap steel master and cinematic songwriter unleashes the powerful new album Electric Swamp Funkin' Blues, further blazing his own musical trail. Birchwood's sound is an intoxicating mix of deep blues, blistering, psychedelic-tinged rock, booty-shaking funk and sweet Southern soul, played and sung with true blues passion. From an emotionally devastating whisper to a soul-baring scream, Birchwood's vocals command attention. Schooled in the blues' storied traditions (he toured with and was mentored by the famed Sonny Rhodes), Birchwood maps out a dazzling future for the blues with his visionary music. Selwyn Birchwood is one of the hardest-touring artists on the Alligator roster, and will support the new release with shows throughout the U.S. He's no stranger to European stages either, with plenty of tours there under his belt, and having just completed over a month's worth of European dates, 27 shows in all, with 24 taking place in France, three in Belgium and one in Czechia.

EXORCIST

Clear Highlighter Yellow Vinyl. Rolling Stone calls award-winning Florida musician Selwyn Birchwood "a remarkable, contemporary bluesman... a powerhouse young guitarist and soulful vocalist." Now, this mesmerizing guitarist, lap steel master and cinematic songwriter unleashes the powerful new album Electric Swamp Funkin' Blues, further blazing his own musical trail. Birchwood's sound is an intoxicating mix of deep blues, blistering, psychedelic-tinged rock, booty-shaking funk and sweet Southern soul, played and sung with true blues passion. From an emotionally devastating whisper to a soul-baring scream, Birchwood's vocals command attention. Schooled in the blues' storied traditions (he toured with and was mentored by the famed Sonny Rhodes), Birchwood maps out a dazzling future for the blues with his visionary music. Selwyn Birchwood is one of the hardest-touring artists on the Alligator roster, and will support the new release with shows throughout the U.S. He's no stranger to European stages either, with plenty of tours there under his belt, and having just completed over a month's worth of European dates, 27 shows in all, with 24 taking place in France, three in Belgium and one in Czechia.

Slideways is bursting with Lil' Ed's rollicking slide-work and rough-hewn vocals on a joyous blend of smoking slide guitar boogies, raw-boned shuffles, and heart-stopping slow blues. Mixing smoking slide guitar boogies and raw-boned shuffles with the deepest soul-burners and heart-wrenching slow blues, Lil' Ed Williams and The Blues Imperials bring it all back home, playing each track with an impassioned sense of wild abandon. "Electrifying, raucous, pure Chicago blues... Lil' Ed is a guitarist extraordinaire... slashing slide and flamboyant stage persona." - Chicago Tribune

2024 release. Tinsley Ellis unplugs and channels his masterful guitar skills and soul-baring vocals into a bracing collection of solo acoustic tracks steeped in the traditions of Muddy Waters, Skip James, Son House, Robert Johnson and even Leo Kottke. Nine newly-written originals sit alongside reverent, yet spirited, versions of House's "Death Letter Blues," Willie Dixon's "Don't Go No Further" and Kottke's "Sailor's Grave On The Prairie."

SHEMEKIA COPELAND / BLAME IT ON EVE Grammy-nominated blues, soul and Americana singer is beloved and honored worldwide for her joyful, defiant music and thrillingly soulful performances. Blame It On Eve is another exhilarating Shemekia Copeland showcase, as her rousing vocals bring the heat to an infectious array of muscular rockers, stomping blues, swampy soul, and heartbreaking ballads. Intense, topical new originals make up most of the tracks and soul-soaked versions of songs by Stevie Wonder and her father, Johnny Copeland, fit right into the mix.

GOOD INTENTIONS GONE BAD

SHEMEKIA COPELAND / BLAME IT ON EVE Grammy-nominated blues, soul and Americana singer is beloved and honored worldwide for her joyful, defiant music and thrillingly soulful performances. Blame It On Eve is another exhilarating Shemekia Copeland showcase, as her rousing vocals bring the heat to an infectious array of muscular rockers, stomping blues, swampy soul, and heartbreaking ballads. Intense, topical new originals make up most of the tracks and soul-soaked versions of songs by Stevie Wonder and her father, Johnny Copeland, fit right into the mix.

The son of legendary bluesman Lonnie Brooks steps into the spotlight with his Alligator debut, a fiery blast of guitar-stoked blues rock guaranteed to singe your whiskers.

Celebrated blues, R&B and Americana vocal powerhouse delivers the eagerly anticipated follow-up to 2018's America's Child, winner of the Blues Music Award for Album Of The Year. The new album is again produced by Will Kimbrough and features guest performances and/or songwriting by Kimbrough, Jason Isbell, Christone "Kingfish" Ingram, Jerry Douglas, Sam Bush, Orphan Brigade, Steve Cropper, Duane Eddy and Shawn Mullins. Uncivil War finds Shemekia blazing an exhilarating roots music trail, with many of the songs reflecting the spirit of our turbulent times. Aggressive press, radio and social media support for an artist with past coverage on Late Night With Conan O'Brien, CNN, CBS-TV's Saturday Early Show, Tavis Smiley Show, NPR'S Weekend Edition, World Caf�, Mountain Stage and E-Town. In addition, her praises have been sung by The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The New York Times, The Washington Post, NPRMusic. Com, AllMusic. Com, PopMatters. Com, NoDepression. Com, Paste. Com and many more. Radio promotion at Americana, AAA and blues specialty radio. The title track, released as a digital single earlier this year, has already received airplay at all three. America's Child charted Top Ten on Americana single and album charts, and also charted at AAA. Blues specialty radio kept the album on Living Blues' radio chart for six straight months. Shemekia has made hundreds of appearances worldwide at festivals, clubs and arts centers for the last 20 years. Tour dates throughout the U. S. in support will begin as soon as they are feasible. With Uncivil War, Shemekia's passion-packed singing breathes fire into solemn, gospel-drenched anthems, lowdown blues, crunching rockers and frisky New Orleans R&B. On captivating original songs and invigorating new takes on tracls by the Rolling Stones, Junior Parker and her father, famed bluesman Johnny Clyde Copeland, she commands listeners' attention while exploring life's daily struggles and triumphs, both political and personal.

2024 release. Celebrated by fans and fellow musicians as being among the blues' most talented and exciting guitarists, Chris Cain is, according to Living Blues magazine, "turning out the best work of his career." Good Intentions Gone Bad debuts 13 striking new songs, with Cain delivering top-shelf performances on blistering shuffles, slow-burning blues and joyful soul. Fellow Alligator artist Tommy Castro guests on one track.

Vinyl LP pressing. Includes digital download. Classic Alligator title on vinyl for the first time in 25 years! All tracks remastered, including fan favorites 'Sadie', 'See Me In The Evening', 'Roll Your Moneymaker' and 'Take Five'.

Alligator debut from one of the blues' most talented unsung heroes, a deeply soulful vocalist, powerhouse harmonica player and gifted songwriter. The Hard Line shines with 12 striking original songs that draw from O'Leary's rich personal history. Engaging, sharp-edged observations on life and love are shot through with every-man wisdom and humor, and set to rollicking roadhouse R&B, hard Chicago blues and wrenching ballads. O'Leary's rough, riveting vocals and world-class harmonica playing set the pace throughout.

Harmonica ace Dennis Gruenling joins Nick-who has earned an astonishing 21 Blues Music Award nominations-and his well-oiled-machine of a band on this fiery new album. Chicago blues and old-school rock 'n' roll merge across "Crazy Mixed Up Baby," "Get Right Before You Get Left," "No Sense," "He Walked with Giants" (an homage to Barrelhouse Chuck), the title cut and more! Alligator.

2024 release. 11 striking new originals delivered with purpose and passion. From scorching-hot blues to a gospel-inspired rave-up to deep, slow burners, the songs tackle the gamut of human emotions, all sparked by Cannon's dynamic guitar work and commanding, cathartic singing.

Vinyl LP pressing. 2024 release. Tinsley Ellis unplugs and channels his masterful guitar skills and soul-baring vocals into a bracing collection of solo acoustic tracks steeped in the traditions of Muddy Waters, Skip James, Son House, Robert Johnson and even Leo Kottke. Nine newly-written originals sit alongside reverent, yet spirited, versions of House's "Death Letter Blues," Willie Dixon's "Don't Go No Further" and Kottke's "Sailor's Grave On The Prairie."

Alligator debut from one of the blues' most talented unsung heroes, a deeply soulful vocalist, powerhouse harmonica player and gifted songwriter. The Hard Line shines with 12 striking original songs that draw from O'Leary's rich personal history. Engaging, sharp-edged observations on life and love are shot through with every-man wisdom and humor, and set to rollicking roadhouse R&B, hard Chicago blues and wrenching ballads. O'Leary's rough, riveting vocals and world-class harmonica playing set the pace throughout.

In a time when the regional flavor of the blues is being diluted, guitar-slinger Long John Hunter is Texas Blues with a big ol' "T". Fame has eluded this legend of the Tex-Mex roadhouses for way too long and Border Town Legend is wicked redemption. From the first bristling notes of "T-Bone Intentions," you know you're in for a hot time. This CD is a flat-out party. Propelled by a crackerjack outfit of brassy horns, Hunter fires up a spicy mix of jump blues, soulful laments, and joyous rave-ups. "Ole Red" is a stone-cold butt-shaker, "Arkansas" is smoky, seductive R&B at it's best, and no guitarist is left standing once the "Lone Star Shootout" has ended. Even more astonishing, all but one of these tracks are Hunter-penned originals. Make a run for Border Town Legend or die trying. -Genevieve Williams

Get Your Back Into It features 14 original songs inspired by the electrifying blues sounds of 1940s through 1960s, and performed with taste, sly humor and pure joy. From locomotive shuffles to deep, slow blues, Moss shines with a Willie Dixon-like ability to write and sing the blues' honest truth.

Double vinyl LP pressing. The king of blues labels turns 50! This anthology celebrates 50 years of classic, genre-defining recordings by a star-studded Who's Who of American blues and roots music artists past and present. Features tracks by Hound Dog Taylor, Christone "Kingfish" Ingram, J.J. Grey & Mofro, Koko Taylor, Johnny Winter, Tommy Castro, Marcia Ball, Albert Collins, Luther Allison, James Cotton, Toronzo Cannon and many more!

Alligator Records chestnut from 1974 from one of the unsung giants of Chicago blues, Fenton Robinson. An album so good it's been inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame. Features the famous title cut, a blues standard later covered by Boz Scaggs, plus Texas Flood (covered by Stevie Ray Vaughan).

Limited purple colored vinyl LP pressing. 2023 release. On Exorcist, Birchwood delivers the most far-reaching, musically adventurous album of his career. Exorcist was recorded in Florida and produced by Grammy Award-winner Tom Hambridge, with each of the 13 vividly detailed songs written and arranged by Birchwood. The soul-baring tracks all hit with lasting rhymes and unexpected rhythms. Each twists it's own tale, ranging from the love-gone-wrong Horns Below Her Halo to the love-gone-terrifying Exorcist to the ripped-from-the-headlines escapades of FLorida Man and Swim At Your Own Risk to the autobiographical Underdog. According to Blues Music Magazine, "Selwyn Birchwood heralds a fresh, exciting new direction in the blues. Toe-tapping, hip-shaking, joyful and inviting... expansive and focused, exploratory and time-honored, but always original."

Sacramento, California's musically fearless, wildly entertaining and award-winning Rick Estrin & the Nightcats return with another superb collection of blues and roots music full of sharp-witted songs and brilliant musicianship. Celebrated throughout the blues world, the band has twice won the coveted Blues Music Award for Band Of The Year, and Estrin has won BMAs for Song of the Year, Traditional Male Blues Artist and Instrumentalist - Harmonica. The Hits Keep Coming is modern blues at it's most potent, with ten sparkling new originals ranging from from crisp, hooky retro-rock to intense, noir-ish blues, along with sublime interpretations of Muddy Water's "Diamonds At Your Feet" and Leonard Cohen's "Everybody Knows." The songwriting is whip-smart throughout, and the band's ensemble playing is infectious and jaw-dropping.

2021 release from world-renowned blues guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Chris Cain. The album was produced and recorded by Kid Andersen at San Jose's Greaseland Studio.