Blues Rock Weekly highlights new music from Samantha Fish, Joe Bonamassa, and Taj Mahal.
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Blues rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa has released a new live performance video of “Bullfrog Blues,” taken from his upcoming live album The Spirit of Rory: Live From Cork, due out June 19.
The performance captures Bonamassa leaning into his slide guitar work, delivering a gritty and expressive take on the Rory Gallagher staple. Filmed in Cork, Ireland, the video highlights both the raw energy of the performance and Bonamassa’s deep connection to the material.
The project pays tribute to late Irish blues legend Rory Gallagher, whose influence on Bonamassa dates back to his earliest years as a guitarist. For Bonamassa, recording the album in Gallagher’s hometown carried particular significance.
“I never had the honor to meet him, but his music and musicianship loom large in my life,” Bonamassa writes in a personal foreword accompanying the release. “From my first time hearing Irish Tour ’74 I was captivated by the sheer intensity of the man and the ferocity of his approach to the electric blues.”
The Spirit of Rory: Live From Cork was recorded with the blessing of Gallagher’s family and in front of audiences deeply connected to his legacy, adding further weight to the performances.
Bonamassa will support the release with an extensive run of tour dates across the U.S. and Europe throughout 2026.
The “Bullfrog Blues” performance video is available now.
U.S. Spring Tour 2026
April 10-12, 2026 – Miramar Beach, FL – Sound Wave Beach Weekend (Sold Out)
EU/UK Spring Tour 2026
April 22 – Hamburg, DE – Barclays Arena
April 24 – Rotterdam, NL – Rotterdam RTM Stage
April 25 – Paris, FR – La Seine Musicale
April 27 – Esch-sur-Alzette, LU – Luxembourg Rockhal
April 29 – Mannheim, DE – SAP Arena
May 1 – Chemnitz, DE – Stadthalle Chemnitz
May 2 – Nürnberg, DE – PSD Bank Nürnberg Arena
May 3 – Zürich, CH – Hallenstadion
May 6 – London, UK – Royal Albert Hall
May 7 – London, UK – Royal Albert Hall
U.S. Summer Tour 2026
June 26 – Bethel, NY – Bethel Woods Center for the Arts w/ JJ Grey & Mofro & D.K. Harrell
June 27 – Atlantic City, NJ – Ocean Casino Resort
June 28 – Newark, NJ – New Jersey Performing Arts Center
July 29 – Vienna, VA – Wolf Trap w/ Gov’t Mule
July 31 – Bangor, ME – Maine Savings Amphitheater w/ Gov’t Mule
August 1 – Gilford, NH – BankNH Pavilion w/ Gov’t Mule
August 3 – Hyannis, MA – Cape Cod Melody Tent
August 5 – Bridgeport, CT – Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater w/ JJ Grey & Mofro
August 7 – Selbyville, DE – Freeman Arts Pavilion
August 8 – Baltimore, MD – Pier Six Pavilion w/ Gov’t Mule
August 9 – Youngstown, OH – The Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre w/ Gov’t Mule
August 12 – Highland Park, IL – Ravinia Festival
August 14 – Interlochen, MI – Kresge Auditorium
August 15 – Welch, MN – Treasure Island Resort & Casino w/ Gov’t Mule
August 16 – Lincoln, NE – Pinewood Bowl Theater w/ Gov’t Mule
August 19 – Cheyenne, WY – Cheyenne Civic Center
August 21 – Salt Lake City, UT – Eccles Theater
August 23 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre
EU Fall Tour 2026
October 21 – Helsinki, FI – Veikkaus Arena
October 23 – Stockholm, SE – Avicii Arena
October 24 – Oslo, NO – Oslo Spektrum
October 25 – Gothenburg, SE – Partille Arena
October 27 – Copenhagen, DK – K.B. Hallen
October 29 – Rostock, DE – Stadthalle Rostock
October 30 – Berlin, DE – Uber Arena
October 31 – Dortmund, DE – Westfalenhalle
November 3 – Basel, CH – Baloise Session
November 4 – Milan, IT – Unipol Forum
The post Joe Bonamassa tips hat to Rory Gallagher with “Bullfrog Blues” appeared first on Blues Rock Review.
GRAMMY-nominated guitarist and singer Samantha Fish will release her first official live album, Paper Doll Live, on June 12, 2026, capturing the energy and power of her acclaimed stage performances. Recorded at the historic Bijou Theatre in Knoxville, Tennessee, the album documents Fish and her band in front of a packed audience, delivering a performance that reflects the intensity and chemistry that have made her one of the most exciting performers in modern blues and roots music.
The release arrives following the success of Fish’s studio album Paper Doll, which earned a GRAMMY nomination and was voted Blues Rock Review’s #1 Album of 2025 in the publication’s annual reader and staff poll. The new live record offers fans a chance to hear the songs in their most natural environment: on stage.
“Truly, this is for the fans,” Fish says of making her first official live record. “We’ve had numerous requests over the years. Paper Doll felt so great on stage — it felt like the perfect time to showcase the band and our live show.”
Recorded at the Bijou Theatre, the album captures the group fully locked in with an enthusiastic crowd. The venue’s acoustics and intimate setting helped create the ideal environment for the recording, which is further elevated by guest appearances from Nashville gospel legends The McCrary Sisters, whose harmonies add emotional depth to the performance.
“Their voices lifted every song,” Fish says. “I love beautiful backing vocals — they pack an emotional punch. I’ve been a fan of them for years, so that was really special for me.”
Fans traveled from across the country to attend the recording, creating a celebratory atmosphere inside the theater.
“Our fans aren’t afraid to travel,” Fish says. “When we announced the show, people got excited. I think that build-up always helps make a better show.”
The performance captured on Paper Doll Live highlights the way Fish’s songs evolve on stage. Studio fade-outs become explosive climaxes and arrangements stretch beyond their original versions. Tracks like “Lose You” build with mounting intensity, while “Sweet Southern Sounds” allows Fish to lean into hypnotic North Mississippi-inspired guitar phrasing. The title track “Paper Doll” arrives as a defiant anthem that ignites audiences night after night.
The album also includes a cover of MC5’s classic “Kick Out the Jams.”
For Fish, the difference between recording in the studio and performing live is fundamental.
“The studio is where you build and create your sound,” Fish says. “The stage is where you execute all of that. Having a crowd takes you out of your head and gives you something to play off.”
Fish’s path as a live performer stretches back to her teenage years in Kansas City, where she famously cold-called local bars looking for gigs. Since then, she has built a reputation as one of the most dynamic touring artists in blues and roots music, blending fierce guitar playing with emotionally powerful vocals.
Her influences range widely, drawing from artists such as Prince and Leonard Cohen as well as the legends of Mississippi Hill Country blues. That wide musical palette has helped shape a live show that balances raw power with emotional nuance.
With Paper Doll Live, Fish is not trying to reinvent her sound but rather to document the electricity that happens when her band and audience meet in real time.
“I just wanted to capture what we do every night,” Fish says. “It wasn’t about chasing something new. It was about capturing the thing that has connected so deeply over the years.”
To support the release, Fish will take the Paper Doll Live material on the road with a new international tour beginning April 24 in New Orleans.
DIGITAL TRACKLIST
01. Kick Out The Jams – Live
02. Paper Doll – Live
03. Can Ya Handle The Heat? – Live
04. I Put A Spell On You – Live
05. I’m Done Runnin’ – Live
06. Lose You – Live
07. Sweet Southern Sounds – Live
08. Bulletproof – Live
09. Miles To Go – Live
10. Fortune Teller – Live
11. Better Be Lonely – Live
12. Dream Girl – Live
13. Don’t Say It – Live
14. Poor Black Mattie – Live
15. Rusty Razor – Live
16. Black Wind Howlin’ – Live
CD TRACKLIST
01. Kick Out The Jams – Live
02. Paper Doll – Live
03. Can Ya Handle The Heat? – Live
04. I’m Done Runnin’ – Live
05. Lose You – Live
06. Sweet Southern Sounds – Live
07. Bulletproof – Live
08. Miles To Go – Live
09. Fortune Teller – Live
10. Better Be Lonely – Live
11. Dream Girl – Live
12. Don’t Say It – Live
13. Poor Black Mattie – Live
14. Rusty Razor – Live
15. Black Wind Howlin’ – Live
LP TRACKLIST
Side A
1. Paper Doll – Live
2. Can Ya Handle The Heat? – Live
3. I’m Done Runnin’ – Live
4. Lose You – Live
5. Sweet Southern Sounds – LiveSide B
6. Fortune Teller – Live
7. Don’t Say It – Live
8. Rusty Razor – Live
9. Black Wind Howlin’ – Live
Side B
6. Fortune Teller – Live
7. Don’t Say It – Live
8. Rusty Razor – Live
9. Black Wind Howlin’ – Live
TOUR DATES
4.10 Miramar Beach, FL Joe Bonamassa Beach Weekend
4.11 Jacksonville, FL Florida Theatre*
4.12 St Petersburg, FL Tampa Bay Blues Festival*
4.15 Savannah, GA District Live at Plant Riverside District*
4.16 Gainesville, FL Heartwood Soundstage*
4.17 Dothan, AL Dothan Opera House*
4.18 Meredian, MS MSU Riley Center*
4.19 Sandy Springs, GA Byers Theatre at Sandy Springs PAC*
4.24 New Orleans, LA House of Blues
4.25 New Orleans, LA Jazz & Heritage Festival
4.28 New Orleans, LA Chickie Wah Wah
5.01 New Orleans, LA Fillmore
5.02 Biloxi, MS IP Casino Resort & Spa
5.05 Decatur, AL The Princess Theatre
5.07 Springfield, MO Gillioz Theatre
5.08 Kansas City, MO Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City
5.09 St Louis, MO Atomic
5.10 Tulsa, OK Cain’s Ballroom
5.13 Iowa City, IA The Englert Theatre
5.14 Marion, IL Marion Cultural & Civic Cebter
5.16 Welch, MN Treasure Island Casino**
5.17 Des Plaines, IL The Des Plaines Theatre
5.19 Warrendale, PA Jergel’s Rhythm Grille
5.20 State College, PA The State Theatre
5.21 Troy, NY Troy Savings Bank Music Hall
5.22 Ledyard, CT Foxwoods Resort Casino**
5.23 Beverly, MA The Cabot
5.24 Nashua, NH Nashua Center for the Arts
5.27 Patchogue, NJ Patchogue Theatre
5.28 Syracuse, NY Westcott Theater
5.29 Lebanon, NH Levanon Opera House
5.30 Augusta, NJ Michael Arnone’s Crawfish Fest
5.31 Buffalo, NY Babeville
6.19 Grolloo, Netherlands Holland Intl Blues Festival
6.20 Dortmund, Germany Musiktheater Piano
6.21 Chiari, Italy Istituto Salesiaino “San Bernadino”
6.23 Loceri, Italy Parco Urbano
6.25 Rubigen, Switzerland Muhle Hunziken
6.27 Vienne, France Jazz a Vienne
6.28 Erlangen, Germany E-Werk Kino
6.30 Mannheim, Germany 7er-Club
7.01 Aschaffenburg, Germany Colos-Saal
7.02 Hamburg, Germany Fabrik
7.04 Helsinki Puisto Blues
7.07 Warszawa, Poland Klub Hydrozagadka
7.08 Gdynia, PL Podeorko Art
9.18-19 Telluride, CO Telluride Blues & Brews Fest
10.31 West Hollywood, CA Whisky A Go Go***
*w/Tab Benoit – Two Tours Collide 4.11-4.19
**w/Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
***w/Jesse Dayton
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Legendary blues and roots artist Taj Mahal has announced the release of his new single “Wild About My Lovin’,” the latest preview from his upcoming album Time, due out May 1 via Resonatin’ Records/Thirty Tigers.
The new album features a mix of blues, soul, folk, reggae, and roots influences, continuing Taj Mahal’s long-standing approach of blending styles rooted in American music traditions. The project was originally recorded in 2010 with his longtime backing group, the Phantom Blues Band, marking a continuation of a collaboration that spans more than three decades.
One of the album’s notable tracks is the title song “Time,” a previously unreleased composition by Bill Withers. The song was originally recorded as a demo and remained unheard until it was revisited for this release. Producer Steve Berkowitz brought the track to Taj Mahal with the approval of Withers and his family.
The recording sessions for Time featured members of the Phantom Blues Band, including Tony Braunagel on drums, Larry Fulcher on bass, and Johnny Lee Schell on guitar, who also co-produced the album with Berkowitz. Additional musicians include pianist Jon Cleary and organist Mick Weaver. The album was recorded at Ultratone Studio in Studio City, California, and incorporates elements of New Orleans rhythms, reggae grooves, country blues, and Latin influences.
Taj Mahal remains one of the most influential figures in blues and roots music, with a career spanning more than six decades. He has released over 40 albums and has received multiple GRAMMY Awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2025. His work has helped shape the direction of modern blues while drawing connections to global musical traditions.
In support of the new release, Taj Mahal will continue touring throughout 2026, including a special event on May 1 in New York City featuring a discussion and performance with the Phantom Blues Band.
TIME Tracklist
Life of Love
Wild About My Lovin’
Crazy About A Jukebox
Time
You Put The Whammy On Me
Talkin’ Blues
Sweet Lorene
Ask Me About Nothing (But The Blues)
It’s Your Voodoo Working
Rowdy Blues
Tour Dates
Apr. 9 Thu – Fort Lauderdale, FL – The Parker
Apr. 10 – St. Petersburg, FL – Tampa Bay Blues Festival
Apr. 12 Sun – Jacksonville, FL – Florida Theater
Apr. 13 Mon – Charleston, SC – Charleston Music Hall
Apr. 14 Tue – Wilmington, NC – The Wilson Center at Cape Fear Community College
Apr. 16 Thu – Atlanta, GA – Variety Playhouse
Apr. 17 Fri – Knoxville, TN – Bijou Theater
Apr. 18 Sat – Newberry, SC – Newberry Opera House
Apr. 20 Mon – Decatur, AL – The Princess Center for Performing Arts
Apr. 21 Tue – Cleveland, MS – Bologna Performing Arts Center
Apr. 23 – Miramar Beach, FL – Sun Sand and Soul Festival
May 1, 2026 – New York, NY – The Green Space (Discussion with Taj Mahal & performance with The Phantom Blues Band)
July 4 – Orilla, ON, Canada – Mariposa Folk Festival
July 7 – Buffalo, NY – Asbury Hall at Babeville
July 8 – Cleveland, OH – Music Box Supper Club – Concert Hall
July 10 – Royal Oak, MI – Royal Oak Music Theatre
July 11 – Munhall, PA – Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall
July 12 – Alexandria, VA – The Birchmere
July 14 – Troy, NY – Troy Savings Bank Music Hall
July 15 – Northampton, MA – Academy of Music
July 17 – Wilmington, DE – The Grand Opera House
July 18 – Trumansburg, NY – GrassRoots Festival
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