Home of Madison Blues
Blues Greats: Charley Patton
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Artist Spotlight Noah James Hittner
Artist Spotlight Noah James Hittner — Musician, author, and speaker based in Madison, Wisconsin, originally from the Driftless region of…
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W.C. Handy (1873–1958): Father of the Blues
William Christopher Handy stands as one of the most pivotal figures in American music — not because he invented the…
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Arthur “Blind” Blake (1896–1934): King of Ragtime Guitar
Arthur “Blind” Blake stands as one of the most dazzling, technically gifted, and enigmatic figures in early American blues. Born…
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Artist Spotlight: The Blues Olives
The Blues Olives have long been one of Wisconsin’s most beloved blues acts—a band whose unmistakable blend of soulful vocals,…
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The Soul of American Music: A Guide to Blues Genres
The Soul of American Music: A Guide to Blues Genres There’s a reason the blues has never gone out of…
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Artist Spotlight: Jon Peck & the Bad Dogs
Jon Peck & the Bad Dogs are a Wisconsin‑based blues band built around Jon Peck, a guitarist and vocalist with…
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Blues Directory: Jug Bands & Folk Blues
Part rural folk tradition, part street-corner performance art, jug band music and folk-blues were community sounds — mixing blues, ragtime,…
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Blues Directory: Women in the Blues
Before the Delta bluesmen were recorded, Black women ruled the blues — commanding stages, headlining theater circuits, and making the…
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Blues Directory: Piedmont Blues
Blues Directory: Piedmont Blues From the Carolinas to Virginia and Georgia, the Piedmont Blues developed a lighter, finger-picked ragtime-influenced style…
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Blues Directory: Delta Blues
Born in the flatlands of Mississippi, Delta Blues is the raw, elemental heart of the entire blues tradition — deeply…
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Artist Profile: McKinley Morganfield (Muddy Waters)
Long before he was Muddy Waters — before Chess Records, before the South Side, before the Rolling Stones named themselves…
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Artist Profile: Tracy Nelson
Tracy Nelson (born December 27, 1944) is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist celebrated for her emotive vocals spanning blues, R&B, country, and rock music.[1] With…
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Artist Spotlight: Tall Paul & the Naughty Cats
Tall Paul & the Naughty Cats have become one of the most recognizable and beloved blues acts in the Madison…
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Artist Spotlight: Idledaze Trio
Idledaze Trio is a modern roots‑blues project that blends ambient indie textures, soul‑infused grooves, and blues‑forward guitar work into a…
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Blues Greats: Charley Patton
Charley Patton (b. 1891, d. 1934) remains one of the most important and influential talents in American music history. Patton…
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Artist Spotlight: Left on High Street
Left on High Street is a Cambridge‑based roots‑rock and blues outfit known for their tight musicianship, warm stage presence, and…
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Artist Spotlight: Buddy Guy (George “Buddy” Guy, b. 1936)
Buddy Guy is one of the most electrifying guitarists in American music history and a towering figure in Chicago blues.…
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Artist Spotlight: Junior Wells (Amos Blakemore) (1934–1998)
Overview Junior Wells stands as one of the defining voices and harmonica stylists of Chicago blues. Known for his fiery…
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A Brief History of the Blues
Blues music originated in the late 19th century among African Americans in the Deep South, evolving from African musical traditions…
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Artist Spotlight: The Blues Disciples
Artist Spotlight: The Blues Disciples Return to Artist Spotlight List The Blues Disciples are one of Madison’s longest‑running and most…
