There are some awesome new 2026 blues releases for early June and several great new upcoming albums just added to the list! John Primer has issued a recording that pays tribute to Theresa’s Lounge which was one of the great Chicago blues hangouts. Billy Branch, Willie Buck, and Mary Lane join him, among others, to celebrate the Chicago blues that came out of that historic venue. It is well worth a listen.
Harrell “Young Rell” Davenport, one of a number of emerging young blues artists, has a great debut album. I also highly recommend the new Two Crows recording by Trever B. Power. The mix of blues, blues rock, and Americana is laced with some fantastic Dylanesque song writing. Chicago born Denise La Grassa’s has also put out a great recording that I have enjoyed spinning.
I also want to give a shout out to the new Claudettes recording Garage Glamour that features Johnny Iguana on keyboards and the stellar voice and distinctive look of Rachel Williams. Elements of blues, roots, and jazz pepper the recording. The Claudettes are continuing to pave their own way defying genre stereotypes and creating a very distinctive sound that is drawing rave performance reviews.
Two new additions to the list are Keb’ Mo’ and Ruthie Foster who both will release new albums in August! Can’t wait!!! Hope you enjoy perusing the entire list….the contemporary blues are in pretty good shape!!
Recordings Out Now – Albums
John Primer & Friends – Tribute to Theresa’s Lounge [Blues House Productions]
Harrell “Young Rell” Davenport – Young Rell [Relltone Records]
The Claudettes – Garage Glamour [Pravda Records]
Trevor B. Power Band – Two Crows [Indie]
Sherri Harding – Storyland [Dog Tired Music]
Jared James Nichols – Louder Than Fate [Frontiers Records]
Denise La Grassa – A Crossroads Communion [Indie]
The Lindells – Mixed in Mancos 25 [Flak Records]
Marcos Bartoccioni – Bartok [Indie]
Mike Little – Keys to the Universe [Indie]
The Blind Dog Mayer Group – Live Studio Session – From the Shadow of the Castle [Blues Note Records]
June 2026 Upcoming Album Releases
The Name Droppers – Let’s Live Together (June 12th)
Samantha Fish – Paper Doll Live (June 12th)
Duane Betts – Isle of Hope (June 12th)
515 Collective – Boogie Man Blues (June 12th)
*G. Edwyn Johns – New Karma Blues
Beth Hart – You Still Got Me (Deluxe Edition) (June 19th)
Joe Bonamassa – The Spirit of Rory Live from Cork (June 19th)
Thorbjorn Risager & the Black Tornado – Live at Hotel Cecil (June 19th)
Greg Piccolo – Who Knows What the Future Holds (June 19th)
When Rivers Meet – Rhythm Rust & Static (June 19th)
Snowy White and the White Flames – The Finishing Touch (June 26th)
Jasper Lindell – Royal (June 26th)
July/August 2026 Upcoming Album Releases
Will Johns – On Top of the World (July 5th)
Chris O’Leary – Blue Collar (July 10th)
The Rolling Stones – Foreign Tongues (July 10th)
Parker Barrow – Hold the Mash (July 17th)
Fantastic Negrito – Alive! (Live) (July 17th)
Bywater Call – Broken Souvenirs (July 29th)
Albert Castiglia – Grits and Glory (July 31st)
GA-20 – Blues Now ((July 31st)
Citizen – Halcyon Blues (August 7th)
Geminiidragon – Greatest Misses (August 14th)
*Keb Mo’ – The Breakdown (August 21st)
Eric Jerardi – The Game (August 21st)
Patrik Jansson Band – Different Shades of Blue (August 27th)
*Ruthie Foster – Just Say Yes (August 28th)
Steve Cropper & the Midnight Hour – Watching the Tide (August 28th)
Danielle Nicole – Fireflies (August 28th)
Sept/Oct/Nov/December Upcoming Album Releases
Blues Porter – Signs of Love (September 11th)
Joanne Shaw Taylor – The Trouble with Love (Oct 23rd)
The Sharpeez – Automatic Mode (October 2026)
Planned Release With No Set Date Yet
Eric Steckel – Sandstorm (Spring 2026)
Mike Wheeler – Chicago Blues (Spring 2026)
Kelli Baker – Mother (June 2026)
Kevin Burt – This Trip (August 2026)
Joanna Connor – Live (Summer 2026)
Secondhand Dreamcar – Get Ready (Fall 2026)
Anthony Geraci – Where You Are (Fall 2026)
Holly Smith (Fall 2026)
Larry McCray – Blue Mary (Winter 2026)
Jamiah Rogers – Blues Superman (2026)
Electric Soul Company – Electric Soul Company (2026)
Warren Haynes – Dreams & Songs (2026)
Phil Coyne & the Wayward Aces (2026)
Alan Arena – Demise (early 2027)
Susan Angeletti (2026)
EJ Mathews (2026)
*new to the list of upcoming releases
If you or your band have an upcoming album release in 2026/2027 and would like to be considered for inclusion on this list, please send info to ben@benveeblues.com
Other Websites with Contemporary Blues/Blues Rock News
Rock & Blues Muse https://www.rockandbluesmuse.com/
Blues Rock Review https://bluesrockreview.com/
Blues Chronicles https://blueschronicles.com/
Ben Vee Blues Blog https://benveeblues.com/
