Wow…what an impressive list of new 2026 summertime blues releases & upcoming albums!! Normally from mid June to mid August is the doldrums for contemporary blues releases but not this year!! The Rolling Stones released a new record and several major contemporary artists put out new recordings in the past month.
Chris O’Leary’s newest is some great harmonica infused blues. The Name Droppers add the voice of gospel singer Simone Brown for their latest. Long time blues rocker Snowy White has put out the final studio recording of his long and storied career. Sad to hear but what a great run!! The son of Dickey Betts, Duane, follows in the foot steps of his dad with an album that is eerily reminiscent of his father. Beth Hart has put out a deluxe version of her 2024 recording with six additional tunes. And there are new live recordings from Joe Bonamassa, Thorbjorn Risager & the Black Tornado, Samantha Fish, and Fantastic Negrito.
Probably the most anticipated new albums of the summer of 2026 will be the upcoming releases by Albert Castiglia, Bywater Call, GA-20, Keb’ Mo’, Ruthie Foster, Janiva Magness and Danielle Nicole. And Morgan Freeman is putting out a recording in August that should bring some major media focus on the blues genre. Warren Haynes will put out an album recorded with a full orchestra in the fall….can’t wait to hear it.
As always, you should be hearing tracks for all these newly released recordings spun by your favorite DJs on Blues Music Fan Radio. Yeah…the summertime blues for 2026 are pretty badass!!
Recordings Out Now – Albums
Chris O’Leary – Blue Collar [Alligator Records]
Kelli Baker – Mother [Gulf Coast Records]
EJ Mathews – Come On Home [Delmark Records]
The Name Droppers – Let’s Live Together [HMG Recordings]
Snowy White and the White Flames – The Finishing Touch [Indie]
The Rolling Stones – Foreign Tongues [Universal International Music]
Duane Betts – Isle of Hope [Sun Label Group]
Allison Russell – In the Hour of Chaos [Fantasy Records]
Greg Piccolo – Who Knows What the Future Holds [Indie]
Voodoo Walters – 11:45 Southbound [Indie]
When Rivers Meet – Rhythm Rust & Static [One Road Records]
Jesper Lindell – Royal [Gamelestans Grammophone Company]
Wayne Nicholson – I Ain’t Getting Paid By the Note [Indie]
Will Johns – On Top of the World [Indie]
Parker Barrow – Hold the Mash [EAG Music]
Beth Hart – You Still Got Me (Deluxe Edition) [Mascot/Provogue]
Fantastic Negrito – Alive! (Live) [Storefront Records]
Samantha Fish – Paper Doll Live [Rounder Records]
Joe Bonamassa – The Spirit of Rory Live from Cork [J&R Adventures]
Thorbjorn Risager & the Black Tornado – Live at Hotel Cecil [Arton/Provogue]
July 2026 Upcoming Album Releases
*Nick Andrea – DeLorian Delusions (July 23rd)
Bywater Call – Broken Souvenirs (July 29th)
Albert Castiglia – Grits and Glory (July 31st)
*J.P. Reali – Grateful Blues (July 31st)
*Brad “Guitar” Watson – Boundless (July 31st)
GA-20 – Blues Now ((July 31st)
August 2026 Upcoming Album Releases
Citizen – Halcyon Blues (August 7th)
Morgan Freeman – Symphonic Blues Experience (August 7th)
Janiva Magness – Truth In The Room: The Clearmountain Sessions (August 7th)
Geminiidragon – Greatest Misses (August 14th)
*Peter Parcek – Most of the Time (August 14th)
Keb Mo’ – The Breakdown (August 21st)
*Joanna Connor – Live on 11/11 (August 21st)
Ray Wylie Hubbard – Reel 2 Reel 4 Real (August 21st)
*Ghost Hounds – Justified (August 28th)
Patrik Jansson Band – Different Shades of Blue (August 27th)
Ruthie Foster – Just Say Yes (August 28th)
*Kevin Burt – This Trip (August 28th)
*Alabama Shakes – I Must Be Dreaming (August 28th)
Steve Cropper & the Midnight Hour – Watching the Tide (August 28th)
Danielle Nicole – Fireflies (August 28th)
*Heather Anne Lomax – Who Do You Think You Are (August 28th)
Sept/Oct/Nov/December Upcoming Album Releases
*Mitch Woods – A Night In New Orleans (Live) (Sep 4th)
*Mike Wheeler – Chicago Blues (Sep11th)
Blues Porter – Signs of Love (Sep 11th)
*AJ Fullerton – Baretone (Sep 11th)
*Katie Knipp – Live at Theater 5150 (Sep 18th)
*Anthony Geraci – Where You Are (Sep 18th)
*Jovin Webb – Son of a Sinner (Sep 18th)
*Warren Haynes – Dreams & Songs: A Symphonic Journey (Sep 18th)
*Secondhand Dreamcar – Get Ready (Sep 25th)
*Jamiah Rogers – Chicago Cowboy (Sep 25th)
*Ben Poole – Post Midnight Behavior (Sep 25th)
Phil Coyne & the Wayward Aces – White Knuckle Time (Sep 26th)
*The Temperance Movement – New Promise Land Incorporated (Oct 9th)
Joanne Shaw Taylor – The Trouble with Love (Oct 23rd)
*Eric Jerardi – The Game (Oct 30th)
The Sharpeez – Automatic Mode (Oct 30th)
*Eddie 9V – Down Here (Nov 6th)
Planned Release With No Set Date Yet
Holly Smith (Fall 2026)
Larry McCray – Blue Mary (Winter 2026)
Electric Soul Company – Electric Soul Company (2026)
Susan Angeletti (2026)
EJ Mathews (2026)
*Eric Johanson (Late 2026)
Alan Arena – Demise (early 2027)
*The Commoners (2027)
*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/
