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- Written by: Bridgette "Bluebird"
Years ago, I was on vacation and contacted by Olga Munding, a New Orleans blueswoman who was releasing a record called, Whatever You Want. Agreeing to review it, when I returned to the BBR office, I received a beautiful package in the mail. It was a copy of the CD, plus a 'drop card' that if planted, grew wildflowers in the garden. Attached was a handwritten note, thanking us for our work. In the age of instant downloads and digital messages, I knew Olga Munding's connectedness was different.
I kept the note and did not plant the drop card, because following Olga Munding has been a treasure that I wanted to keep close at hand. As the director of the Jessie Mae Hemphill Foundation, and serving on the Board of the Blues Foundation in Memphis, as well as other important historic blues preservation agencies in the South, Olga keeps planting wild flower seeds wherever she goes.
Olga contacted me again recently to announce a film project she is producing. It is the Anam Cara project. Inspired by Celtic wisdom and philosophical works, it is a film about 'soul friends.' With such an important concept to discuss with readers, I asked Olga if we could run an interview on her work. Between busy camera set ups and costume designer consultations, she was kind enough to correspond with us personally.
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- Written by: Bridgette "Bluebird"
Rock Torch: THE BOOK
Volume 1
Music Recommendations From The Artists You Love
by Randy Abramson
About Rock Torch:
Rock Torch has been one of my favorite - and 'go to' music websites for years. I found it after Alex Chilton died. I was up all night, seeking anything I could find on the web to connect to other Big Star fans. I came across an article Randy Abramson posted with Paul Westerberg's commentary on Chilton. Perfect. Someone who 'gets it'. I was a follower.
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- Written by: Bridgette "Bluebird"
Guitar/Rock Documentary
It Might Get Loud (Music Documentary Film)
Get this movie. I had to special order it and it took several weeks to arrive because the bookstore can't keep them in stock. This is not only a fantastic movie about the technique and inspiration of guitar musicianship, it is a three generation narrative about how to grasp your voice and blare it for the rest of the world to hear, even if they don't understand it yet.
Jimmy Page from Led Zeppelin produced this film. The Edge from U2 and Jack White from the White Stripes join Page in meeting together to "talk" about their personal experiences as they evolve to become the guitarists of their current bands and beyond. In the talking, there is ALOT of guitar playing, both past and present, along with versions of each others songs on stage. Each artist shares interview conversations, photos, vintage video footage of earlier works and secrets of their craft with the audience in the first person. They reveal how they think about music, about technology, about career choices, aging, and life. In speaking directly to the audience and each other in their own voices, it brings you in ... and who wouldn't want to be brought in to the mind of Jimmy Page, The Edge and Jack White. Get this movie.
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- Written by: Giovanni "Gio" Pilato
Often, when going to a live performance, music fans know already what to expect, in terms of songs that are going to be played on stage by a band, the style in which said songs are going to be played and sometimes, even the setlist of the whole show.
Rather fortunately though, this is something that almost never applies to some, especially to the British Dub King and bass guitar Maestro Jah Wobble, performing tonight at the historical Marine Theatre in Lyme Regis, a splendid coastal town in the Southwest of the United Kingdom.
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- Written by: Bridgette "Bluebird"
May 1st, 2026
For generations, New Orleans has been hallowed ground for people of diverse cultures to come together to heal from suffering, to communicate strength in community, and to lift each other up with music. The 2026 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival held a special celebration for Jamaica, to support the recovery efforts from Hurricane Melissa. If you spend any time with local people in New Orleans, the impact of Hurricane Katrina continues to be felt in some parishes.
The lineup for the 2026 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival was bold, colorful, inclusive and expanded to many genres. With his signature bright smile, open arms and invulnerable spirit, Ziggy Marley led the way to welcome all people in coming together with warmth, connection and positivity.
Read more: Ziggy Marley Live at the 2026 NOJF in Torrential Rain Premieres New Music
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- Written by: Bridgette "Bluebird"
May 1st, 2026
The Fillmore in New Orleans is, in a humble opinion, a near perfect venue. The history of the landmark is stunning. The hallways are lined with photos of artists who’ve either made their debut there, or swooned their audiences as living legends. Visiting this place was on my bucket list, because while writing for the Boston Blues Society, I reviewed countless records of artists from the South entitled, “Live at the Fillmore.” I wanted to be immersed in this space.
Amidst the hip, cool, airy club are soaring dark ceilings, dawned with chandeliers and pristine facilities. Even more stunning is the impeccable sound quality. The music is balanced and surrounds you. There is no bad seat in the house and the comprehensive sound travels with you, no matter where you are in the venue.
There is something for everyone, GA, to stand dance and rock out, side tables to eat and enjoy drinks, and stadium seating that is close enough to enjoy the view. As a plus, there is hot, delicious snack food at the back of the house, creative drinks, popcorn, pizza and chicken nugs.
Coming off of a rain soaked day at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, The Filmore exceeded expectations.
Samantha Fish had already melted the faces of the near 50,000 sold out crowd at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Her presence at the Fillmore cemented her position in rock music history. The Fillmore NOLA was blessed to witness the culmination of her tour with Tab Benoit, “When Two Tours Collide,” including the celebrated Judith Hill. What an astounding lineup!
There were many a rock snob intensely cued up to wait and witness our modern day blues-rock crown jewel. When Samantha burst on to the Fillmore stage, she took immediate command. Her band is tight -and they respond to each other subliminally. Her comfort with power reaches the audience and connects on many levels. The elite opines rejoiced in their accuracy of hailing Fish as the current icon of quality blues rock - they love to be right. The newbies stood, stared - what musical planet have we landed on? Fish elevates music to experiences that are incomprehensible, other worldly.
If people are gifted in one area of talent, they are most likely brilliant in other skills as well. Samantha’s song writing, guitar shredding, collaboration with the band, and stunning vocals demonstrates that she operates on planes of intellect which we mere mortals can only puzzle in awe to even try to understand.
There is no word that captures the energy that a Samantha Fish show can generate. Samantha Fish is unstoppable, invulnerable, and extremely gifted in shredding original riffs, belting piercing vocals and communicating meaningful lyrics. Track after track, we keep coming back, for more Samantha Fish.
Paper DollI'm Done Runnin'Hello Stranger (Barbara Lewis cover)Sweet Southern SoundsLose YouBulletproofMiles to GoNo Apology (Samantha Fish & Jesse Dayton cover)Poor Black Mattie (R.L. Burnside cover)Rusty RazorDream GirlWish I Was in Heaven Sitting Down (R.L. Burnside cover)Black Wind Howlin'
Judith Hill: Joined Samantha Fish on stage for "Cry Cry Cry" and an electrifying cover of Aretha Franklin’s "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)
PRESS RELEASE/ROUNDER RECORDS:
One of the most formidable guitarists in recent history, Samantha Fish brings both mind-blowing power and extraordinary emotionality to everything she creates. For help in shaping Paper Doll’s magnificently rowdy but deeply nuanced sound, Fish reunited with Detroit garage-rock icon Bobby Harlow and enlisted the core members of her live band (bassist Ron Johnson, drummer Jamie Douglass, keyboardist Mickey Finn), marking the latest entry in an uncompromising and adventurous catalog.
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- Written by: Giovanni "Gio" Pilato
One of the main musical events happening in several parts of the world, specifically concerning Blues, it's the January Blues Festival, which takes place in several parts of the world, including Europe, North America and, of course, the United Kingdom.
Our website couldn't renounce to the opportunity to report about such a great Festival, especially when we were invited to watch once more one of the most experienced and exciting music collectives coming from Scandinavia to perform for the Festival in the UK capital city.
- Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band Live - O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London, 18th July 2025
- This Is Not The Last Tour - Public Image Limited Live At Portsmouth Guildhall - July 5th 2025
- Robert Cray Band - Live At Royal Festival Hall, London, 6th June 2025
- Vinicio Capossela - Live At Union Chapel, London (UK) - 26th November 2024
- Beaux Gris Gris & The Apocalypse - Live At West End Centre, Aldershot (UK), 25th April 2024
