Vaneese Thomas Fight the Good Fight Blue Heart Records There was a definite magic in the air when Vaneese Thomas recorded Fight the Good Fight at the famed Royal Studios in Memphis, Tennessee, a place once home to Hi Records and the Hi Rhythm Section. The album represents all which I love about Memphis music: the soulful melodies, the funky intoxicating rhythms, the horns, […]
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Jarkka Rissanen Tonal Box feat. Kalle Fält Bones Humu Records Having reviewed Finnish guitarist Jarkka Rissanen’s 2021 album Cargo last year, I was quite anxious to hear his latest release Bones with his band Tonal Box featuring Kalle Fält. Like his previous album, this one is comprised entirely of instrumentals divinely steeped in jazz fusion leaning into funk and blues. Tonal Box is comprised of Rissanen on guitars, lap […]
Charlie Musselwhite Mississippi Son Alligator Records Charlie Musselwhite’s last Alligator recording “100 Years of Blues” was recorded with Elvin Bishop and the album resulted in Blues Music Awards for both Album of The Year and Traditional Blues Album. Musselwhite has also been the winner of the Traditional Blues Male Artist and he continues to display […]
Making a Scene Presents the PODCAST of LIVE from the Midnight Circus Featuring Dave Lumsden This is the Voice of Indie Blues, the future of the blues. Artists who embrace the diversity of the blues that always has and still is being created from it’s roots. These artists understand the blues is a living […]
Bandlab Acquires Reverbnation and Intergrates Tools Into their Platform Intro I first discovered Bandlab when they announced the purchase of Sonar Platinum from Gibson after Gibson discontinued the popular DAW. Bandlab immediately released Sonar Platinum as a free download when you signup for a free Bandlab account. In addition to the Free DAW they also […]
Making a Scene Presents the PODCAST of LIVE from the Midnight Circus Featuring Miss Bix This is the Voice of Indie Blues, the future of the blues. Artists who embrace the diversity of the blues that always has and still is being created from it’s roots. These artists understand the blues is a living […]
Erik Friedlander A Queen’s Firefly Skiptone If the instrumental configuration of cello, piano, bass, and drums doesn’t wow you from the outset, you will feel quite differently after hearing this inventive, often exhilarating music led by cellist Erik Friedlander and his quartet named The Throw comprised of elite Downtown players who are all bandleaders– Uri […]
Peter Manning Robinson Celestial Candy Owl Walk So, you haven’t heard anything new in music lately? Welcome to a totally unique sound from multiple award-winning composer and pianist Peter Manning Robinson. In fact, we’ll have to expand his job title once we mention that he is the inventor of The Refractor Piano™ a new way […]
#indieblues #roots #makingascene #soul #spotify #musicbusiness #indie #blues #rootsrock #americana #newblues #newmusic #originalmusic #rock #podcasts #Fridaymotivation #MusicFridays
Delbert McClinton Outdated Emotion Hot Shot Records “Outdated Emotion” is Delbert McClinton’s 30th album. It’s difficult to know where to begin when reviewing such a prolific artist. McClinton combines elements of jazz, rock and blues into his own homemade stew. In 2013 Delbert reunited with Glen Clark. The pair had recorded “Delbert and Glen” in […]
Gina Sicilia Unchange VizzTone Superb vocalists have little trouble crossing genres. Gina Sicilia established her career as blues singer, flirted with Americana having moved to Nashville, and is now trying her hand at gospel as she returns to where she started, on the VizzTone label. This is anything but a casual experiment however, as Sicilia […]
Making a Scene Presents the PODCAST of LIVE from the Midnight Circus Featuring Eliza Neals This is the Voice of Indie Blues, the future of the blues. Artists who embrace the diversity of the blues that always has and still is being created from it’s roots. These artists understand the blues is a living […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Eliza Neals Standing before one of America’s truest art forms with an unconditional passion to give the Blues everything she’s got. Eliza Neals, a Detroit born blues-rock star on the rise, honors the gut-wrenching, soul splitting intent the American roots of contemporary blues represents with inspired songwriting, […]
CeCe Gable Next Year’s Song Self-released When a jazz vocalist gets an endorsement from Sheila Jordan and when that same singer gathers a first-rate group of accompanists, all bandleaders themselves, you know that the recording is bound to be special. Such is the case for CeCe Gable, a late bloomer with a youthful sounding voice, […]
Making a Scene Presents the PODCAST of LIVE from the Midnight Circus Featuring BananaFish This is the Voice of Indie Blues, the future of the blues. Artists who embrace the diversity of the blues that always has and still is being created from it’s roots. These artists understand the blues is a living art […]
Making a Scene Celebrates 8 Years of Publication! It was on May 1st 2014 Making a Scene Officially came online with a very simple philosophy; Provide coverage for the indie music community and bring the best information to this community on what is happening in the music industry. We have strived to be the #1 […]
San Gabriel 7 w/ Sinne Eeg Under the Stars JRL-SGS We covered the progressive California-based funk band San Gabriel 7 for their 2020 release, Red Dress, with vocalist Femi Knight. Now, the band returns with the preeminent vocalist of Scandinavia, Sinne Eeg, in an album of her songs with, as before, mostly the instrumental arrangements […]
Mike Holober & Balancing Act Don’t Let Go Sunnyside Initially you may think that this chamber music project, Don’t Let Go, is a quiet, pensive, mostly classical music listening experience by judging the first few notes that you hear. If you’re familiar with GRAMMY nominated pianist and composer Mike Holober and his several big band […]
Kind Folk Head Towards the Center Fresh Sound New Talent Yes, Kind Folk is a different kind of a name for a jazz quartet, but ardent listeners may recognize it as the name of Kenny Wheeler’s piece from his 1997 ECM release Angel Song. Of course, that’s not by accident as the group debuted in […]
Making a Scene Presents the PODCAST of LIVE from the Midnight Circus Indie Blues Double Shot Show This is the Voice of Indie Blues, the future of the blues. Artists who embrace the diversity of the blues that always has and still is being created from it’s roots. These artists understand the blues is a […]
The Love Light Orchestra Leave the Light on Both the older and the newer recordings are produced by Matt Ross-Spang. The first album includes John Nemeth singing as he covers Bobby “Blue” Bland on the 1961 hits “Turn On Your Love Light”, and again on the 1966 hit “Poverty”. Nemeth also covers songs from Little […]
Jo Harrop The Heart Wants Lateralize British jazz vocalist and songwriter Jo Harrop brings her second album, The Heart Wants, stateside. One immediately senses her intimate, smoky, bluesy voice as the album opens with “The Heart Wants What the Heart Wants,” to the accompaniment of a first-rate lineup that boasts bassist Christian McBride, trumpeter Andy […]
Making a Scene Presents the PODCAST of LIVE from the Midnight Circus Featuring The Nighthawks This is the Voice of Indie Blues, the future of the blues. Artists who embrace the diversity of the blues that always has and still is being created from it’s roots. These artists understand the blues is a living […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Michelle Malone A mainstay of American roots music for more than 30 years, Michelle Malone has built an award-winning career as a songwriter, road warrior, and modern-day guitar hero. Her music is ingrained in the sounds of the south, mixing the rebellious stomp of roadhouse rock […]
Making a Scene Presents the PODCAST of LIVE from the Midnight Circus Featuring J Rad Cooley This is the Voice of Indie Blues, the future of the blues. Artists who embrace the diversity of the blues that always has and still is being created from it’s roots. These artists understand the blues is a […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Speedfossil! Once Boston’s best-kept secret, Speedfossil, the creation of singer/songwriter Garret Vandermolen, is on the verge of breaking out of New England with their third LP and Red on Red Records debut release, NO ANESTHESIA. The band has been hailed by fans and critics alike as a […]
GeminiiDragon Fighting Fire with Fire The bluesy hard-edged grooves and hearty power-filled vocals stand front-and-center on Fighting Fire With Fire, the latest release from Louisiana recording artist Jessica Harper aka GeminiiDragon. Undoubtedly, that’s the winning combination which immediately drew my attention to this record. This all-original album hosts eight splendid tracks co-written with producer/guitarist Christian Simeon. With Harper behind the mic, and Simeon on guitar, the rest […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Interviews Mark Wenner of The Nighthawks! 50th Anniversary of the Nighthawks! The Nighthawks was an idea in Mark Wenner’s brain long before he was able to implement it. The musical product of pre-1958 radio in Washington, D.C., he did not know there were rules against mixing blues, R&B, honky-tonk country, […]
Making a Scene Presents an Interview with J-Rad Cooley Young Salt Lake City-based musician J-Rad Cooley is a singer/songwriter, piano player and harmonica player, a unique storyteller with a distinct sense of blues, melody and groove. His soulful songs show his diverse influences from Lightnin’ Hopkins to Ray Charles to The Band, some with a […]
Old Crow Medicine Show Paint This Town ATO While they started as a bluegrass band, Old Crow Medicine Show (OCMS) in recent years have won two Grammys and are considered one of our best roots bands, meshing Americana, old-timey music, folk, and rock & roll into an appealing sound that consistently sells out venues wherever […]
Making a Scene Presents the PODCAST of LIVE from the Midnight Circus Indie Blues Double Shot Show This is the Voice of Indie Blues, the future of the blues. Artists who embrace the diversity of the blues that always has and still is being created from it’s roots. These artists understand the blues is a […]
Harry Skoler Living In Sound: The Music of Charles Mingus Sunnyside As you all likely know by now, this is the centennial year for Charles Mingus. Clarinetist Harry Skoler has been influenced since adolescence by the iconic bassist and one of the elite composers of jazz. Now, over 40 years later, Skoler, the current professor […]
Making a Scene Presents the PODCAST of LIVE from the Midnight Circus Featuring Dana Fuchs This is the Voice of Indie Blues, the future of the blues. Artists who embrace the diversity of the blues that always has and still is being created from it’s roots. These artists understand the blues is a living […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Dana Fuchs BROOKLYN, NY — Dana Fuchs is proud to announce the release of eighth album, Borrowed Time on April 29th. It’s her fourth release for German indie Ruf Records. With her feet planted on both sides of the blues-rock divide, Dana Fuchs is one […]
Making a Scene Presents the PODCAST of LIVE from the Midnight Circus Featuring Mississippi Heat This is the Voice of Indie Blues, the future of the blues. Artists who embrace the diversity of the blues that always has and still is being created from it’s roots. These artists understand the blues is a living […]
HOME PAGE MAKING A SCENE Presents Gerry Casey’s Interview with Helen Turner of The Born Healer Born Healer released their new album in March 2022. Herbs, Roots, Barks, Etc. is the first album from Helen Turner, Iain Black and Marek Funkas since 2016’s ‘Til The Dawn, and the first featuring Steve Weaver on drums. Ten essential songs – […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Mercedes Nicole An extraordinary vocal jazz stylist and interpreter of standards, blues, original compositions, and New Gospel music, Mercedes Nicole brings to her performances a unique personality and vocal quality. Her rich, expressive voice is deepened by a refreshing vulnerability and ardor. She reveals an unending passion for probing the lyric, […]
Andy James Rhythm in New York Le Coq Jazz vocalist Andy James, born and raised in Australia, renowned for her flamenco dancing, and now a partner with her husband, Piero Pata, in the recently formed Le Coq label, is back with her third album for the label, Rhythm in New York. The album features both […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Pierre Lacocque of Mississippi Heat Led by harmonica master and songwriter Pierre Lacocque, Mississippi Heat is a world-class Chicago Blues Band. Their motto is “Traditional Blues With A Unique Sound” as they present fresh yet vintage-based musical ideas. MISSISSIPPI HEAT’s name is a reflection of Pierre’s […]
The Nighthawks Established 1972 VizzTone There are not many bands that can mark a 50th anniversary but Washington D.C.’s legendary Nighthawks, have been carrying the flame for blues and roots music since 1972. The only two blues festivals where this writer had a major production role were the Brass Monkey Blues Festivals of 1983 and […]
Making a Scene Presents the PODCAST of LIVE from the Midnight Circus Indie Blues Double Shot Show This is the Voice of Indie Blues, the future of the blues. Artists who embrace the diversity of the blues that always has and still is being created from it’s roots. These artists understand the blues is a […]
Vaneese Thomas Fight the Good Fight Blue Heart One of our best and criminally underrecognized powerhouse voices and songwriters, Vaneese Thomas, daughter of Soul Music icon Rufus Thomas, returns for her ninth album and her first for the growing Blue Heart Records, in partnership with her husband, multi-instrumentalist Wayne Warnecke’s Segue, where she recorded her […]
Making a Scene Presents the PODCAST of LIVE from the Midnight Circus Featuring Gina Sicilia This is the Voice of Indie Blues, the future of the blues. Artists who embrace the diversity of the blues that always has and still is being created from it’s roots. These artists understand the blues is a living […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Gina Sicilia Gritty soul and blues singer, Gina Sicilia, always stays one step ahead in her songwriting and music. The Newtown, Pennsylvania-native, who now calls Nashville home, has never been one to sit still musically. Songwriting and singing are second nature to Sicilia. She was […]
Making a Scene Presents the PODCAST of LIVE from the Midnight Circus Featuring Bubba and the Big Bad Blues This is the Voice of Indie Blues, the future of the blues. Artists who embrace the diversity of the blues that always has and still is being created from it’s roots. These artists understand the […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents Gerry Casey’s Interview with Aoife Doyle Aoife possesses a voice so full of compassion and emotion that reaches so easily into the hearts of the listeners . This is a rare gift and one that certainly has to be heard to be fully appreciated. In this interview Aoife tells […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with James Lee Baker Releasing an album has many cool milestones from the day the masters come back, to the day the order is placed online, to when it shows up on platforms for streaming, the morning the CDs arrive in the mail, and even the first […]
Making a Scene Presents the PODCAST of LIVE from the Midnight Circus Indie Blues Double Shot Show This is the Voice of Indie Blues, the future of the blues. Artists who embrace the diversity of the blues that always has and still is being created from it’s roots. These artists understand the blues is a […]
Mark Winkler Late Bloomin’ Jazzman Café Pacific Late Bloomin’ Jazzman is the 20th album for singer-songwriter/jazz vocalist Mark Winker and the fourth we have covered on these pages since 2018. Two of them were in collaboration with other artists – 2018’s Eastern Standard Time with Cheryl Bentyne, and 2021’s Old Friends with David Benoit. 2019’s […]
