Blues Matters! – September 2026
Summary
The Boneshakers pull up the ROOTS on a 12-date EP Release Tour across the UK and Poland, Wood Burnt Red's Tom Franklin opens up about Southern Rock from his Malvern Hills home, and John Primer pays tribute to Theresa's Lounge — all in Blues Matters September 2026 (Issue 165).
Blues Matters September 2026 leads with the Boneshakers' EP release tour, with dates spanning Edinburgh to Jimiway Blues Festival in Poland. Wood Burnt Red band leader Tom Franklin discusses the evolution from country covers to self-described Southern Rock, recording with producer Tyler Spicer, and balancing day jobs with festival-circuit life. John Primer and Friends pay tribute to Theresa's Lounge with a CD, download and vinyl box set release featuring Junior Wells, Billy Branch, Bob Stroger and more. Ben Poole's UK tour supports his Gulf Coast Records album release on 25 September. Cover billing also features Jimmy Regal & The Royals, Keb Mo, Timothy B. Schmit, and the Brezoi Open Air Festival. The 2026 Collection from Gulf Coast Records showcases Garret T. Willie, Gabe Stillman, Mike Zito, Jason Ricci, Kelli Baker, Albert Castiglia, Kevin Burt and The SharpEEz.
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Content Guide
Features
Wood Burnt Red — Interview
Tom Franklin interviewed at his Malvern Hills home by Andy Hughes. The band evolved from country covers to Southern Rock, citing Blackberry Smoke's ethos. Franklin discusses recording with Tyler Spicer and writing from personal storytelling. The lesson: playing to small crowds builds the tightest live sound.
The Boneshakers — Pull Up the ROOTS
EP Release Tour 2026 covering 12 UK dates including Edinburgh Blues Club, Sheffield's Greystones, London's Pizza Express Live Chelsea, and the Jimiway Blues Festival in Poland. Two shows (Coulsdon and Leamington Spa) are already sold out.
Ben Poole — Album Release 25.09.26
Gulf Coast Records signing with an 18-date UK tour across Scotland, England and Wales. Venues span Glasgow's Nice n Sleazys through London's Half Moon Putney. The album release date is confirmed as 25 September 2026.
John Primer and Friends — Theresa's Lounge
A tribute to the legendary Chicago blues club featuring Junior Wells, Billy Branch, Bob Stroger, Willie Buck, Carlos Johnson and more. Available on CD, download and vinyl box set via blueshouseproductions.com.
2026 Collection — Gulf Coast Records
Ten featured albums including Garret T. Willie's Bill's Cafe, Mike Zito's Outside or the Eastside, Jason Ricci & The Bad Kind's 13 Hours, Kelli Baker's Mother, Albert Castiglia's Grits & Glory, and Kevin Burt's This Trip.
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Editor's Take
Blues Matters continues to serve the UK blues scene with a practical focus on touring schedules and new releases — the full-date tour listings for the Boneshakers and Ben Poole are valuable for anyone tracking live blues in Britain. The Wood Burnt Red interview offers genuine insight into how a band navigates the gap between day jobs and festival slots. Weaknesses: the interview is truncated mid-flow, leaving the most interesting questions unanswered. The Gulf Coast Records 2026 Collection reads as a paid promotion rather than curated editorial — every album is presented without critical evaluation. Cover billing promises Keb Mo and Timothy B. Schmit features, but no corresponding article content is present in the supplied material. The magazine's digital-first format shows in the ad-heavy page density.
Strengths
• Full tour date listings for Boneshakers and Ben Poole are practically useful
• Wood Burnt Red interview captures the reality of semi-pro band life
• John Primer tribute covers genuine blues history
Weaknesses
• Cover artists (Keb Mo, Timothy B Schmit) lack corresponding articles
• Gulf Coast Records section reads as paid promotion without critical evaluation
Verdict: Selective read — Strong for UK blues tour-goers; the missing cover features lower the editorial value for general readers.
