In Living Blues #233
September 2014

Dear Friends, Elvin Bishop just played here in Chicago, and, as always, left everyone both blown away and grinning. Blown away because Elvin is such a terrif...

In Living Blues #231
May 2014

Dear Friends, I just returned from the 35th Annual Blues Music Awards in Memphis where I always have a wonderful time. Over 1000 blues fans and artists come ...

In Living Blues #229
January 2014

Dear Friends, We’re starting off an exciting year for Alligator with the release of Tommy Castro & The Painkillers’ brand new album The Devil You Know. T...

In Living Blues #226
July 2013

Dear Friends, This year’s Chicago Blues Festival, presented the second weekend in June, was one of the best in years. With beautiful weather, a new, out-of-t...

In Living Blues #225
May 2013

Dear Friends, I just returned from the 34th annual Blues Music Awards in Memphis. It was a great night, over seven music-filled hours, packed with over a tho...

In Living Blues #223
January 2013

Dear Friends, As the new year kicks in, we’re busy planning Alligator’s exciting releases for 2013. I told you last time about our new Tommy Castro 45, Greed...

In Living Blues #222
November 2012

Dear Friends, I hope you’re sharing my great pleasure in seeing Barack Obama reelected. Besides believing in science and supporting equal rights for women an...

In Living Blues #209
September 2010

Dear Friends, I just had a terrific trip to the Kitchener Blues Festival in Ontario, a free festival with multiple stages, good production, and a bunch of re...

In Living Blues #208
July 2010

Dear Friends, I had a great time attending Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival a couple weeks ago--some outstanding sets, almost all featuring blues or...

In Living Blues #191
July 2007

Dear Friends, A big chunk of sorrow for my world on May 6, when my old pal Carey Bell died. I had known Carey since 1969, when we met at Bob Koester’s Jazz R...