The Faces of Blues Rock – 20 Artists Carrying the Torch
Blues rock is a genre filled with exceptionally talented artists. Artists like Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Clapton, and Buddy Guy have paved the way in the genre. Today, there’s a multitude of artists that continue to carry the torch for the genre and bring the music forward.
Here are 20 artists and bands championing modern day blues rock.
Allman Betts Band
The Allman Betts band is fronted by Devon Allman and Duane Betts. Devon and Duane are the sons of Allman Brothers Band co-founders Gregg Allman and Dickey Betts. The two met at the Allman Brothers Band’s 20th anniversary tour in 1989 and have been close ever since. Now Allman and Betts are carrying on the Allman Brothers’ legacy while building their own.
Joe Bonamassa
Joe Bonamassa is considered to be the modern day torchbearer for the blues rock genre. Bonamassa is one of the world’s greatest guitar players and boasts more #1 Billboard Blues albums than any artist in history. Bonamassa has also used his profile to help promote other artists in the genre and founded the Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation.
Gary Clark Jr.
When it comes to bringing blues rock to the mainstream, Gary Clark Jr. is right there at the top. Signed to Warner Music, Clark Jr. burst onto the scene at Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival in 2010. Since then, Clark Jr. has won four Grammy awards and his music has appeared in several commercials, movies, and television shows.
Samantha Fish
Samantha Fish is one of the fastest rising stars in the blues rock genre and has multiple #1 albums on the Billboard Blues chart. Fish released Kill Or Be Kind in 2019, her most successful album to date.
Eric Gales
Eric Gales is considered by many to be one of the world’s greatest living guitar players. In fact, Joe Bonamassa even called Gales the best blues rock guitarist in the world today. What makes Gales’ guitar skills even more impressive is the fact that he plays upside down left-handed even though Gales is not left-handed. Gales wrote a song about that called “Southpaw Serenade.”
Anthony Gomes
Antony Gomes is one of the hardest working artists on the blues rock circuit today and in 2018, his album Peace, Love, & Loud Guitars was voted Blues Rock Review’s #1 album of the year. Gomes continues to be one of the most consistent performers in the genre.
Beth Hart
Few artists have a voice with the power and raw intensity of Beth Hart. Hart has topped the Billboard Blues Chart six times and received a Grammy nomination in 2014 for Seesaw, her collaboration with Joe Bonamassa. She is one of the most popular artists in the blues rock genre.
Warren Haynes
Warren Haynes has been a staple of the blues rock scene for years whether that’s with the Allman Brothers Band, Gov’t Mule, The Dead, or his solo work. Haynes is known as one of the hardest working musicians in the business.
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram is one of the brightest young stars in blues rock. Mentored by Buddy Guy, Ingram’s debut album, Kingfish, was nominated for a Grammy and won five blues music awards, including album of the year. Ingram is an incredible guitar player with a voice beyond his years.
King King
Fronted by Alan Nimmo, King King has been one of the world’s top blues rock bands since its inception. The band’s 2015 release, Reaching For The Light, was voted Blues Rock Review’s #1 album of that year.
Marcus King
Marcus King is one of the artists expected to carry the blues rock genre forward for the next generation. Only in his 20s, King is a triple threat artist with his great voice, songwriting abilities, and guitar prowess. King teamed up with Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys on his 2020 release El Dorado to help bring his music to a wider audience.
Jonny Lang
Jonny Lang exploded onto the scene while he was just a teenager and grabbed attention with his 1997 release, Lie To Me. Lang is a talented guitar player and has a voice that lends perfectly to the genre. He’s known for his passionate live performances and really gets into it on stage.
Dan Patlansky
Hailing from South Africa, Dan Patansky is the country’s premier blues rock guitarist. Patlansky is the only artist in history to have two number 1 albums on Blues Rock Review’s annual Top 20 Albums of the Year list with Dear Silence Thieves and Introvertigo.
Larkin Poe
Larkin Poe consists of sister duo Rebecca and Megan Lovell. Larkin Poe is a great example of how to build an audience in today’s music business. The band has built a large following on YouTube and social media by playing covers of their favorite artists and recording music of their own.
Robert Randolph and the Family Band
Robert Randolph is a master of the pedal steel guitar. Carrying on the sacred steel tradition, Randolph has been one of the genre’s top artists for two decades and has collaborated with some of the all-time greats including Eric Clapton and Carlos Santana.
Philip Sayce
Philip Sayce plays guitar with a passion matched by few. Sayce was mentored by the late great Jeff Healey while he was still a teenager and has dedicated his life to the guitar. Known for his fiery playing, Sayce has been influenced by artists like Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimi Hendrix and is influencing a new generation of guitar players himself.
Kenny Wayne Shepherd
Kenny Wayne Shepherd broke into the mainstream in the 1990s while he was still a teenager and scored a massive hit with “Blue on Black.” Shepherd has been on a mainstay on the blues rock scene ever since. Few artists in the genre combine his songwriting abilities and guitar skill. Shepherd has done a great job of bringing the genre to a wider audience.
Rival Sons
Few bands tour more relentlessly than Rival Sons. Rival Sons are one of the top blues rock bands in the world and made their way from small bars and clubs to much larger venues. The band received two Grammy nominations in 2020 and Feral Roots was voted Blues Rock Review’s #1 album in 2019.
Walter Trout
Year in and year out, Walter Trout has been one of the most consistent performers in blues rock for three decades. In that time, Trout has been extremely prolific releasing albums nearly every year building a huge catalog on songs. Trout is one of the most respected artists in the blues rock genre.
Tedeschi Trucks Band
The Tedeschi Trucks Band is the creation of husband/wife duo Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi. The band’s debut album, Revelator, won a Grammy in 2012 and they’ve won four Blues Music Awards.
Good list. How about Coco Montoya?? Tinsley Ellis??
Matt Schofield, Kirk Fletcher, Josh Smith. ???
You missed Kim Simmonds of Savoy Brown! Making new music and staying vital to this day!
Danny Bryant ? Joanne Shaw Taylor ?
Tyler Bryant and the “Shakedown”
Good list, I’ve seen all but 1 live but it needs to be longer to include more old faces of blues still out kickin’. Like Bonnie Raitt, Kim Simmonds Savoy Brown, Taj Mahal & Phantom Blues Band (All~Stars: T. Braunagel, M. Finnigan, L. Fulcher, D. Leonard, J.L. Schell & J. Sublette), Chris Duarte, Buddy Whittington from John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (for 15 years following Trout & Coco Montoya), Sonny Landreth and Tab Benoit.
The exclusion of Ryan McGarvey is very disturbing.
No Eric Steckel… Shame
Every one of these “Blues Rock Review” articles have the same artists…..
How about:
Davy Knowles
The Della Grants
Hannah Wicklund
Jack Berry
Don’t know what you guys have against Doyle Bramhall II? Seem always to avoid him. He is one of the main songwriters for Tedeschi Trucks Band too. Few on that list that have released the quality that he has.
Also what About Left Lane Cruiser? Seems like they also aren’t ‘pure enough’? Many who feel that much of the blues is too clean cut, get into it through bands like LLC.
Also Ry Cooder is not dead, even though he mixes styles a lot. His albums are still wonderful.
What about Luther Dickinson and North Mississippi Allstars!? I could keep going…..
Great list that’s pretty much spot on. Some great artists mentioned in the comments too but my question would be who would you replace on the list for some of the other artists mentioned in the comments? Tough question with 20 artists.
All these names and Albert Castiglia as well. so hard to make a list like this
Hurricane Ruth! Her new album “Good Life” rocks!
Joanna Conner?
I’m calling it now, in a few years Shaw Davis will be on top of every one of these lists.
Any current list without Danielle Nicole just doesn’t meet the mark.
Can you make it top 100… thanks. So many wonderful bands!
You might have mentioned that while Larkin Poe were building up their audience, they snagged a Grammy nomination along the way.
How about Shaw Davis??
No mention of Nick Moss Band? You do realize they won Band of the Year, Song of the Year, and Traditional Blues Album of the Year at the Blues Music Awards for 2020 right?
Check out Roosevelt Collier, if you like Robert Randolph you will love this amazing young guitarist
Davy Knowles and more. So many deserving folks.
Roosevelt Collier is the real deal. Wonderful man. So, too, Kirk Fletcher. Approach these folks after a show. Most will talk to you. Buy a CD and support them. Have a chat. Lifetime memories.
check out, vanessa collier. she is absolutely fabulous. ms.collier play the saxophone, guitar and sings vocals.
I’m looking for two brothers whose last name starts with trew, tres, there. Great sound but who are they,?
Perhaps you’re thinking of the Teskey Brothers?