Blues standouts celebrate B.B. King with new tracks from Bonamassa led tribute album

Joe Bonamassa has released B.B. King’s Blues Summit 100 Vol. IV, the latest installment in his centennial tribute to B.B. King. The new volume is out now via KTBA Records and features five newly released tracks from the larger B.B. King’s Blues Summit 100 project, which will arrive in full on February 6. New songs from the album are being released monthly.

Produced by Bonamassa and Josh Smith, the project was created with the support of the Estate of B.B. King and The B.B. King Music Company. The album brings together artists from across blues, rock, and soul, each interpreting material closely tied to King’s catalog and influence.

One of the standout tracks on Vol. IV is “When Love Comes to Town,” the U2 song originally recorded by King with Bono. Smith said the song stood out early in the process. “We knew early on we wanted to include this U2 song in an effort to span the breadth of B.B.’s entire career,” he explained. The arrangement came together once Shemekia Copeland was chosen to take on King’s vocal role. “She absolutely crushed it,” Smith said. The track also features Myles Kennedy singing Bono’s parts and Slash on guitar, an idea Smith said came from Bonamassa. “It turned into such a standout,” Smith added, offering a “shoutout to Alan Hertz for the amazing mix.”

“Don’t Answer the Door,” featuring Marcus King, has a longer history behind it. “This song was tracked already thinking about Marcus King,” Smith said, recalling a jam session years earlier where King unexpectedly sang the tune. That memory shaped the final recording. “He absolutely slayed it. BB’s vocal is so incredible on the original and Marcus really sang the hell out of it and of course played amazing,” Smith said. “Just a massive standout.”

Another highlight is “Ain’t Nobody Home,” which pairs Jade MacRae with Robben Ford. Smith said the song had long been a personal favorite and was selected to feature both a singer and guitarist. “We couldn’t have done any better than Jade and Robben,” he said. Smith praised MacRae’s performance and noted Ford’s significance to the project, saying, “He is one of both Joe and I’s all time favorite players and he played amazing.”

Christone “Kingfish” Ingram appears on “Paying the Cost to Be the Boss,” a track Smith described as foundational to the album. “This was the first song we tracked, the first song we pitched and the first artist to deliver,” he said. Smith said Ingram immediately connected with the song. “He said it was one of his favorites. Kismet,” Smith added. He also emphasized Ingram’s importance to modern blues, saying, “Christone is one of the most important artists in the blues today. He absolutely killed this track.”

The volume closes with “You Upset Me Baby,” featuring Chris Cain. Smith said Cain’s involvement was a priority from the outset. “Joe and I both felt it was important to have Chris Cain be a part of this project,” he said. “We knew how much Chris reveres B.B.” Smith described Cain’s performance as combining soulful vocals with guitar work that was “amazing.”

With the release of Vol. IV, B.B. King’s Blues Summit 100 now includes more than 30 guest artists across its first four installments, including Buddy Guy, Gary Clark Jr., Keb’ Mo’, Warren Haynes, Jimmie Vaughan, Michael McDonald, Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks, Larkin Poe, Joanne Shaw Taylor, Pat Monahan, and Aloe Blacc.

Bonamassa has said the project was conceived after realizing no major tribute had been planned for King’s centennial. Each participating artist was encouraged to select a song with personal meaning, resulting in a wide-ranging portrait of King’s influence across generations.

B.B. King’s Blues Summit 100 Track Listing

Disc One

1. “Paying the Cost to Be the Boss” feat. Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
2. “Don’t Answer the Door” feat. Marcus King
3. “To Know You Is to Love You” feat. Michael McDonald, Susan Tedeschi & Derek Trucks
4. “Let the Good Times Roll” feat. Kenny Wayne Shepherd & Noah Hunt
5. “Sweet Little Angel” feat. Buddy Guy
6. “When It All Comes Down (I’ll Still Be Around)” feat. Larry McCray
7. “When Love Comes to Town” feat. Slash, Shemekia Copeland & Myles Kennedy
8. “The Thrill Is Gone” feat. Chaka Khan & Eric Clapton
9. “Watch Yourself” feat. Jimmie Vaughan
10. “Why I Sing the Blues” feat. Bobby Rush
11. “Sweet Sixteen” feat. Jimmy Hall & Larry Carlton
12. “Don’t You Want a Man Like Me” feat. Larkin Poe
13. “I’ll Survive” feat. Keb’ Mo’
14. “Heartbreaker” feat. Trombone Shorty & Eric Gales
15. “There Must Be a Better World Somewhere” feat. George Benson
16. “Chains and Things” feat. Gary Clark Jr.

Disc Two

1. “How Blue Can You Get” feat. Warren Haynes
2. “You Upset Me Baby” feat. Chris Cain
3. “Ghetto Woman” feat. Ivan Neville
4. “Night Life” feat. Paul Rodgers
5. “Ain’t Nobody Home” feat. Jade MacRae & Robben Ford
6. “Bad Case of Love” feat. Joanne Shaw Taylor
7. “Never Make a Move Too Soon” feat. Dion
8. “Three O’Clock Blues” feat. Marc Broussard
9. “Think It Over” feat. Train & Chris Buck
10. “It’s My Own Fault” feat. Kim Wilson
11. “Every Day I Have the Blues” feat. D.K. Harrell
12. “Please Accept My Love” feat. John Nemeth
13. “So Excited” feat. Aloe Blacc
14. “When My Heart Beats Like a Hammer” feat. Dannielle De Andrea
15. “Playin’ With My Friends”
16. “Better Not Look Down” feat. Kirk Fletcher

Joe Bonamassa Tour Dates

U.S. Summer Tour 2026
June 26 – Bethel, NY – Bethel Woods Center for the Arts w/ JJ Grey & Mofro & D.K. Harrell
June 27 – Atlantic City, NJ – Ocean Casino Resort
June 28 – Newark, NJ – New Jersey Performing Arts Center
July 29 – Vienna, VA – Wolf Trap w/ Gov’t Mule
July 31 – Bangor, ME – Maine Savings Amphitheater w/ Gov’t Mule
August 1 – Gilford, NH – BankNH Pavilion w/ Gov’t Mule
August 3 – Hyannis, MA – Cape Cod Melody Tent
August 5 – Bridgeport, CT – Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater w/ JJ Grey & Mofro
August 7 – Selbyville, DE – Freeman Arts Pavilion
August 8 – Baltimore, MD – Pier Six Pavilion w/ Gov’t Mule
August 9 – Youngstown, OH – The Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre w/ Gov’t Mule
August 12 – Highland Park, IL – Ravinia Festival
August 14 – Interlochen, MI – Kresge Auditorium
August 15 – Welch, MN – Treasure Island Resort & Casino w/ Gov’t Mule
August 16 – Lincoln, NE – Pinewood Bowl Theater w/ Gov’t Mule
August 19 – Cheyenne, WY – Cheyenne Civic Center
August 21 – Salt Lake City, UT – Eccles Theater
August 23 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre

U.S. Spring Tour 2026
February 21 – South Bend, IN – Morris Performing Arts Center
February 23 – Cedar Rapids, IA – Paramount Theatre
February 25 – Madison, WI – Overture Center
February 27 – Peoria, IL – Prairie Home Alliance Theater
February 28 – Cincinnati, OH – Taft Theatre
March 2 – Wilkes-Barre, PA – F.M. Kirby Center
March 4 – Springfield, MA – Symphony Hall
March 6 – Westbury, NY – Flagstar at Westbury Music Fair
March 7 – Pittsburgh, PA – Benedum Center
March 8 – Red Bank, NJ – Count Basie Center
March 10 – Reading, PA – Santander Performing Arts Center
March 11 – Virginia Beach, VA – Sandler Center
March 13 – Durham, NC – DPAC
March 14 – Greenville, SC – Bon Secours Wellness Arena
March 17 – Knoxville, TN – Civic Auditorium
March 19 – Huntsville, AL – Mark C. Smith Concert Hall
March 20 – Macon, GA – Atrium Health Amphitheater
March 21 – Clearwater, FL – The BayCare Sound

Europe Tour 2026
April 22 – Hamburg, DE – Barclays Arena
April 24 – Rotterdam, NL – RTM Stage
April 25 – Paris, FR – La Seine Musicale
April 27 – Esch-sur-Alzette, LU – Rockhal
April 29 – Mannheim, DE – SAP Arena
May 1 – Chemnitz, DE – Stadthalle Chemnitz
May 2 – Nürnberg, DE – PSD Bank Nürnberg Arena
May 3 – Zürich, CH – Hallenstadion
May 6 – London, UK – Royal Albert Hall
May 7 – London, UK – Royal Albert Hall