The New Blues Sound - Modern Blues, Blues Rock, Soul & Roots Rock - September 2026
Fresh Modern Blues, Blues Rock, Soul Blues & Roots Rock from artists bringing new energy to a timeless sound.
Featuring Parker Barrow, Jeffrey Halford and The Healers, Erja Lyytinen, Voodoo Queen, Wood Burnt Red, Tommy Arch, Mathias Lattin, Maddie Hogan, The Jardani Crow Band, and Kaspar 'Berry' Rapkin.
The Blues has always had a special place in my heart, with its ability to capture raw emotion, powerful storytelling, and the feeling behind every note.
This month’s selection showcases a new wave of artists bringing fresh ideas to Modern Blues, Blues Rock, Soul Blues, and Roots Rock, combining expressive vocals, great guitar work, infectious grooves, and contemporary production with the timeless spirit of the Blues.
From soulful and stripped-back performances to heavier, rock-driven sounds, these are some of the new Blues releases that caught my ear this month.
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The New Blues Sound - Modern Blues • Blues Rock • Soul • Roots Rock
Parker Barrow - My Morning Song
Photo credit Joe Del Tufo
This band does a great job of mixing the Blues with modern rock. The song starts with a muted guitar part; it really kicks off when the band enters. An uptempo groove and pumping bass line create the foundation of the song. I enjoyed the bridge section, which changes gears into a halftime beat.
You can really hear the nuance of the singer’s beautiful tone when the volume comes down. There is an outstanding guitar solo at the 4.17 mark filled will vibratto and soul. This is a great track!
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Jeffrey Halford and The Healers - Bright Lights
This Blues track starts with a cool guitar intro. The tone has an interesting reverb that reminds me of the old Spaghetti westerns with Clint Eastwood. Having a tambourine be a part of the main drum groove almost gives it a Motown feel during the verses.
The singer’s low tone helps emote the song’s lyrics. You will like this track if you like artists like Roy Orbison and Johnny Cash.
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Erja Lyytinen - Hard as Stone
This track is the perfect marriage of Blues and Modern Rock. The song starts with the band playing some unison accents that really grab your attention. The guitar riff pulls the listener in which it’s slight distorted tone. I love the vocalist’s tone and energy, which drives the lyrics home.
There is an excellent melodic guitar solo at the 2.30 mark. The song finishes in double time, which brings it to a crescendo.
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Voodoo Queen - Bright Cage
I really enjoyed listening to this band for one simple reason. It had a totally original sound. There were influences of Blues, rock, and funk, but it is impossible to put this song into one category. The guitarist had a great mix of reverb and distortion on his tone, which helped cement the Blues sound.
The verses are unexpected, with the drummer playing 4 on the floor while the guitar strums a funky single-note line. The singer has a great vibrato, which adds character to this track.
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Wood Burnt Red - Best Things
This track is definitely a feel-good jam! It has elements of Southern Blues and almost tinges of Country. The main guitar riff is so syncopated it borders on being funky. The song sounds like it was musicians in the studio jamming because of its ‘live’ feel.
The singer has a tone that is pleasing to listen to. I was also a fan of the mix, which kept the guitars up front. If you listen closely, you can hear what sounds like a B3 organ that is played sporadically. This is a cool tune!
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Tommy Arch - Lovehearts
Iris Brickfield Park / Photo credit: Myfanwy Arch
This old-school blues track mixes elements of soul and pop. The constant vocal harmony between the male and female singers reminded me of early ‘Mama’s and Papa’s ’. I am a big fan of the simplicity of this song. It is easy to muddy up the mix with too many blues licks all the time.
This song has a straight-ahead blues chord progression, which allows the main vocal melody to be heard loud and clear. The main hook in the chorus is very catchy and clever.
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Mathias Lattin - Cadillac Assembly Line
I loved this Blues/Soul track for its inventiveness. It is very rare that you won’t have a live drummer on a blues track. The sampled drum beat is funky and keeps perfect time. The absence of drum fills also lets the guitar and bass shine through. The singer has a beautiful tone, and the rich harmonies fill out the chorus. There are sporadic pentatonic blues licks that are tasty and add to the song’s feel.
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Maddie Hogan - Anthem For The Black And Blue
I like the simplicity of this acoustic/ vocal track. It is a classic blues chord progression, although some of the fingerpicking makes it sound slightly country. The accapela vocal intro is also a nice touch. In an age where everything os over produced and Auto-Tuned, it is nice to see a talented vocalist sing with such feeling and emotion. This is a great song.
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The Jardani Crow Band - Her Song
There is some really nice guitar playing on the Blues song. The straight 8th drum beat gives it almost a Pop feel. I like how the chords are played in an arpeggio, which creates more of a soundscape. It sounds like there is a slide guitar that is low in the mix playing a countermelody.
The singer has a cool tone that reminds me of Donald Fagen from Steely Dan. You will like this if you like early Black Crowes.
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Kaspar 'Berry' Rapkin - Vices
This Blues/Roots rock starts with a cool train beat on the drums. The main guitar riff has a cool, clean tone which makes it almost funky. There is great musicianship between the drummer and bass player, who lay down a solid pocket. The talented singer/guitarest has great bottom end in his voice.
This is the sort of track you would see in a movie where there is a fight in a bar scene. This is a cool band!
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About Magesh Magesh
Magesh is a musician and producer who has worked with Rihanna, Lionel Richie, Ricky Martin, Chris Brown, The Pussy Cat Dolls, Nelly Furtado, and Vernon Reid of Living Colour.
He released an instructional drumming DVD called "Unique Beats" where he mixed the drum kit with electronics and Indian hand percussion. He recently moved from Australia to the UK to explore new musical opportunities.
Website: mageshdrumteacher.co.uk
Contact Magesh Magesh at magesh.magesh7@gmail.com
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