The Weekly Dispatch – March 9, 2026

Sunday evening from Kristiansand

Rain on the window again. A cup of coffee that's gone cold twice because I kept getting sidetracked by album reviews. This week had some genuinely good news in the blues world — new music, a couple of great stories, and a collaboration I didn't see coming. Let me walk you through it.

🎸 Joanne Shaw Taylor & Orianthi – 'What Good Is My Love?'

This one caught me off guard. Joanne Shaw Taylor — who's been quietly building one of the most consistent catalogues in modern blues-rock — dropped a new single featuring Orianthi. Two guitarists with very different styles, and somehow it works. The tone is warm, the riff is patient, and neither player tries to outshine the other. That's rare.

Philip Sayce and Bywater Call also have new material out this week, making it a strong seven days for the blues-rock side of things.

👑 Joe Bonamassa's 'Blues Summit 100' – A Love Letter to B.B. King

I've said it before: Bonamassa is at his best when he's not trying to prove anything. And this project — 'Blues Summit 100,' dedicated to the centennial of B.B. King — feels exactly like that. It's not flashy. It's respectful. He lets King's legacy breathe through the arrangements rather than burying it under technique.

Blues Blast Magazine dug into this one, and their take matches mine: this is Bonamassa the student, not Bonamassa the showman. And honestly, that's when I like him most.

🎹 Kim Wilson – 'Slow Burn'

Kim Wilson doesn't get enough credit. The man has been carrying the torch for West Coast blues and jump blues for decades, and 'Slow Burn' — his latest — is exactly what the title promises. It's unhurried. It simmers. The harmonica playing is exquisite, and I don't use that word lightly.

🐊 Catfish Keith – 'Sugar For Sugar'

Acoustic blues. A guy, a guitar, a room with good reverb. That's Catfish Keith. His new 'Sugar For Sugar, Vol. 1' is raw in the best sense — no production tricks, no session musicians padding things out. Just fingers on steel strings and a voice that sounds like it's been steeped in Mississippi mud for fifty years. If you like your blues stripped to the bone, this is your record.

📖 The Bentonia Tuning – A Musical Mystery

American Blues Scene ran a fascinating piece on cross-note tuning and the Bentonia legacy this week. If you've ever wondered why Skip James and Jack Owens sound like they're playing in a completely different universe from other Delta players — this article explains the how and the why. It's the kind of deep-dive that reminds you the blues isn't just feeling, it's also craft.

🔫 Howlin' Wolf, Hubert Sumlin, and a Shotgun-Wielding Wife

I love this kind of story. American Blues Scene premiered a piece about Hubert Sumlin — Wolf's legendary guitarist — and a road story involving Howlin' Wolf's wife and a shotgun. I won't spoil it. Just read it. It's exactly the kind of backstage chaos that made the blues what it is. These weren't polished pop stars. They were real people living real, messy, extraordinary lives.

🧠 Take the Weekly Blues Quiz

New questions every Monday. Three difficulty levels, audio clips where you guess the artist, and a leaderboard with blues fans from around the world. Last week's top score came from Germany — so the Norwegians need to step it up. No pressure.

📖 Sign the Guestbook

I read every entry. Blues fans from Norway, Germany, the US, Brazil, Japan — all dropping by to say hello and share their favorite artists. If you haven't left a note yet, I'd genuinely love to hear from you. Who got you into the blues? What's the one album you'd take to a desert island? Tell me your story.

🛍️ Support SlowBlues – Check Out the Merch

I'm not going to pretend this is a big fashion brand. It's a guy in Kristiansand who loves blues and makes hoodies and t-shirts with designs that actually mean something. Every purchase keeps SlowBlues.no running — no ads, no sponsors, just you and the music.

🎸 Until Next Week

Go find a gig. Doesn't matter how small the venue is — sometimes the best blues happens in rooms with thirty people and a PA system held together with gaffer tape. Forward this to someone who needs more blues in their life. And if you've got a tip, a story, or just want to talk music — you know where to find me.

Keep the blues alive. 🎸 — Kjell, Kristiansand