Memphis Blues Week

There are few voices in American music that carry the weight of history, faith, and resilience quite like Mavis Staples. Now 86, Staples is still moving forward with the same passion that has defined her life in music, announcing the release of her new album Sad And Beautiful World for November 7. Produced by Brad Cook (Bon Iver, Waxahatchee, Nathaniel Rateliff), the record is a sweeping celebration of survival and connection, featuring appearances from some of music’s greatest names.

A fresh and intimate window into Jimi Hendrix’s New York chapter has arrived with the nine-minute short film Jimi Hendrix’s New York, a companion piece to the expansive Electric Lady Studios: A Jimi Hendrix Vision deluxe box set.

Bobby Whitlock (March 18, 1948 – August 10, 2025)—American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and a soulful architect of rock music, Bobby Whitlock has passed away at 77 after a brief battle with cancer at his Texas home, surrounded by family.

Over the course of nearly six decades, Jethro Tull has journeyed through an ever-shifting soundscape, thanks largely to the creative restlessness of frontman Ian Anderson. According to the recent Noise11.com interview (recorded July 24, 2025), Tull has been remarkably prolific in recent years, releasing three studio albums—The Zealot Gene (2022), RökFlöte(2023), and Curious Ruminant (2025)—alongside the expansive box-set Still Living In The Past.

Following the cancellation of their 2024 North American tour, The Black Keys turned adversity into artistry. Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney produced their thirteenth studio album, No Rain, No Flowers, going outside the square to collaborate with less mainstream but respected songwriters like Rick Nowels and Scott Storch.

Eric Gales has some famous friends including Buddy Guy, Joe Bonamassa and Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram to help pay tribute to his brother Emmanuel Gales aka Little Jimmy King on the upcoming album ‘A Tribute To Little Jimmy King’.

At 88 years old, Buddy Guy refuses to let age or expectation dictate the tempo of his career and that is the case for his 89th year as well. Buddy’s forthcoming album Ain’t Done With the Blues is set for release 30 July 2025, Buddy’s 89th birthday.