Monthly Blues Magazines?

[archtopeddy]

Hi all. Any suggestions on a monthly blues magazines I can subscribe to?  Preferably old school, resonator, slide stuff, old Hawaiian, etc., but I'd like to know about any good blues magazines. Thanks!   AE

[bonzo]

Look online!

[archtopeddy]

Mar 23, 2024 18:46:17 GMT bonzo said:

Look online!

Thanks for the suggestion and that I could do -- but it's kind of a shot in the dark.  I was hoping someone here might have some favorite magazines they could recommend.

[Michael Messer]

There are many blues magazines, both as physical printed magazines and as online magazines. They all focus on the current blues scene in whatever country they are based in. Sometimes there are articles about the old stuff, but rarely. Their mission is to promote and sell the current blues scene, which is more than often used as a place to put all kinds of music that is adult orientated and has no place in the modern mainstream. The term "Americana" also does a similar thing and both terms, Blues & Americana, are used in a very broad and loose way.

Magazines....

Blues Matters!
Blues In Britain
Il Blues
Jefferson Blues Magazine
Downbeat
Elmore Blues Magazine
Living Blues
Juke Blues
Blues & Rhythm
Blues Blast
Blues Unlimited
Blues & Soul
France Blues

This list is just a few of the physical magazines that are available.

Then there are radio shows, of which there are thousands. I am in touch with blues radio shows all over the world and they are similar to the magazines in their content. They are mostly talking about the current scene.

www.bluesbroadcasters.co.uk/members.htm

I could add to these lists and will do so as we go along.

Shine On
Michael

[mitchfit]

what MM said in suchuva a far sighted overview. well stated.

would only add that his words also apply to ANY venue of music/entertainment one cares to explore. as long as the market allows the for-profit-only industry to define that subdivision for them.

could go on and on and on about that, but find it more logical to offer his corrective countermeasures instead.

mitchfit

[archtopeddy]

Thank you bonzo, mitchfit, and Michael for your inputs.  And Michael, you've hit it on the nail-head about the issue.  Here in my part of the country "blues" tends to mean anything after Stevie Ray Vaugh, and people lean toward high-volume, rock-based electric guitar blues. No problem with that, just not what I'm looking for.

I figured if a magazine existed that focused on older blues, the folks on this forum would be the ones who would know.  Rather than subscribe again to Guitar Player or some such, I was hoping to find something more in line with my current interests. 

With that said, by the way, Michael, thanks for the list of magazines. I really didn't realize there were so many. Too bad they mostly seem to focus on the current blues scene, but they gotta do what sells.

Quick story: I went to see Taj Mahal a few weeks ago. He played a tricone and laid out Taj favorites one after another. A guy came up to me at my next gig and said he saw me at the show and asked how I liked it. I told him it was great (I'm an old time Taj fan). He said he didn't care for it. I asked him why. He said because he wanted to hear "the blues".  I knew what he wanted, he wanted Derek Trucks, Eric Gales, Kingfish, Tab Benoit. Nothing wrong with these guys -- amazing players.  And I saw no reason to argue with this guy.  But simply put -- Taj ain't Tab; and Tab definitely ain't no Taj Mahal.

Different strokes for different folks.

[Michael Messer]

My pleasure, archtopeddie.

Taj Mahal's music is never far from my side. I have been listening to his music for almost as long as I can remember and I would include him as one of my favourite artists. I have spent time with Taj Mahal on a few occasions, one of which was an emotional and sad day for me, and Taj and his guys, Kester and Bill were just the best. They are lovely people.

There are some online radio shows that play the old stuff, blues, jazz, Hawaiian etc..., but as I have all those records I don't see the point in listening. I do listen to a few of the blues shows from around the world, as I do with other genres, world, folk, jazz, Americana, because whether I like it or not, it is my business and I like to keep in touch with what is happening.

Shine On
Michael