Chris Farlowe
English blues, rock and soul singer best known for his 60s hit singles, 'Out of Time'  (written by Jagger/Richards and produced by Mick Jagger) and Mike d'Abo's 'Handbags and Gladrags'. Long term member of the jazz rock band Colosseum and one time member of the rock band Atomic Rooster. A veteran of non-stop touring in the UK and Europe with long term friends The Norman Beaker Band. He is the consummate rocker, the living embodiment of the star who's seen it all and done most of it, but remains fresh and enthusiastic as when he started out, over 50 years ago.

Lisa Mills
Stunning singer, songwriter and guitarist from Mississippi, with deep roots in Southern soul, blues and gospel. Regularly visits the UK with long-time performing partner, UK double bass player Ian Jennings. Has shared the stage or studio with the likes of Andy Fairweather Low, Robert Plant, Jools Holland and Jeff Beck. Has been described as 'a full-throated female Otis Redding, with some Muscle Shoals soul and Nashville country touches for good measure'.

Check out the Earlyblues interview with Lisa here.

Imelda May
Irish singer, songwriter and producer known for her musical style of rockabilly revival. Has been compared to jazz musicians such as Billie Holiday. Toured with Jools Holland and has shared the stage with (amongst others) Alison Moyet, Lou Reed, David Gilmour, The Supremes, The Dubliners, Elvis Costello, Jeff Beck and Meat Loaf.

Robin Trower
English rock guitarist and singer with 60's supergroup Procul Harum and later with his own Robin Trower Band. Has made several albums with former Cream bassist Jack Bruce.

Andy Fairweather Low
Welsh guitarist, singer, songwriter and producer. Andy was a founding member of British pop band Amen Corner and in recent years has toured extensively with Roger Waters, Eric Clapton and Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings. Andy featured on the album 'From Clarksdale To Heaven - Remembering John Lee Hooker' with, amongst others, Jeff Beck, Gary Brooker, Jack Bruce and Peter Green.

Walter Trout
American blues guitarist, singer and songwriter who worked in John Lee Hooker's band, then Canned Heat and John Mayall's Bluesbreakers before forming his own Walter Trout Band. In 2006 Walter realised his dream of creating an album with some of his most admired musicians, including John Mayall, Coco Montoya, and Joe Bonamassa, amongst others. Recently having health issues, he underwent a successful a liver transplant and is now looking to go on tour again in the latter part of 2015.

Check out the Earlyblues interview with Walter here.

Billy Boy Arnold
Singer, guitarist and harmonica player from Chicago who as a child received informal harmonica lessons from his neighbour John Lee "Sonny Boy" Williamson and early in his career performed with Bo Diddley. Billy Boy's songs have been covered by (amongst others) The Yardbirds, The Animals and David Bowie.

Chris Powers
Vinyl DJ (blues, rhythm & blues and soul music) and compere of the International Stage at the Great British Rhythm & Blues Festival, Colne, Lancashire since 2002 and DJ/MC on the British Stage for many years before that. He is also a regular DJ/MC at other European Blues Festivals. Chris is the flamboyant, charismatic and very knowledgable master of ceremonies famous for researching and sourcing individually selected outfits to introduce each artist/band.

Check out the Earlyblues interview with Chris here.

Magic Slim
American blues singer and guitarist, the son of Mississippi sharecroppers, who followed in the footsteps of Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf to Chicago developing his own place in the Chicago blues scene. In 2003 Magic Slim and the Teardrops won the W.C. Handy Award as 'Blues Band Of The Year' for the sixth time. Slim died in February 2013 at the age of 75.

Check out the Earlyblues interview with Magic Slim here.

Booker T Jones
American multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, record producer and arranger, best known as the frontman of the band Booker T & the M.G's. He has also worked in the studios with many well-known artists of the 20th and 21st centuries, earning him a Grammy Award for lifetime achievement (he holds a total of 4 Grammy Awards). His musical talents became apparent at a very early age. Whilst still at high school he co-wrote the classic instrumental 'Green Onions'. In 2012 'Green Onions' was added to the Library of Congress's National Recording Registry list of "culturally, historically, or aesthetically important American sound recordings".

Check out the Earlyblues interview with Booker here.

Mud Morganfield
American blues singer, eldest son of the undisputed king of the blues Muddy Waters. He looks and sounds like his dad, so much so that one of his dad's former sidesmen said "It's like watching a ghost in the flesh!" Whilst he performs his own material he also sings many of his dad's classic songs to "keep his music alive around the world".

Check out the Earlyblues interview with Mud here.

Dave Arcari
Slide guitarist and songwriter from Glasgow with the "alt.blues" sound of hard-hitting gravel-laden vocals and slashing bottleneck steel guitar which owes as much to trash country, punk and rockabilly as they do pre-war Delta blues.

Check out the Earlyblues interview with Dave here.

Hamilton Loomis
Guitarist, singer, songwriter from Galveston, Texas "bringing blues based American music into the 21st century and redefining it for a contemporary audience". At the age of 16 he met Bo Diddley backstage and by the end of the night he was onstage playing alongside the legend; Bo quickly became a friend and mentor. Hamilton's prized possession is his Gretsch Bo Diddley Signature model guitar which Bo Diddley signed.

Check out the Earlyblues interview with Hamilton here.

Herbie Goins
American R&B singer, songwriter and producer working mainly in England in the 60s with UK blues legend Alexis Korner then fronting the R&B band the Nightimers. Toured with Otis Redding and played top London clubs on the bills with Jimi Hendrix and John Lee Hooker. For 30 years has worked in Italy with occasional UK tours with Chris Farlowe and the Norman Beaker Band.

James Hunter
English R&B singer, guitarist and songwriter nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Album. Toured extensively with Van Morrison and has sung alongside or opened for B.B. King, Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker, Jimmy Witherspoon, Junior Wells, Etta James and Aretha Franklin.

Check out the Earlyblues interview with James here.

Ruby Turner
Jamaican R&B and soul singer, songwriter and actress, relocated to Birmingham, England at the age of nine. Best known for her albums and single releases on both sides of the Atlantic and has sung backing vocals for others such as Bryan Ferry, UB40, Steve Winwood, Mick Jagger, Seasick Steve and regularly for Jools Holland. Ruby has performed as an actress on the London West End stage and on BBC TV. On New Year's Eve 1999 Ruby sang the National Anthem for the Queen at the opening of London's Millennium Dome.

Check out the Earlyblues interview with Ruby here.

Wilko Johnson
English singer, guitarist and songwriter particularly associated with the R&B band Dr. Feelgood in the 70s.  In 1980 Wilko joined Ian Drury's band The Blockheads followed by forming his own band the Wilko Johnson Band with Blockhead's bassist Norman Watt-Roy. In 2009 Wilko appeared in the documentary film Oil City Confidential where he related his memories of Canvey Island and Dr. Feelgood. The director, Julien Temple, described Wilko as "an extraordinary man - one of the great English eccentrics". In 2013 Wilko announced that he had what was thought to be terminal pancreatic cancer and was given 10 months to live. During this time Wilko continued to perform, touring and with some impromptu  appearances. Several months after the diagnosis he was still feeling fairly well and doctors found he had a rare and curable form of cancer. After 11 hours of radical surgery at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge he was given the all clear in April 2014.

Larry Garner
American Louisiana blues singer, songwriter, poet and storyteller. Inspired by guitar-playing gospel performer Reverend Utah Smith who recorded in the 40s to 60s. Larry's big break came in 1992 when he played Burnley Blues Festival following promotion by Jon Steadman (JSP Records). Larry is a real fan of British cheese and regularly tours the UK, backed by the Norman Beaker Band.

Check out the Earlyblues interview with Larry here.

Lucy Zirins
Stunning young singer, guitarist, songwriter from Burnley with a natural talent for the blues. Lucy has just finished recording her debut album produced by Michael Messer and has played at numerous festivals across the UK with tours to Italy and France. She has shared the stage with such blues legends as Buddy Whittington, Walter Trout, and the late great Louisiana Red - all since taking that first apprehensive step at the age of 16 onto the Acoustic Stage at the Great British Rhythm & Blues Festival in 2008. The photo was taken on that occasion, just as she finished her set.

Giles Robson
Singer, songwriter, harmonica player and music promoter from Jersey. As promoter, Giles was responsible for attracting Mud Morganfield to the UK and he's done it again getting harp men Charlie Musselwhite, Sugar Blue and Billy Branch together for the very first time appearing at the Great Rhythm & Blues Festival. Giles & the Dirty Aces are the backing band for Mud Morganfield's UK tours.

Check out the Earlyblues interview with Giles here.

Lil' Ian Goodman
Virtuoso acoustic slide guitarist in the pre-war blues style.

Jack Bruce
Scottish singer, bass guitarist and songwriter, best known as a founding member of the 60s British 'supergroup' Cream. Since then Jack maintained a solo career and has been referred to as a "world-class pioneer in his main instrument; a composer of some of the most endurable and recognisable rock songs of our time; an accomplished classical, jazz and Latin musician". Jack always considered himself as a jazz musician, although much of his music tended towards blues and rock n' roll. Jack passed away on 25th October 2014.

Sharrie Williams
American singer/songwriter raised in a musical family of gospel, blues and jazz singers, Sharrie has a unique style of rockin' gospel blues. She has collaborated with such artists as Buddy Guy, Dizzy Gallespie, Larry Garner, Koko Taylor, Bobby Blues Bland, Ike Turner, Charlie Musselwhite, Taj Mahal, David Honeyboy Edwards, Solomon Burke and the Holmes Brothers.

Chris Farlowe

Chris Farlowe, Becky Tate and Trevor Steger (BabaJack)

Lucy Zirins, with her 'Young Artist of The Year Award' 2013, just presented by the British Blues Awards.

Giles Robson

Chris Powers