Episodes

  • Blues is the Truth 794

    Blues is the Truth 794
    Mar 21 2026
    The new episode of Blues is the Truth is out now. Ian McHugh back in the chair, and as ever it is supported by the Tuesday night Blues Jam at the Rising Sun in Isleworth.

    This one feels like a proper wander through the blues. You dip into one corner, then another, and before long you are somewhere completely different but it all still hangs together. That is the joy of it.

    There is real pedigree running through the show this week. Bob Margolin brings that deep connection to the Muddy Waters sound, and you will hear Muddy himself in the mix too, along with a nod to the Muddy Waters 100 celebrations. Albert Collins turns up with that sharp, stinging guitar, and Buddy Guy reminds you why he is still one of the greats.

    There is plenty of character elsewhere. Rick Estrin and the Nightcats doing what they do so well, Joanna Connor bringing serious fire, and Matt Schofield alongside Will Johns showing just how strong the modern scene is. You will also hear Marco Pandolfi, Papa George, Junior Watson and Tail Dragger, each bringing their own flavour.

    Closer to home there is some really nice stuff in there too. Leoni Jane Kennedy, Andrew Duncanson, Tim Staffell and Paul Stuart all make an appearance, along with Mark Harrison and Slim Butler. There is also music from Anderson East, Devon Allman, Chris Duarte, Vanessa Collier, Ton O Blues and Doc Stenson and the Amazing Hot Shots.

    It is one of those shows you can just stick on and let it roll. Plenty of groove, a few surprises, and more than a couple of moments that make you stop and listen properly.
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    2 hrs
  • Blues is the Truth 793

    Blues is the Truth 793
    Mar 14 2026
    The new episode of Blues is the Truth is up now. Ian McHugh is back at the helm and, as always, the show is supported by the Tuesday night Blues Jam at the Rising Sun in Isleworth.

    It is one of those weeks where the playlist just seemed to fall into place. You start with a couple of tracks and before long the whole thing takes on a life of its own. There is some proper heavyweight blues in the mix too. Stevie Ray Vaughan turns up in fine form, John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers take things right back to the British blues boom, and there is early Fleetwood Mac reminding everyone just how good they were when the blues was front and centre.

    This week’s show also includes a couple of respectful nods to people who meant a great deal to the music. There is a tribute to Mike Vernon, whose work helped shape the British blues scene, and another to John Hammond, a true keeper of the tradition who left an enormous mark on the blues world.

    You will also hear the great Freddie King, Albert Collins, Junior Wells and Otis Rush. That alone would make for a decent show, but there is plenty more going on. Selwyn Birchwood brings a modern edge, Duke Robillard is on terrific form as always, and John Hammond appears twice with a couple of tracks that are well worth the space.

    Elsewhere there is music from Nick Curran, Jordan Officer and Laura Chavez, plus a welcome appearance from Connie Lush. Terry Marshall and Friends keep things moving nicely, the Paul Michael Band are in there again, and you will also hear Mike Vernon and the Mighty Combo, Doc Stenson and the Amazing Hot Shots, Richard Carr, Boogie Beasts, Jerry Portnoy and the Streamliners, and Studebaker John.

    It is a cracking mix this week. Old school blues, newer sounds, a few surprises along the way. Give it a spin and see what you think.
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    2 hrs
  • Blues is the Truth 792

    Blues is the Truth 792
    Feb 28 2026
    A new episode of Blues is the Truth is ready to go, and this one carries a real sense of connection, past and present. Hosted by Ian McHugh and supported by the Tuesday Night Blues Jam at the Rising Sun in Isleworth, the show brings together legends, rising stars and some very special tributes.

    There is beautiful, heartfelt music from the album With a Little Help from my Friends, a Tribute to Matt Long, celebrating a musician who meant so much to so many. Alongside that, you will hear the unmistakable voices and guitars of John Lee Hooker, The Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Albert King, sitting naturally alongside the contemporary brilliance of Sunjay, Alice Armstrong, The Paul Michael Band, Omar Coleman and Igor Prado, Teresa James and the Rhythm Tramps, Crystal Shawanda and Duke Robillard.

    There is space too for the deep roots and storytelling that make this music what it is, with sounds from Andy Cohen, Eleanor Ellis and William Lee Ellis, Studebaker John, Hurricane Howl, Theo Sieben, Brother Ray Lemellin and the Matinee Kings, and a moment featuring Matt Long alongside Joe Bonamassa that feels especially meaningful.

    This is what the show has always been about. Keeping the music alive, respecting where it came from, and sharing where it is going next.
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    2 hrs
  • 23 Blues is the Truth 791

    23 Blues is the Truth 791
    Feb 21 2026
    The new episode of Blues is the Truth is now live, hosted by Ian McHugh and supported by the wonderful Tuesday night Blues Jam at the Rising Sun in Isleworth. This week’s show is a beautiful journey through the heart and soul of the blues, bringing together legends, pioneers, and artists who are carrying the music forward today.

    You will hear the unmistakable partnership of Smokin’ Joe Kubeck and Bnois King, the raw energy of Lil’ Ed and the Blues Imperials, and the timeless brilliance of Savoy Brown and Traffic. There is deep blues feeling from BB King and Lowell Fulson, Elmore James, King Curtis, and Mike Bloomfield, alongside modern voices like Mississippi MacDonald, Mike Ross, Larkin Poe, and Gary Clark Jr, all proving just how alive this music remains.

    There are wonderful moments too from JJ Grey and Mofro, Rufus Thomas, Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters, Rory Block, Mad Dog Lester Davenport, The Steady Rolling Revue, Dave Kelly, Muddy What?, Professor’s Blues Review, and Paul Boddy, each bringing their own voice and spirit to the show. And of course, no episode would be complete without the unmistakable presence of Buddy Guy, reminding us why the blues continues to inspire generation after generation.

    Settle in, turn it up, and enjoy the journey.
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    2 hrs
  • Blues is the Truth 790

    Blues is the Truth 790
    Feb 14 2026
    The new episode of Blues is the Truth is up now, hosted as always by Ian McHugh and kindly supported by the Tuesday night Blues Jam at the Rising Sun in Isleworth. This week there is something genuinely special, with not one but two world exclusive first plays from the Paul Michael Band. Brand new music, heard here first, and a real privilege to share it with you.

    Alongside those exclusives, the show travels through the roots and branches of the blues, from the unmistakable sound of Junior Wells and Big Bill Broonzy, through to the modern fire of When Rivers Meet, Burning Rope and Thomas Heppell. There is soul and feeling from Keb’ Mo’, Taj Mahal, Kyla Brox, Nicole Hart and Percy Sledge, and timeless class from Eric Clapton, BB King and The Fabulous Thunderbirds.

    You will also hear Paul Lamb and the Kingsnakes, Marcus Bonfanti, Brooks Williams and Aaron Catlow, Michael Messer, Andy Watts with Joe Louis Walker, Mad Dog Lester Davenport, Farmhand, The Untouchables, Voodoo Men, and more. It all comes together in the way Blues is the Truth always does, with great music, real feeling, and that sense of discovery that keeps the blues alive.
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    2 hrs
  • Blues is the Truth 789

    Blues is the Truth 789
    Feb 7 2026
    This week’s Blues is the Truth is one of those shows that gently pulls you along, track by track, without ever feeling rushed. Hosted by Ian McHugh, it is built around the music, letting different voices and styles sit side by side and speak for themselves.

    The playlist opens out across a wide stretch of blues and soul, with music from The Reverend Shaun Amos bringing his deep rooted storytelling, alongside the unmistakable sound of Snooks Eaglin and the raw influence of Robert Johnson. There is modern British blues in the mix too, with Mick Clarke, Mississippi MacDonald, Otis Walker Band and Mason Jar Music and Friends all adding their own flavour.

    Ian Siegal appears with his trademark grit and wit, while Brooks Williams and Aaron Catlow bring a more reflective touch. Gladys Knight and the Pips remind us just how close blues and soul have always been, before Buddy Guy steps in with that voice and guitar that still command attention every single time.

    Elsewhere in the show you will hear Charlie Barath, AC Reed, Spencer Mackenzie and Tommy Castro, each offering something distinct, alongside the laid back authority of Keb’ Mo’. There are also contributions from Yuri Apsy, Christina Crofts and Johnny Burgin, adding texture and contrast as the show unfolds.

    The deeper cuts come from Jimmy Witherspoon, Farmhand and Ed Almstrom, while Johnny Max Band keeps things moving with a strong band feel that ties everything together.

    It is a varied episode, but one that hangs together naturally, moving between eras, styles and moods without forcing the pace. If you enjoy blues that feels chosen rather than programmed, this one is well worth your time.
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    2 hrs and 1 min
  • Blues is the Truth 788

    Blues is the Truth 788
    Jan 31 2026
    This week on Blues is the Truth the show has a real easy going feel, the kind you can sink into and just enjoy from start to finish. Hosted by Ian McHugh, it is one of those episodes where the playlist does a lot of the talking, moving smoothly between big names, deep roots and a few lovely surprises along the way.

    The music this time comes from Gary Clark Jr, Gregg Allman, James Brown, Derek Trucks Band, The Steady Rollin’ Revue, Buddy Guy, Muddy Waters 100 with James Cotton, Paul Garner Trio, Taj Mahal, Billy Price, Albert Castiglia, RL Burnside, Devon Allman, Burning Rope, Andy Fairweather Low, Pee Wee Crayton, Too Slim and the Taildraggers, BB King and Clarence Gatemouth Brown.

    There is a great sense of flow through this episode, from gritty blues and southern soul to groove heavy moments and tracks that just make you smile when they come on. It feels like a shared listening session rather than a show that is trying too hard, and that is very much the point.

    If you fancy an hour or two with music you trust, artists you love and a few tracks you might want to go back to again, this one is well worth your time. Stick it on, make yourself comfortable and enjoy the journey.
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    2 hrs
  • Blues is the Truth 787

    Blues is the Truth 787
    Jan 24 2026
    This week on Blues is the Truth the show rolls along in its usual relaxed way, with all the regular features and a playlist that takes a few unexpected turns while staying rooted firmly in the blues. Hosted by Ian McHugh, it is one of those episodes that feels easy to sink into, letting the music do the talking.

    The tracks this week come from a rich and varied lineup including Tim Penn and the Second Line, Jimi Barbiani, Thørbjørn Risager and the Black Tornado, Hans Theesink and Terry Evans, Joe Houston and his Rockets, Paul Cowley, Alan Glenn, Junior Wells, Miss Emily, Keb’ Mo’, Tony Joe White, Stef Paglia, Elles Bailey, Alice Armstrong, Burning Rope, Eliza Neals, Giles Robson, Nick Moss, Frenchie Moe, Preston Shannon, Joe Carley and the Old Dry Skulls, Frankie V and the Lonely Club, and Charlie Parr.

    There is plenty of range here, from deep roots blues and swampy grooves to modern, soulful sounds and high energy moments. Some tracks lean back and take their time, others grab you straight away, but they all belong together and tell part of the same story.

    If you like your blues varied, honest and thoughtfully put together, this episode has a lot to offer. Set some time aside, turn it up a little and enjoy where the music takes you.
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    2 hrs