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Blues is the Truth

Blues is the Truth

By: Ian McHugh
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Blues is the Truth is a weekly 2 hour radio show, featuring some of the very best new Blues Music alongside some classic tracks that define the genre. Presented for a decade by Ian McHugh, frontman and guitarist with the band Blues is Truth and compere of the Ealing Blues Festival main stage, The show is informative, entertaining and sometimes a little different.... Music
Episodes
  • Blues is the Truth 805

    Blues is the Truth 805
    Jun 6 2026
    Blues is the Truth #805
    We have got an absolutely packed edition for you this week. The tracklist is bursting at the seams, and we are flying through some of the finest guitar work, biggest grooves, and deepest vocals across the entire scene.
    We are firing things up with the legendary Derek and the Dominos and keeping the standard sky-high with Harrell Davenport, the brilliant Grainne Duffy, and the razor-sharp guitar of Kai Strauss. The energy stays completely locked in with Iowa's own The Fabulous Trutones, the king Buddy Guy, and the powerhouse sound of the Andreas Diehlmann Band.
    As always, we are representing the home turf with West London's finest, The Guv’nors, alongside Jumping Matt and his Combo and another stellar segment from The Paul Michael Band. The quality keeps rolling with PK Mayo, Burning Rope, the gritty sax-led blues of Eddie Shaw, and the heavy vibes of the Blind Dog Mayer Group.
    We are diving into some serious soul territory too, featuring the irreplaceable Etta James and the incredible Yuri Apsy. Wrapping up a proper two-hour marathon of world-class music, you will hear harmonica heat from Russ Green, the raw rhythm of Fife and Drom, another look at Carl Carlton and Melanie Wiegmann, the Buca Blues Trio, the legendary Billy Branch and the Sons of Blues, and the explosive British blues-rock of The Hoax.
    It is a massive lineup with absolutely no fillers.
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    2 hrs
  • Blues is the Truth 804

    Blues is the Truth 804
    May 31 2026
    Blues is the Truth #804
    We are straight back to business this week with a massive stack of tunes that needs absolutely no introduction. No requests, no fluff, just two full hours of pure, unadulterated groove from some of the best to ever do it.
    We are setting the mood early with the legendary Taj Mahal and the hypnotic blues-rock vibe of Medicine Head, before dipping into some classic vocal harmony from The 5 Royales. The temperature rises quickly from there with The Cashbox Kings, Blues Messenger, and the searing guitar work of Tinsley Ellis.
    For the deep, historic roots, we’ve got the delta giant Bukka White in the building, alongside a brilliant collaboration from Carl Carlton and Melanie Wiegmann, and the godfather himself, John Mayall. We are keeping that classic energy high with soulful runs from Curtis Salgado, the king Buddy Guy, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, and the vintage jazz-blues vocals of Helen Humes.
    The second half is a masterclass in harmonica-driven heat and modern grit. You will hear Russ Green, The Four Flames, and the swampy fire of Ghalia and Mama’s Boys, right alongside KAT Blue and the True Believers. We’ve also locked in the powerhouse pairing of the Nick Moss Band Featuring Dennis Gruenling, Dave Weld and the Imperial Flames, and the brilliant Dave Thomas.
    Rounding off an absolute powerhouse of a show, we are clearing the runway for Freddie King, the gritty rock-blues of Mississippi Shakedown, Dixie Peach, and the beautifully expressive guitar of Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters, before finishing up with the mighty Tedeschi Trucks Band.
    It is a serious lineup from top to bottom.
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    2 hrs
  • Blues is the Truth 803

    Blues is the Truth 803
    May 23 2026
    Blues is the Truth #803
    The requests have been landing in the inbox thick and fast lately, so for this episode, I’ve dusted off a couple of your personal choices and dropped them straight into the mix alongside all our usual weekly features.
    We are starting off in style with the smooth, laid-back groove of Keb’Mo’ and keeping the energy high with tracks from Burning Rope, Dave Thomas, and The Four Flames. We’ve also got the undisputed pioneer T-Bone Walker and the classic New Orleans piano roll of Al Broussard showing everyone how it is done, flowing beautifully into the sharp guitar work of Kai Strauss and Gary Dranow.
    For the roots and acoustic heads, we are diving deep into the sounds of Reverend Freakchild, the legendary pairing of Ry Cooder and Taj Mahal, and the vintage vocals of Blue Lu Barker. Then we shift gears into the heavy hitters, featuring a stellar run of Buddy Guy, Red Red, and the absolute master of the Telecaster, Albert Collins.
    The quality just doesn't drop this week. You will also hear the Quintus McCormick Blues Band, the gritty brilliance of Ian Siegal, and the unstoppable force of Gabe Stillman. Wrapping up a proper session of the good stuff, we’ve got Little Steve and the Big Beat, Bad Temper Joe, Sunjay, the powerhouse vocals of Samantha Martin and Delta Sugar, and the brilliant Guto Konrad.
    Your tracks, our regular features, and a whole lot of great music.
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    2 hrs
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