It Was Almost Two Years Ago

that I stumbled upon Joanne Shaw Taylor’s debut release White Sugar. It was the first weekend of Spring 2009 and I was getting ready to take my family on a country excursion for a few days. Impressed with what I heard, (and convinced my family would agree) I loaded Taylor’s White Sugar onto my MP3 player and plugged it into the car stereo. The tunes we heard set the tone for our early spring drive up the winding snow-filled highway…

Writing was always one of those things that helped me relax. So later that evening I sat by the fire, and thought about the awesome music we heard on the way up to the cabin. That night I wrote a post called Joanne Shaw Taylor: Time Has Come With Debut Release White Sugar. Today that post is one of the top 10 articles I’ve written as The Blues Blogger. The article goes into more biographical detail, so I will avoid being repetitive here. If you’re curious I’ve included a link to the article above.

Diamonds in the Dirt

When Taylor’s latest album Diamonds in the Dirt was released last November, I really liked what I heard. Joined once again with producer Jim Gaines, the album is edgier and more of an accurate depiction of where Joanne’s music stands today. I continue to be amazed with this young rock ‘n’ soul blues artists’ talent.

Unfortunately because of a hectic schedule last winter, I wasn’t able to do a second article. With the popularity of the first post, I regretted not doing a follow up with her second release. So this time around I decided to do something a little different.

I have long considered including guest podcasts. It’s tough when you write a music blog that’s as personal as The Blues Blogger, because you are inviting people into a space and vibe that many of you have grown attached to. But as we know the blues is about the sharing of life’s experiences, so why shouldn’t we hear from Joanne Shaw Taylor in her own words?

So I asked Mark Wade from A1Blues.com if I could include a podcast he did with Joanne just before Christmas in my latest blog post. Mark’s down to earth style has a way of drawing the artist’s feelings out. I really enjoy listening to his shows, and I think you will too. His line-up of blues interviews is quite impressive. You really should go to his site A1Blues.com and see for yourself.

Enjoy the podcast.

The Joanne Shaw Taylor Podcast With Host Mark Wade

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Joanne Shaw Taylor Upcoming Tour Dates

February 2011

11) The State Theater, Kalamazoo, MI, USA
17) Route 33 Rhythm & Brews, Wapakoneta, OH, USA
18) Rosa’s Lounge, Chicago, IL, USA
19) Rosa’s Lounge, Chicago, IL, USA
22) Dinosaur Barbeque, Rochester, NY, USA
23) Dinosaur Barbeque, Syracuse, NY, USA
24) Dinosaur Barbeque, Troy, NY, USA
26) The Turning Point, Piermont, NY, USA

March 2011

01) Treasure Lake Ski Lodge, Dubois, PA, USA
03) Cabin Fever Blues Bash, Hagerstown, MD, USA
05) private event, Martinsville, VA, USA
11) Bonita Blues Festival, Bonita Springs, FL, USA
12) Aces, Brandenton, FL, USA
23) private event, Chicago, IL, USA
26) Rothschild Pavillion, Rothschild, WI, USA

April 2011

02) Springing The Blues, Jacksonville Beach, FL, USA
03) Earls Hideaway, Sebastian, FL, USA
08) TBA, Landstuhl, GERMANY
09) TBA, Cloppenburg, GERMANY
10) Schwarzer Adler, Rheinberg, GERMANY
13) Lowen, Eschenbach, SWITZERLAND
14) Galery, Pratteln, SWITZERLAND
15) Flamingo, Oberentfelden, SWITZERLAND
16) Wimsener Muhle, Hayingen, GERMANY
27) Oslo Bluesklubb at Buckleys, Oslo, NORWAY
28) Bergenfest, Bergen, NORWAY
29) Nidaros Bluesfestival, Nidaros, NORWAY
30) Nidaros Bluesfestival, Nidaros, NORWAY

For tour updates and info you can go directly to Joanne’s site by clicking here

What are your thoughts regarding the impressive journey of Joanne Shaw Taylor. Have you listened to her latest record Diamonds in the Dirt or her debut release White Sugar? Are you going to be checking out any of the shows listed above? What did you think of Mark’s podcast with Joanne?

Please leave your comments in the area below. I’d love to hear from you.

The Blues Blogger

Joanne at Seventeen Years Old