REF: > Are there any CURRENT artists that are out there that I should check into? After everybody has listed their favorite OLD blues, I'll suggest the North Mississippi Allstars first album, Shake Hands With Shorty. It's an album of covers of tunes by Fred McDowell, RL Burnside, Furry Lewis, Jr. Kimbrough and others. Fully agreed on this one. The North Mississippi Allstars 1st album is a complete winner and as a live act they're scorching. Worth checking out (with certain reservations) for contemporary blues is last years compilation, Balling the Jack (the birth of the Nu Blues) on ocho. Compiled by one, Joe Cushley, its seriously flawed, but should be applauded for its breadth, and offers a taster of artists one could easily overlook. Other albums from last year worth checking are: Hard Grind by Little Axe a big dub blues skewed affair. The Word (John Medeski and lap steel dude from Nth Mississippi Allstars) A rollicking gospel driven thing. Belly of the Sun by Cassandra Wilson may be pitched at the coffee table market, but it remains an elegant reading of modern blues. Why no mention of Son House on the old school front? ta bruno