Walter Trout

Walter Trout is the beating heart of the modern blues rock scene. Respected by the old guard. Revered by the young guns. Adored by the fans who shake his hand after the show each night. After five decades in the game, Trout is a talismanic figure and the glue that bonds the blues community together, at a time when the wider world has never been so divided. He’s also the only artist with the vision, talent and star-studded address book to pull off a project on the scale of We’re All In This Together. “It was quite a piece of work to get this record together,” he admits. “But I guess I have a lot of friends, y’know…?” nnSince he struck out alone in 1989, Trout’s solo career has been every bit as celebrated. Touring tirelessly and spitting out classic albums that include 1990’s flag-planting Life In The Jungle, 1998’s breakthrough Walter Trout and 2012’s politically barbed Blues For The Modern Daze, he’s won international acclaim and enjoyed ever-growing sales in a notoriously fickle industry. Years on the road have also brought him tight friendships, as evidenced by 2006’s cameo-fuelled Full Circle album and this year’s unofficial sequel, We’re All In This Together. “The new album was originally gonna be called Full Circle Volume 2,” notes Trout, “but I wanted to make the title a positive statement in this time of madness.” nnThey say you can judge a man by the company he keeps. If that’s the case, then We’re All In This Together is further proof of Walter Trout’s position at the hub of the blues scene. This is the sound of an artist not just getting by with a little help from his friends, but positively thriving, on an album that is sure to light another rocket under his blooming late career. “I’m 66 years old,” considers Trout, “but I feel like I’m in the best years of my life right now. I feel better than I have in years physically. I have more energy. I have a whole different appreciation of being alive, of the world, of my family, of my career. I want life to be exciting and celebratory. I want to dig in. I want to grab life by the balls and not let go, y’know…?”

A Young Elvis was asked who do you sound like? His reply, I don't sound like nobody. The same could be said for Katie. This is a woman with the rarest of gifts- her own voice. 3 time top 10 Billboard Blues Albums artist (#9 Katie Knipp Live at The Green Room Social Club, #4 The Well, and #10 for Take it With You, ) Northern California Blues Americana Siren Katie Knipp is equipped with powerful vocals and plays a variety of instruments from boogie woogie piano to slide guitar, to honest harmonica laden stories in between. Her various performance formats from raw solo act to full band captures audiences hearts from her first notes. She has opened for Robert Cray, Jimmie Vaughan, Joan Osborne, The Hidalgos (David Hidalgo of Los Lobos), The Doobie Brothers, Tim Reynolds, Jon Cleary, Ruthie Foster, Joe Louis Walker, The James Hunter Six, William Duvall of Alice in Chains, among many others. She played the 2019 Mammoth Blues Festival as the only solo female act that included headliners Buddy Guy, Trombone Shorty, Charlie Musselwhite, and more. She has won two SAMMIES-2020 and 2019 (Sacramento Music Awards) for Best Blues Artist, and was nominated Artist of The Year by The Sacramento News and Review. She has been honored Female Artist of the Year in both 2021 and 2020 by the Country Folk Americana Blues Music Realm. She has gained worldwide radio support, putting her last 3 Billboard albums on the Roots Music Report for Top Contemporary Blues Albums spun (2018-present) as well as her BBC 2 Radio debut in February 2022. Her 7th album, Katie Knipp Live at The Green Room Social Club, released 6/10/22 worldwide and hit #6 on the Itunes top 40 Blues Albums Chart upon its debut.nn“Her version of blues is raw and gritty, and she’s comfortable with a myriad of musical influences in her underlying soundtrack. The heavy use of resonator guitar on the first track and a climatic bass line on the second track announce to the world that this lady can sing any style she wants. There isn’t a weak track on the album, and quite frankly, this one is the perfect candidate for the repeat button.” -Robert Leggett, No Depression Magazinenn nVersatility. That's the word to properly define Katie Knipp's work. She is a gifted musician, able to not only play slide guitar, piano, and harmonica but mainly able to make her singing prevail over the textures of a song. -Marcel Innocentini, Blues Rock ReviewnnKnipp’s bold, impassioned style made everyone take notice. With her musical ferocity fully on display, as an instrumentalist and as a singer, Knipp’s no-holds-barred vocal style conjured audio images of a cross between Ani DiFranco and Koko Taylor. Alan Sheckter, Gratefulweb.com