About these Blues Bands

It is an undeniable fact that, without rhythm and blues music, we would not have rock n roll, heavy metal and many of the other genres we know and love. Without BB King, we wouldn't have had Eric Clapton. Without Muddy Waters, no Jimi Hendrix. The list goes on and on.

It is the root of so many bits of pop music and popular culture, yet has continued to flourish in it's own right. Nowadays, the blues continues to be championed in the US by the likes of Joe Bonamassa, Kenny Wayne Shepard and John Mayer, as well as in the UK by guitarists like Aynsely Lister and Ben Poole.

Whether you're seeking the atmosphere of an old time speakeasy, or a knock-out show by an electric guitar virtuoso, with the Last Minute Musicians directory it has never been easier to find blues bands near you.

"It was a little daunting booking a band based on a few small clips on a website, but we knew straight away they were the right band for us. The Rampart Street Ramblers were amazing value for money, and really made our wedding special. They learnt our first dance for us, and we couldn't have been happier with how it turned out. Everyone commented on how wonderful and unique the band was, and the whole booking process was quick and easy. I would rebook on this site, and rebook this band without a doubt!"

Harriet's review of The Rampart Street Ramblers

Ideal for:

Any event with a strong theme can benefit from the addition of a Blues band! From the opening of a new vintage themed bar or business, to a happy couple who are looking for something completely out of the ordinary.

When booking:

"The blues" can mean very different things to different people! While some people may think of Buddy Guy wailing away with his electric guitar turned up to 11, others might be more inclined to think of the rag-time acoustic blues of the likes of Blind Boy Paxton. For this reason, its very important to check out your chosen acts promotional material, including video and audio examples to make sure they play the type of blues music you are after.

If you are looking for your band to dress a certain way for your event (Like black suits and pork pie hats, perhaps?) then make sure you speak to your contact in the band in advance.

Prices for:

Blues acts can come in many shapes and sizes - some will just be one person and their guitar, others may have a full rhythm section, with brass instruments. Solo or duo acts can start from around £250, with larger bands costing anything up to around £1000 - £1200. If you're looking to cut down on travel costs, use the 'advanced search' feature to look for blues bands near you.

About blues music:

The blues is chiefly recognised to have begun as a style around the start of the 20th century, in the south of the USA, as a combination of gospel music, jazz and other similar musical forms. The title of "father of the blues" has been awarded to many musicians over the years, but among them Charley Patton, Son House and Robert Johnson definitely deserve a mention.

Through the 1920's and 30's, blues began to rise in popularity, reaching slightly more mainstream audiences across the USA. After the second world war, with the rising popularity of the electric guitar and eventually the electric bass guitar, a new style of blues emerged in big cities across the US - principally in places like Chicago.

Acts like Muddy Waters and Jimmy Reed, though born in Mississippi, would move to Chicago, and it was here where Chess Records would begin recording many of the blues artists of the day.

The resulting vinyl recordings would inspire the youth of the day, and help give rise to the social and musical phenomenon that would come to be known as rock n' roll. They would even reach as far as England, where it is reported a shared love of Muddy Waters records would lead to a young Mick Jagger and Keith Richards to strike up conversation, on a railway station platform. It was bands like The Rolling Stones and The Cream that would go on to take the torch of blues inspired music and run with it through the 60's

Ever since then, blues music has continued to play a part in popular culture, whether it was the Texas blues of guitar virtuoso Stevie Ray Vaughan in the 1980's, or the current successes of acts like Gary Clarke Jnr, John Mayer and The Black Keys.

The Blues Bands featured on this page are all members of the LastMinuteMusicians.com entertainment directory. Use the refine section at the top of this page to find local blues bands for hire close to you. Simply choose a county or enter a post code into the "available in" box to refine the listings to your local area. Click the "visit listing" button to see the full profiles of the individual Blues Bands. With over 3300 active listings you are sure to find the perfect solo blues musician, band or entertainment service to make your event just perfect. Don`t forget you can use our online chat (below) to get instant help with your booking.