Bonamassa is back with his best studio album since The Ballad of John Henry.

Joe Bonamassa continues to push the boundaries of blues rock. With each new record, he challenges himself to deliver something new, something fresh, and keep things interesting whilst, at the same time, staying true to the roots of blues music.

For this album, Joe has assembled a formidable lineup of talent including amongst others dueling drummers Anton Fig and Greg Morrow, bassist Michael Rhodes, and the legendary keyboardist Reese Wynans of Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble fame. In the command room, Joe’s long-time producer Kevin Shirley returns to the helm.

Blues of Desperation is packed full of masterful and technical guitar wizardry as you would expect from Joe. However, the album exhibits diversity which you won’t find on his other records. Bonamassa traverses both the familiar blues rock ground such as opening track “This Train,” which comes hurtling at you like a locomotive. He also takes a step outside of his comfort zone with the sweet, soulful acoustic number “Valley Runs Low” and makes it pays off.

JoeBonamassa-BluesOfDesperation-AlbumArtworkThe album’s production value is incredible; producer Kevin Shirley has worked his magic on this record. Subsequently, the addition of a second drummer, Greg Morrow, gives tracks like the infectious “Mountain Climbing,” one of the standout tracks on the album, additional texture and depth. The inclusion of orchestral elements like the slow blues number, “No Good Place For The Lonely,” is also incredibly effective.

Several tracks on the album have an immersive feel transporting the listener to another place or time. With “Livin’ Easy,” oozing with soulful sax and honky-tonk piano, it’s a downtown Chicago speakeasy bar. By comparison, Joe’s latest single “Drive” takes you on a late night road trip to New Mexico. The song feels as though it would be an equally suitable fit on a Hollywood movie soundtrack as it exhibits some of those atmospheric characteristics.

The epic, slide guitar monster of a title track has an almost Led Zeppelin-esque quality to it. The album closes with the superb slow blues number, “What I’ve Known For A Very Long Time.”

There is most certainly nothing desperate about Bonamassa’s latest offering; there isn’t a bad track on the album. Blues of Desperation is a future classic in the making.

The album is scheduled for release via J&R Adventures/Provogue (Europe) on March 25th and is available for pre-order on Amazon and iTunes on jbonamassa.com.

JOE BONAMASSA – MARCH 2016 UK DATES

BIRMINGHAM BARCLAYCARD ARENA

SATURDAY 19th MARCH 2016

Ticket Prices: £45, £60, £75

Book Tickets Online: theticketfactory.com

Box Office: 0844 338 0338 / Doors: 7pm

King Edwards Road, Birmingham, West Midlands, B1 2AA

www.barclaycardarena.co.uk

BOURNEMOUTH BIC

SUNDAY 20th MARCH 2016

Ticket Prices: £35, £45, £65, £75

Book Tickets Online: bhlivetickets.com

Box Office: 0844 576 3000 / Doors: 7:30pm

Exeter Road, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH2 5BH

www.bic.co.uk

PLYMOUTH PAVILIONS

MONDAY 21st MARCH 2016

Ticket Prices: £35, £45, £60, £75

Book Tickets Online: plymouthpavilions.com

Box Office: 0845 146 1460 / Doors:  6:30pm

Millbay Road, Plymouth, Devon, PL1 3LF

www.plymouthpavilions.com

Joe Bonamassa in Concert: A Salute to the British Blues Explosion (UK Tour)  

 24 Hour Ticket Hotline: 0844 844 0444

www.jbonamassa.com and www.ticketmaster.co.uk

HOGHTON TOWER

SATURDAY 2nd JULY 2016

Tickets: www.ticketmaster.co.uk

www.jbonamassa.com/tour-dates

24 Hour Box Office: 0844 844 0444

Venue Number: 01254 852986

North Preston, Lancashire, PR5 0SH

www.hoghtontower.co.uk

GLASGOW CLYDE AUDITORIUM

SUNDAY 3rd JULY 2016

Tickets: www.ticketmaster.co.uk

www.jbonamassa.com/tour-dates

24 Hour Box Office: 0844 844 0444

Venue Box Office: 0844 395 4000

Glasgow, G3 8YW

www.secc.co.uk

BRISTOL COLSTON HALL

TUESDAY 5th JULY 2016

Tickets: www.ticketmaster.co.uk

www.jbonamassa.com/tour-dates

24 Hour Box Office: 0844 844 0444

24 Hour Venue Box Office: 0844 887 1500

Colston Street, Bristol, BS1 5AR

www.colstonhall.org

LONDON GREENWICH MUSIC TIME FESTIVAL

THURSDAY 7th JULY 2016

Tickets: www.ticketmaster.co.uk

www.jbonamassa.com/tour-dates

www.greenwichmusictime.co.uk/book-tickets

24 Hour Box Office: 0844 844 0444

Old Royal Naval College, King William Walk, London, SE10 9NN

www.greenwichmusictime.co.uk 

NEWARK CASTLE

FRIDAY 8th JULY 2016

Tickets: www.ticketmaster.co.uk

www.jbonamassa.com/tour-dates

24 Hour Box Office: 0844 844 0444

Venue Number: 01636 655765

Newark Castle, Riverside Park, Tolney Lane, Newark, Nottinghamshire NG24 1BZ

www.newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk/newarkcastle

Default Gallery Type Template

This is the default gallery type template, located in:
/home/nrrmedia/public_html/sites/nrr-wp/wp-content/plugins/nextgen-gallery/products/photocrati_nextgen/modules/nextgen_gallery_display/templates/index.php.

If you're seeing this, it's because the gallery type you selected has not provided a template of it's own.

Joe Bonamassa
Website | Facebook | Twitter

About The Author

Adam Kennedy is an experienced music photographer based in northeast England. He has been shooting concerts for several years, predominantly with the band Vintage Trouble. In 2013, he was one of their tour photographers, covering the UK and Ireland tour including the headline shows and as opening act for The Who. As an accomplished concert photographer, Adam's work has been featured in print such as, Classic Rock Blues Magazine, Guitarist Magazine, Blues in Britain magazine, broadcast on the MDA Telethon on ABC Television in the US, used in billboard advertising for Renaissance Hotels in the US, and featured online via music blogs such as Uber Rock and Guitar Planet. He is also the official photographer at Newcastle Rock and Blues Club.