The Blues Hotel

Kelvin Huggins unlocks the doors to The Blues Hotel for 2026. We turn the lights down low and the stories up loud. Each episode walks the hallway between Chicago and the Mississippi Delta, then takes a sharp turn into Melbourne bars and Australian backroads—tracing how the blues became a declaration of identity, swagger, and survival. From Muddy Waters and Bo Diddley’s duelling “I’m a Man” anthems...

In this episode of The Blues Hotel, host Kelvin Huggins sits down with Australian music icon Mark “Diesel” Lizotte for an intimate, wide‑ranging conversation. Diesel retraces his journey from Little Compton, Rhode Island to the Aussie bush and finally Perth, sharing how a house full of jazz, soul, and funk records – and a sudden switch from cello to guitar – set him on his path. He then takes us i...

***Subscribe to The Blues Hotel Collective*** https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/1388278/172318053380392029/share =================================================== Step inside  The Blues Hotel  with host  Kelvin Huggins  for a journey that bridges the raw roots of American blues with the vibrant pulse of Australia’s contemporary scene. This episode blends interviews, live pe...

In this installment of The Blues Hotel , host Kelvin Huggins takes listeners on a soulful journey through the enduring power of the blues, weaving together obscure pioneers like James “Stump” Johnson (aka Snitcher Roberts), rare 78 RPM treasures from Alex Moore, and iconic classics from John Lee Hooker, Bo Diddley, and Memphis Minnie, alongside the fiery grit of Australia’s pub rock scene with Car...

From the muddy waters of the Delta to the neon-lit grit of South Michigan Avenue, this episode of The Blues Hotel traces the electrified heartbeat of Chicago Blues—a sound born of migration, survival, and raw amplification. We dig deep into the genre’s genesis, where the Great Migration carried acoustic blues northward, only to be re-forged in the noisy crucible of Chicago’s South Side clubs. Feat...

The Blues Hotel , hosted by Kelvin Huggins (with regular contributions from Rufus “Old Man” Tate), is a fortnightly audio journey into the heart of the blues. Each episode mixes deep-dive storytelling, musical analysis, and live performances across four signature segments:  Backstory Blues  (the history and myth behind iconic songs),  Then & Now (originals vs. transformative cov...

Step inside  The Blues Hotel , where Kelvin Huggins and the irrepressible Rufus check your ticket at the door and send you straight into the heart of the blues. Each episode stitches together history, raw emotion and live performance through recurring segments that dig under the skin of the music:  Backstory Blues  (the heartbreak, the late-night deals and whiskey-soaked confessions...

Welcome to The Blues Hotel, where the music never stops and every song tells a story that matters. Hosted by Kelvin Huggins with Rufus "Old Man" Tate , The Blues Hotel takes you on an unforgettable journey through the heart and soul of blues music. From the timeless classics of the Delta, Chicago, and Texas blues to hidden gems of a bygone era and today's independent rising stars, we open our door...

Step inside The Blues Hotel, where the music never sleeps and the stories run deep. In this episode, host Kelvin Huggins and introducing resident truth-teller Rufus “Old Man” Tate take you on a soul-stirring journey through the living, breathing world of blues—past, present, and far beyond the front porch. Then & Now From Howlin’ Wolf ’s primal growl to The Dead Daisies ’ gritty 2025 reimagini...

"At the Blues Hotel, there ain't nothin' but the blues." Welcome to The Blues Hotel, where the classics live, the independents shine, and the stories behind the music come alive. Hosted by Kelvin Huggins, this dedicated blues radio program showcases the full spectrum of blues music - from timeless classics and hidden gems to today's independent rising stars. What Makes The Blues Hotel Special The...

In this episode of The Blues Hotel , we pull up a chair at the  silky crossroads of blues and jazz  — where smooth rhythms meet soulful grit, and timeless songs wear new suits. Host  Kelvin Huggins  takes you on a journey through classic and contemporary tracks that blur the lines between the two genres, from T-Bone Walker’s cool-swinging  Call It Stormy Monday  to Ji...

This episode of  The Blues Hotel   takes a bold detour from tradition, spotlighting blues music that bends the rules but never loses its soul. From modal vamps and 8-bar laments to Australian garage-blues epics, we explore tracks that defy the 12-bar formula and embrace emotional truth. Interview Spotlight: Ross Wilson We sit down with Australian music legend Ross Wilson, whose 60-year c...

 The Blues Hotel – Authentic Blues. Real Stories. Hosted by Kelvin Huggins After an unexpected break,  The Blues Hotel  swings open its doors once again, inviting blues lovers back inside for two soul-drenched hours of real, authentic blues. Hosted by Kelvin Huggins, this show is a heartfelt journey through the music that shaped generations—from legendary pioneers to modern-day torc...

Check in for a red-hot episode as The Blues Hotel dives deep into the vibrant and unmistakably Aussie blues scene—where red dirt rhythms meet coastal grooves and gritty city soul. We’re spotlighting legends and rising stars who shape the sound of Australia’s blues revival. From Dutch Tilders’ homegrown “Chimney Sweep Blues” to Damon Smith’s electrifying live performance at the MBAS, this episode i...

Host Kelvin Huggins takes listeners on a soul-stirring journey through the foundational tracks that shaped the blues. From the raw power of Mamie Smith’s Crazy Blues to the electric fire of Elmore James and the timeless sorrow of B.B. King, this episode explores the “bricks and mortar” of blues history — the songs that built the house the blues lives in today. Through classic recordings, hidden ge...

This week on The Blues Hotel , we take a powerful journey through the evolution of blues—from the haunted echoes of the Delta to the soul-soaked streets of Chicago and the raw stomp of Texas juke joints. Episode 35 shines a light on both legends and buried gems, with tracks from Big Mama Thornton, Muddy Waters, Skip James, and Rory Gallagher, alongside standout performances by Australia’s own Pete...

The Blues Hotel: Neon Blues Nights In this atmospheric episode of The Blues Hotel , we take a late-night journey through the flickering neon-lit world of classic and modern blues. From smoky bars to city streets, “Neon Blues Nights” blends timeless legends like Little Walter, Etta James, and BB King with modern torchbearers including Samantha Fish, Gary Clark Jr., and Seasick Steve. Highlights inc...

Welcome Aboard The Blues Hotel Flight TBH527 ***Download SHOW NOTES *** This episode of The Blues Hotel takes you on a non-stop journey into the heart of live, authentic blues from across the globe. Hosted by your captain Kelvin Huggins, you’ll board as a Blues Traveler and be guided through scorching guitar solos, gritty vocals, and the raw energy of stage-born blues performances. From the deep r...

***SHOW NOTES will be available within 24 hours of episode release*** Download Show Notes At The Blues Hotel this week: We crack open a generous serving of the best in authentic classic and modern indepentdent blues. Our Live at the MBAS Feature Artist: Ivor S.K. with thanks to the Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society. Kelvin chats with a passionate harp player who knows how to make the instrument...

***SHOW NOTES will be available within 24 hours of episode release*** Download SHOW NOTES At The Blues Hotel this week: Our Live at the MBAS Feature Artist: Paulie Bignell & the Thornbury Two with thanks to the Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society. Kelvin chats with Western Australian blues legend Kerry B Ryan. Our Then & Now segment returns where we spin a blues classic up against a moder...

***SHOW NOTES will be available within 24 hours of episode release*** Download SHOW NOTES At The Blues Hotel this week: Our Live at the MBAS Feature Artist: Voodoo Preachers with thanks to the Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society. Our Then & Now segment returns where we spin a blues classic up against a modern cover version. Join us on MITE Radio Sunday nights from: 7.00PM (AWST) and on INDIGO...

***SHOW NOTES will be available within 24 hours of episode release*** Download SHOW NOTES At The Blues Hotel this week: Our Live at the MBAS Feature Artist: Phil Coyne and the Wayward Aces , with thanks to the Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society. Kelvin chats with Jovin Webb about Being a contestant on American Idol and his album Drifter.. Our Then & Now segment returns where we spin a blues...

***SHOW NOTES will be available within 24 hours of episode release*** Download SHOW NOTES At The Blues Hotel this week: Our Live at the MBAS Feature Artist: Tim Griffin , with thanks to the Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society. Kelvin chats with The Mezcaltones about their 5th album, Big Hat, No Cattle. Our Then & Now segment returns where we spin a blues classic up against a modern cover vers...

***SHOW NOTES will be available within 24 hours of episode release*** Download SHOW NOTES At The Blues Hotel this week: Our Live at the MBAS Feature Artist: Zed Charles , with thanks to the Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society. Kelvin chats with Queensland's very own Matt Tandy, about his debut EP, Bannister Street . We hear new music from Nick Charles and our Then & Now segment returns where...

***SHOW NOTES will be available within 24 hours of episode release*** Download SHOW NOTES At The Blues Hotel this week: Our Live at the MBAS Feature Artist: The Jackson Blues Combo, with thanks to the Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society. Kelvin chats with Australian blues griot STEVE TALLIS, about his 62 years in the music industry and his recent 3CD album Memory Ghost. We hear new music from The...