IBBA albums of the month, gig news, new releases... yes it's the first Blues On The Radio Track Of The Day of 2018. What you'll get is an hour jammed full of music from Josh Smith, Andy Gunn, Jane Lee Hooker, John Verity, II Big, Mississippi MacDonald & Steve Bailey, The Robert J Hunter Band (pictured), Jack J Hutchinson, Lucy Zirins, The Craig Hughes Two, Dan Burnett and Gypsy Dave Smith. So click play and turn it up!

And talking of awards - as we mentioned yesterday in our Black Country Communion gig review, we managed to smuggle into London's Hammersmith Apollo last Thursday night their 2017 WRC Best Reviewed CD award. And if you wanted evidence - check out today's photo of lead singer/bass guitarist Glenn Hughes gratefully receiving the said award!

Today's Black On Blues Podcast Track Of The Day is another popular Blues women special featuring Red’s Blues, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Ghalia & Mama’s Boys, Jane Lee Hooker, Kelly Z and Lara & The Bluz Dawgz.

"By this time Harrison Wells lookalike Jackson had removed his the aforementioned straightjacket revealing a 'God' t-shirt before he introduced the next song - "It's a mover" - and he wasn't wrong as he smashed his percussion about on 'Gamble The Dream' - reinforcing their unique sound with its welcome Floydish tinge. If I was to pick my favourite from 'WAITT' it would be a close contest. A longer set would see the twelve minute 'The Path Of Least Resistance' as a classic finale, however, they did thankfully include the superb 'Voices' which not only encapsulates what IT is all about including outstanding keyboards from McCaffrey plus the driving engine room of Hawkins and Chism, but it also features a George Galloway speech about Iraq which according to Nick, George did in one studio take. A great way to challenge/change our political beliefs George!" That was part of our IT (Video Of The Day) Progtoberfest 2 gig review at London's The Bedford in Balham in late October and the Proggers have deservedly walked off with our 2017 WRC Best Prog Performancel award!

Today's Blues On The Marsh Track Of The Day originally broadcast on Friday night includes music from Jimi Barbiani Band, The Hardchargers, Jim Shaneberger Band, Boo Boo Weavils, Josh Smith, Stefan Hauk, Willie May Band, Nouveaux Honkies, Washboard Jo, Shaun Murphy, Steve Tracy and The Crawling Kingsnakes, Mighty Mo Rodgers and Baba Sissoko, Leo Bud Welch, Curtis Salgado and Alan Hager, Steve Sainas, Frank Statesboro, Preacher Boy, Robert Finlay, Robert Randolph & The Family Band, Tom Principato and Steve Wolf and Sweet Bourbon.

"Anyway, the good news was that the band managed to use the right intro backing track for the driving Rock of their anthem 'Cult Of Personality' from 'Vivid' and not only did Corey (doing a Run-D.M.C.) come to our side of the stage and shake one of our outstretched hands, but he finished off by going walk about during the performance with cries of "Jump. Jump, Jump" - which everyone obliged - Glover eventually ending up singing along with everyone at the back of the audience! And that was that - a truly memorable evening - Living Colour play Liverpool tonight and Newcastle on Saturday before embarking on a US tour. Don't leave it another four and half years guys before you come back to London! Ramblin' Man Fair 2018 anyone?" That was part of our Living Colour (Video Of The Day) gig review at London's ULU in October and the Americans have deservedly walked off with our 2017 WRC Best International award!

"'Wanderlust' - another from 'BCCIV' was sandwiched in between four classics which took us back to the Summer of 2011. Firstly, Bonham's intro on the still blistering and punchy 'One Last Soul' from their debut album with Joe rocking back and forth, a number which Hughes included in his own Islington Assembly Hall set last year - Glenn then taking the opportunity to tell those assembled not to believe everything they read about BCC in the media! "It's good to be home" declared Hughes before they played the still very beautiful 'Save Me' - crafted by another awesome guitar solo from Bonamassa. Talking of Joe - you have to do a double take to remember that the still spectacular 'Song Of Yesterday', despite being written by JB, is actually a BCC release - in fact it is the only BCC song that Bonamassa has ever included in his personal set other than once performing 'The Battle For Hadrian's Wall'. Sung jointly by Bonamassa and Hughes, and complemented by Joe's outstanding guitar solo - this was utter perfection - whilst the final part of this cracking 2011 quartet was a breakneck rendition of 'The Outsider' - the crowd devouring each song as if they've never been away, with each solo greeted by a huge cheer, the choruses sung loudly and the fists raised at all the right moments." Read the whole of AJ's Black Country Communion Hammersmith Apollo gig review here from last Thursday plus check out our updated Photo Gallery (photos courtesy of Christie Goodwin and Eric Duvet) here.

One of last year's "ones to watch" Rock bands; Samarkind (Track Of The Day) have charted on Planet Rock's Top 10 albums of 2017, which sees the multinational self release artists feature alongside the likes of Europe, Inglorious, Black Star Riders, Gun, Thunder and Wayward Sons. The prestigious chart position, as voted for by the station's listeners, follows Samarkind's recent first live show in Dublin as guests to Inglorious, and the release of their self-titled debut album this past November to widespread praise from the media and music fans alike.. Samarkind make their debut in the UK this March with a series of live shows including London's Black Heart on Sunday 1st April.

"Six year's since we saw them as a collective, Bonamassa is still truly the axe hero of his generation and is still the perfect foil for Hughes’ still-superb voice. Jason Bonham is still a chip off the old block on drums and Derek Sherinian still adds huge depth to the sound on Hammond organ. However, six year's down the line and this Supergroup is still coming to terms with being a band given their well-documented commitments but boy-oh-boy, it still is a beautiful thing to behold. Let's pray we don't have to wait as long again for their next tour and 'BCCV'." Watch out for the whole of AJ's Black Country Communion Hammersmith Apollo gig review tomorrow - but in the meantime check out our BCC Photo Gallery here (pictures courtesy of Christie Goodwin and Eric Duvet).

"The evening demonstrated beyond doubt Dan’s ability to play quieter, more melodic songs, with the same passion and vitality he exhibits in the Dan Reed Network. As further evidence of his ability to switch seamlessly between music genres, in December Dan returns to the UK again, reunited with his Network, to support Extreme on his third UK tour of 2017. It is likely to sell out as quickly as the first two." That was part of Big Ian's take on Dan Reed's solo gig at St. Pancras Old Church, a beautifully restored parish church half way between Camden High Street and St. Pancras station in September and Dan's mesmeric set (see our Video Of The Day) has duly been voted Best Unplugged Performance in our 2017 WRC Awards.

The Blues Club Podcast Track Of The Day returns for the first time in 2018 with another two hours of non-stop Best in Blues with More Music and Less Chat, featuring New Releases, Classic Tracks, UK Independent Blues Broadcasters Association Presenters' Picks and much more. Music this week Includes tracks from Rag ’n’ Bone Man, FreeWorld, Downchild, Jack J Hutchinson (pictured), Dan Burnett, Mississippi MacDonald, Nathaniel Rateliff, Cash Box Kings, St. Paul and The Broken Bones, Benny Turner, The Hitman Blues Band, Malaya Blue, Joe Cocker, Sweet Pea Atkinson, Bonnie Raitt, Kaz Hawkins, Wily Bo Walker, Shaun Murphy, Katie Bradley & Chris Corcoran, Mindi Abair, Dave Ferra, Elles Bailey, Dan Doiron, Lucy Zirins, Sam Kelly's Station House, Melissa Etheridge, Mr. Sipp "The Mississippi Blues Child", Altered Five Blues Band, Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews & Orleans Avenue, B. B. & The Blues Shacks and more.

"This was deliciously backed up by ‘Cheap Sunglasses’ and ‘Chartreuse’ - building up to the final big hitters, 'Just Got Paid' (Joe Bonamassa's staple cover), ‘Sharp Dressed Man’ and ‘Legs’. No 'Rough Boy' and no Jeff Beck joining them this time on their first encore ‘La Grange and ‘Tush’ but hey you can't have everything! Although encore number two of Elvis' 'Jailhouse Rock' somehow ended abruptly with no "good night" from the bearded wonders, possibly because of the fight that erupted between two neathandtertal's behind us. How on earth can you end up fighting at a ZZ Top gig? Anyway, the set list was virtually the same as two years ago and in a way it is more of a performance or a show than a gig, which perhaps to an extent impacts their vocal rapport with the crowd - but hey, at the end of the day, it doesn’t get much better than this! So that was it. Ramblin' Man Fair over for another year as we made our way home out of Mote Park with post-festival depression due to kick in the following morning. Yet another great weekend of live music - and as one famous American once put it - "I'll be back!" That was part of AJ's 2017 Ramblin' Man Fair review and not unexpectedly that brilliant weekend last July has won our 2017 WRC Award for Best Festival for the second year running!