The legacy of Huddie 'Lead Belly' Ledbetter, the iconic folk-blues singer, songwriter and guitarist famed for his vast repertoire of songs and incredible influence, will be celebrated in a special night of music at the Royal Albert Hall on Monday 15th June. Lead Belly Fest will see a host of artists inspired by the iconic bluesman pay tribute to his work by recreating his classic repertoire. Topping the bill will be the legendary Van Morrison, musical maestro Jools Holland, Animals frontman Eric Burdon, Manfred Mann singer Paul Jones, Rose Royce’s Gwen Dickey and former Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show vocalist Dennis Locorriere. Josh White Jr., Laurence Jones, Gemma Ray and Ruby Turner will also join the incredible line up, as well as 2014 WRC Award winners Slim Chance (our Video Of The Day), the band formed originally by Ronnie Lane!

Kev Beale's latest 'Blues On The Marsh' podcast and our 'TOTD' is a cracker of a show. For your delectation listen to Half Deaf Clatch, Anders Osbourne & North Mississippi Allstars, Blue Swamp Band, Breezy Rodio, CeDell Davis, Chris Daniels & The Kings Featuring Freddi Gowdy, Dave Moretti Blues Revue, Doug MacLeod, Giles Hedley, Hermann Posch and Christian Sand, Igor Prado Band, John Primer and The Teardrops, Leif de Leeuw Band, Mete Ege London Blues, Joe Bonamassa (pictured), Nora Jean Bruso, Regina Bonelli, Rory Gallagher, Taste, Nuno Mindelis, Ryk Mead and Uncle Sinner! Phew!

Just three years after winning our WRC 'One's To Watch' award - the prophecy has certainly come to fruition as The Mentulls have walked away with our 2015 WRC 'Best Blues Performance' award! Hard lines to the worthy challenge of the other two nominees - namely Bernie Marsden (Ramblin' Man) and Joanne Shaw Taylor (Jazz Cafe) - but The Mentulls awesome Red Lion gig in May (pictured) swung the vote their way! Don't forget that you can still purchase both the 2013 & 2014 BluesFest DVD/CD's featuring The Mentulls through our merchandise page here. Anyway check out both today's Vid Of The Day plus watch out for further exciting news re: The Mentulls tomorrow!

Well I suppose we did stipulate yesterday that anyone posting on our Facebook page would be rewarded! Anyway following Kevin Black's message yesterday: "Can't believe that after 5 years broadcasting and now on 2 USA stations and 2 in the UK the WRC doesnt know about the black on blues podcast" - the truth is Kev that we do listen to Black On Blues but you're quite right that it has never been included as our Track Of The Day! Well let's put that right then by featuring the latest Black On Blues podcast this coming Sunday!

Matt Woosey joined another WRC Award nominee in the Blues On The Radio studio ahead of his recent gig at The Tuesday Night Music Club. Today's Track Of The Day has host Richard Dunning chatting with Matt and spinning some of his favourite music. And of course there's also the IBBA albums of the month, news of gigs coming up and some of your favourite music. Two hours very well spent and it's the last BOTR show before Christmas!

This week's two hour Blues Club Podcast is predominantly New Blues but also Rock, Soul, Jazz, Acoustic and whatever else takes Jim and Malcolm's fancy! Our Track Of The Day features the UK Independent Blues Broadcasters Association Presenters' Picks for October including Bob Malone, Trevor Sewell, Angela Lewis Brown, Half Deaf Clatch and Jesse Davey plus also tracks from Buddy Guy, Tommy Castro, Joe Bonamassa (pictured), Nathaniel Rateliff, The Chris O'Leary Band, King King, Bobby Rush, Mick Kolassa, Dr. John, Danielle Nicole Band, Phily K, The Beat Daddys, King Solomon, Little Boys Blue, Taj Mahal, Crooked Eye Tommy, Jo Harman, Tanya Piche Blues Band, Blinddog Smokin', Maggie Bell, Heritage Blues Orchestra, Richard Townend & The Mighty Boss Cats, Paul Cox, Nine Below Zero, Niecie Blues and B. B. & The Blues Shacks!

Yesterday's Rock On The Ridge radio show tweet "Listen up your ears will love you for it" said it all. Yes Bob & Jules did the WRC proud with their latest broadcast on Saturday night featuring music and interviews from all the bands that appeared at BluesRockfest during that memorable day at the Red Lion in Gravesend on Saturday 4th July. Great stuff guys and thanks for everything - it really is an honour for the WRC to have your latest podcast as our Track Of The Day!

Remember that Kevin Beale is back live tonight here on Channel Radio at 7pm - with his Blues On The Marsh show! Also watch out for the podcast which will also be our Track Of The Day in the next few days.

"Thanks so much for the mention, guys!!!" was Pete Lovett's Facebook posting following yesterday's WRC piece on Midnight Blues Train! The guys in fact have got an action-packed weekend coming up - Kitty O'Hanlon's in Plymouth, followed by two headliners, at HugsFest on Saturday and CultureFest on Sunday! Pete promises that any Devon-based Wrinklies will be made most welcome so it's only fair that we have made MBT our Track Of The Day!

British Blues Awards nominee Kevin Beale belted out another cracking Blues On The Marsh show on Channel Radio last night. So today's Track Of The Day includes Albert Cummings, Amy Hart, Crooked Eye Tommy, Joel Zoss, Mike Davis, Slinky and P'tit Loup, Victor Wainwright and the Wild Roots, Warren Haynes, Reverend Raven and The Chain Smoking Altar Boys, John Ginty, Jon Cleary, Martin Harley and Daniel Kimbro, plus a huge slice of some of his fave oldies, remembering Little Milton, Magic Slim and Memphis Minnie! Don't forget that BBA voting closes here on August 31st so don't leave it too late!

That's right - just three months to go for you to see T.Rextasy headlining our Mick Jagger Centre Charity gig on Saturday 21st November. Watch this space shortly for news on support band The Replicants setlist auction, where you can actually bid for your favourite song to be covered by them on the night! In the meantime go here to book your £21 tickets for Wrinklystock IV as we would hate it if you guys missed out on this brilliant occasion!

Yes you could say our WRC updates this week have been a bit Mickey Mouse given the wi-fi/laptop problems we experienced during our well-deserved break! Anyway rest assured normal WRC service returns tomorrow - but in the meantime make sure you tune in to Rock On The Ridge tonight here at 8pm as Bob & jules will be joined by JB - not that JB but certainly an equal in his particular field - yes it's John Bull of Rockrpix Photography! We understand the guys will be playing a selection of bands that John has photographed recently and tweeting photos from those gigs during the show!