The Blues Hotel
Welcome to The Blues Hotel — where the door's always open and the music runs deep. Every fortnight, we check you in for a journey through the heart of the blues. From the raw Delta sounds that started it all to the electric Chicago nights, from Texas shuffles to Memphis soul — we're here to keep the tradition alive and kicking. But we're not just looking back across the ocean. Right here in Australia, there's a thriving blues scene — independent artists pouring their heart into this music, keeping it honest, keeping it real. We shine a light on those voices, the homegrown talent that deserves to be heard alongside the legends. You'll hear the masters who built this music, the modern voices carrying it forward, and the Aussie artists proving the blues belongs to anyone who's got something to say. Expect storytelling that brings the songs to life, deep cuts you won't hear anywhere else, and that timeless feeling only the blues can give you. Whether you're a lifelong fan or just discovering what the blues is all about, there's a room waiting for you. So settle in, turn it up, and let the music take you where it needs to go. This is The Blues Hotel. Check in. Stay awhile. Music contained in this podcast is used under license by APRA AMCOS The Blues Hotel is a production of The Blues Hotel Collective. © 2025 The Blues Hotel Collective - All rights reserved.
Episodes
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 to Sister Rosetta Tharpe’s gospel...
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 inside Short Cool Ones, his landmark...
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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 performances, and historical deep‑dives into...
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 Carson, Dutch Tilders, and Cold Chisel....
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.
Featuring the thunderous voices of Muddy...
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 covers), Buried in the Blues (obs...
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 behind the songs), Buried in the ...
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 doors to the full spectrum of this founda...
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 reimagining of “Little Red Rooster,” this episod...
"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 Blues Hotel is more than just...
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 Jimmy Smith’s soul-jazz groove Back at ...
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 career spans garage rock, Delta blues, a...
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 torchbearers.
Each episode blends classic cu...
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 is packed with soul, story, and spiri...
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 gems, and fresh takes in segments like...
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 Cornelius and Matt Dwire. We revisi...
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 include:
- Live at the MBAS: Featuring e...
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 roots of the Mississippi Delta to the el...
***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 wail, Melbourne blues great, Phil Coyne...
***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 modern cover version.
Join us on MITE Radio Su...
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