GA-20 WITH CHARLIE MUSSELWHITE RELEASE BLUES NOW & TOUR
GA-20 with Charlie Musselwhite released BLUES NOW today via New West Records. The 10-track set was produced by the band’s Matthew Stubbs and was recorded at Rare Signals in Cambridge, MA. Met with critical acclaim, MOJO called it an “Intergenerational blues summit between the harmonica legend and the young trio” while Far Out said “Far from being mere pretenders, copycats or knock-offs, GA-20 is the real deal…a brilliantly put-together record.” Bandcamp named it to their “Hot List, Summer 2026,” Relix said, “BLUES NOW pedals in the ambiance of 1968 into the modern era,” while Rock and Blues Muse said “Hopefully BLUES NOW gets a volume two since the natural chemistry between Musselwhite and GA-20 has created one of the year’s finest, most powerful and unvarnished deep blues releases.”
A legendary statesman of the genre, Musselwhite’s name is synonymous with the blues. He is a harmonica virtuoso and esteemed vocalist with a 60-plus year career forged in authenticity and excellence. GA-20 burst onto the scene in 2018, garnering a quick reputation for their dynamic live shows, built on a deep respect for the originators and an enduring commitment to carrying the torch forward. Under the Karma Chief imprint of Colemine Records, the band released four studio albums, all of which debuted at either number 1 or number 2 on the Billboard Blues charts. Together with the Grammy award-winning Musselwhite, they shine with a chemistry that blends the spirit of the Blues pioneers with an electrifying modern energy.
Today, the band shared a video of the Musselwhite classic “Cristo Redentor.” Matthew Stubbs says “Although Musselwhite didn’t write it, this is Charlie’s signature song and has become a modern blues classic. His virtuosic playing changed the profile of blues harmonica and it’s a fitting tribute to close out this album with our interpretation, in tandem with Cody Nilsen’s ethereal lap steel.”
Tomorrow, GA-20 with Charlie Musselwhite in tow, will make their television debut on CBS Saturday Morning (please check your local listings).
BLUES NOW is rooted in the same Chicago Blues Musselwhite helped pioneer back in the ‘60s, but the injection of GA-20’s visceral style and unique instrumentation, make room for wider interpretations. Here, GA-20 and Musselwhite are a crew of equals, with Musselwhite easing into GA-20 and everybody toggling between lead roles and support. The collaboration has been a long time coming, and at the heart of it, most inherently, is the shared love of Blues. Not retro Blues. Just Blues. Full Stop.
In early 2025, GA-20 booked six days of studio time and started gathering some of their favorite songs by Elmore James, Junior Wells, Eddie Taylor, and more. Also included were two favorites from Musselwhite’s lauded 1968 debut, Stand Back!. Stubbs says “We tried to find songs that Charlie had a connection to or artists that he knew personally from Chicago, but also just songs that we liked and thought we could do justice.” Adding, “The GA-20 sound historically has been in that ballpark of raw Chicago Blues from the late ‘50s and early ‘60s, but we didn’t want to simply re-create Stand Back!, we just wanted to be influenced by it. We wanted to capture the spirit of that record.”
The band & Musselwhite recorded live and worked quickly. They wanted the energy and humanity of living, breathing musicians playing together, but they also wanted the imperfections of the moment. Musselwhite says with a glint in his eye, “We’re so good we have to make mistakes on purpose. Everything went smoothly. Making this album was as easy as falling off a log.”
The terrific BLUES NOW lives up to its name, letting the music speak as strongly in 2026 as it did in 1968. It embodies a living, musical conversation that spans generations. It is an ongoing dialogue and testament to the enduring spirit of the genre and reaffirms its timeless appeal. It reminds us that the Blues is a living, breathing art form.
It’s also a hell of a good time.
BLUES NOW is available across digital platforms, compact disc, and standard black vinyl. A very limited Teal Marble vinyl edition is available from Plaid Room Records and Seasick Records, while a limited Green Splatter vinyl edition is available exclusively from the band. A limited Red Marble vinyl edition including an autographed insert by GA-20 and Charlie Musselwhite is available NOW via Independent Retailers as well as NEW WEST RECORDS.
BLUES NOW TRACK LISTING:
1. Crazy Love
2. I Can’t Hold Out
3. I’ll Change My Style
4. Big Stars Falling
5. Universal Rock
6. The Blues Never Die
7. Strange Land
8. Stroll Out West
9. Short Dress Woman
10. Cristo Redentor
GA-20 ON TOUR:
August 13 – Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club – Portsmouth, NH
August 14 – Center for the Arts of Homer – Homer, NY
August 15 – North Elba Showgrounds – Lake Placid, NY
August 16 – Academy Park – Lewiston, NY
August 18 – The Ark – Ann Arbor, MI
August 20 – Big Top Chautauqua – Concert Venue – Bayfield, WI
August 22 – Chenango Blues Festival 2026 – Norwich, NY
August 23 – Dakota – Minneapolis, MN
August 25 – Redstone Room – Davenport, IA
August 26 – The Castle Theatre – Bloomington, IL
August 27 – The Acorn – Three Oaks, MI
August 28 – Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts – Brookfield, WI
August 29 – Blues and Brews on the Fox 2026 – St. Charles, IL
August 30 – Mercury Ballroom – Louisville, KY
September 5 – Jonathan Edwards Winery – North Stonington, CT
September 15 – Americanafest 2026 – Nashville, TN
September 19 – Telluride Blues & Brews Festival 2026 – Telluride, CO
September 24 – Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club – Portsmouth, NH
September 26 – Narrows Center For The Arts – Fall River, MA
September 30 – Jazz Dock – Prague, Czechia
October 2 – Blues Heaven Festival 2026 – Frederikshavn, Denmark
October 3 – Rampelys – Silkeborg, Denmark
October 6 – Kulturkvarteret Kristianstad – Kristianstad, Sweden
October 7 – Medley – Malmö, Sweden
October 8 – Folkets hus – Sundbyberg, Sweden
October 9 – Hunker junker – Söderhamn, Sweden
October 10 – Röda kvarn kök & salong – Ljusdal, Sweden
October 11 – Borlange House – Borlänge, Sweden
October 14 – G Livelab – Tampere, Finland
October 15 – G Livelab – Helsinki, Finland
October 16 – Apollo Turku – Turku, Finland
October 17 – Elojazz – Oulu, Finland
October 20 – Brudenell Social Club – Leeds, United Kingdom
October 21 – Cabaret Voltaire – Edinburgh, United Kingdom
October 22 – St Mary’s Centre – Chester, United Kingdom
October 23 – Colours Hoxton – London, United Kingdom
October 24 – The Old Brewery Store – Faversham, United Kingdom
October 30 – New Morning – Paris, France
November 7 – Southern Arizona Blues & Heritage Festival 2026 – Tucson, AZ
November 8 – Tumbleroot Brewery and Distillery – Santa Fe, NM
November 10 – The Kessler Theater – Dallas, TX
November 11 – State Theatre – Austin, TX
November 12 – The Heights Theater – Houston, TX
November 13 – New Orleans Jazz & Blues Market – New Orleans, LA
November 14 – Ground Zero Blues Club Biloxi – Biloxi, MS
November 16 – McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre – Sarasota, FL
November 17 – Judson’s Live – Orlando, FL
November 18 – The Funky Biscuit – Boca Raton, FL
November 19 – Dog Rose Brewing Company – St. Augustine, FL
November 20 – Grant’s Lounge – Macon, GA
November 21 – Nickel and Oak Lounge – Savannah, GA
January 22 – Portland House Of Music and Events – Portland, ME
January 31 – Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise 2027 – Fort Lauderdale, FL
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