There is an abundance of music to be discovered in the western Algarve, with a variety of styles from reggae to folk and jazz waiting to be discovered. Juke Joint Blues is adding their sound to this diversity, having recently recorded a full album, Rocking in the Sun. The album is reminiscent of rhythm and blues artists from the 1930s and 1940s, with a modern twist. I met with Andy to find out more about the album and what we can expect next!
Juke Joint Blues is predominantly a two-piece outfit, often joined by other musicians from across the Algarve for live performances. As the name suggests, the band focuses on retaining the music and ambience of Juke Joints from the early 20th century in the Deep South of the USA. Self-described as a “rhythm & blues duo specialising in hand clappin’, foot-stompin’, funky butt live music”, the band does its best to preserve classics from by-gone eras, as well as composing its own original blues songs.
Juke Joint Blues is made up of Andy Gray and Tim Holmes. Originally from Aylesbury, UK, Andy has lived in the Algarve for 18 years and has performed in numerous outfits throughout this time, including The Retrospex and 2hot2handle. He was just 16 when he started playing the local scene back in the UK and has a wealth of experience in both performing and writing.
Tim moved to the western Algarve three years ago after having a career in journalism in the UK. Andy first met Tim in July 2021 in the middle of the COVID pandemic and, with the lack of gigs available, the two began to work on a number of songs and decided to record a full album of original material. They spent many months penning and perfecting the songs before teaming up with a number of local musicians, including Gary Collins, Jo Braswell, Roberto Freitas and Sydney Harris, who add their expertise and skills to the album.
Being an accomplished musician and songwriter, Andy takes the lead on acoustic guitar and vocals, and is supported by Tim on electric and slide guitar and backing vocals. They have a great knowledge of blues music through the decades. As Andy explains, “We wanted to release an album of music that we enjoyed, rather than a typical blues sound. It took a while to get this right, but we feel we captured the mood we wanted with the album. We also wanted to keep the album upbeat and to make sure we both loved all the songs on it.” A successful GoFundMe campaign raised the necessary funds to bring the album to the recording studio. In early 2024, the group brought the tracks to local producer Marc Mennigman of Area 432 studio and recorded the full nine-track album in an impressive five days. The album was released in March 2024 with the help of Chris France, an Algarve resident himself, through Music For Life, a prestigious record label and music publisher. Chris has been associated with bands like The Clash, The Damned, Jam, and Steve Marriott. He has a string of hits to his name spanning a 50-year career, including taking Prince to his only UK number one with The Most Beautiful Girl In The World.
Tracks on the new album, including ‘125 (Trying to Stay Alive)’, ‘Steady Rollin’ Camper’ and ‘August Algarve Blues’ will be quickly relatable to anybody who lives in the Algarve area. With quirky and sometimes deadpan lyrics, a raw energy and exciting instrumentation, the album stands out with its unique sound and refreshing songs. You can buy the album in all online stores, or stream it on all major streaming platforms. You can also catch Juke Joint Blues performing in a variety of venues across the Algarve. Check their social media to keep up to date!
© Stephanie Gray for the photographs and Emily Davis for the album artwork.
