Blues in the Bottoms featuring Southern Avenue, Kent Burnside & Lightnin' Malcolm

Under 21 with Guardian Southern Avenue Southern Avenue is redefining modern roots music with a sound that blends Memphis soul, blues, gospel, and fearless rock & roll into something unmistakably their own. Fronted by powerhouse vocalist and songwriter Tierinii Jackson and anchored by the electrifying guitar work and songwriting of Ori Naftaly, the band has become one of the most compelling live acts on the international touring circuit. Their 2025 Alligator Records debut album Family earned a GRAMMY nomination for Best Contemporary Blues Album at the 2026 GRAMMY Awards and solidified Southern Avenue’s place at the forefront of contemporary American music. The album was praised for its deeply personal songwriting, genre-defying musicianship, and uplifting spirit, while earning airplay across Americana, Triple-A, blues, roots, jamband, and college radio formats worldwide. Family reached #1 on the Global Blues Radio Charts in the U.K., Top 5 in the U.S. and Canada, and Top 10 in France and Australia. NPR Music also featured the record on its “Best Albums of the Week” list and playlist. Southern Avenue’s momentum continued with major industry recognition, including being named 2025 Band of the Year by Living Blues and receiving 2026 Blues Music Award nominations for Band of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Contemporary Blues Album. Beyond the band’s success, Tierinii Jackson has emerged as a celebrated songwriter and vocalist in her own right. In 2026, the soundtrack for the feature film Sinners won the GRAMMY Award for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media. Jackson contributed the original song “Can’t Win for Losin’,” co-written and performed with Cedric Burnside, along with a standout rendition of “Wang Dang Doodle” featuring Burnside and Sharde Thomas-Malloy. Known for explosive live performances and emotional authenticity, Southern Avenue has appeared on some of the world’s most prestigious stages and tours, including the 2024 Outlaw Tour alongside Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, and Bob Dylan; the Chicago Blues Festival main stage; AmericanaFest; XPoNential Music Festival; and New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Additional highlights include performances celebrating B.B. King’s 100th birthday, multiple appearances on Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise, dates with Dave Matthews Band and Trombone Shorty, and international touring throughout Canada, Denmark, Norway, and the U.K. As Rolling Stone declared: “Unforgettable music and electric performances...Southern Avenue showcases the soul of Memphis. Their stories resonate long after the last note of music fades.” https://www.southernavenuemusic.com/ Kent Burnside Grandson of Hill Country Blues legend R.L. Burnside, Kent Burnside blends Mississippi Hill Country, Delta, Chicago Blues, and Blues-Rock into a style all his own. After early touring with Jimbo Mathus and opening for Buddy Guy, Kent built a 20-year career fronting his own band. His new album, Hill Country Blood, produced by GRAMMY winner Boo Mitchell, features eight originals plus covers of John Lee Hooker and Junior Kimbrough. Raw, soulful, and high-energy, the record honors tradition while forging ahead. https://www.kentburnsidemusic.com/ Lightnin' Malcolm Cutting edge Mississippi Bluesman Lightnin Malcolm, a charismatic and energetic guitarslinger with a deep soulful voice, has taken his irresistible dance grooves from Juke Joint teen years to World Stages with mainstream artists such as Robert Plant, Jimmy Buffett, Robert Cray, The Black Keys, Widespread Panic, Big Head Todd, North Mississippi Allstars, Lucero and Gary Clark Jr. Malcolm learned directly from Blues Masters touring with R.L. Burnside, T Model Ford, Big Jack Johnson, Robert Belfour etc... Developing a uniquely funky and hypnotic Bass/Rhythm/Lead simultaneous "full band" Guitar sound, as One Man Band with foot drums or Power Duo with drummer (notably Cedric Burnside). In 2009 Malcolm won Blues Music Award Emerging Artist, fusing raw electrifying Blues power and fresh melodic songwriting with elements of Funk, Soul, Rock, Reggae, Hip Hop, African World Beat, Gospel and Country to create an Authentic melodic signature sound. He's released a string of critically acclaimed albums for Mississippi Indie label ShakeDown Records while playing 1,000s of Live Shows Worldwide. WHISKEY BAYOU RECORDS PRESS RELEASE- Lightnin Malcolm - "Eye Of The Storm" Whiskey Bayou Records is excited to present trail-blazing guitarist, singer, and songwriter Lightnin' Malcolm's new album, EYE OF THE STORM. Lightnin' Malcolm has walked among the giants of North Mississippi Blues – playing alongside R.L. Burnside, T Model Ford, and Big Jack Johnson, co-founding the Wrecking Crew with Cedric Burnside, and touring as a member of the North Mississippi Allstars. He's received first-hand knowledge of the music, the feel, and the lives of the Hill Country musicians who created it. On EYE OF THE STORM it's evident that Lightnin’ Malcolm has now become the teacher, the mentor, the legend. Produced by internationally acclaimed musician Tab Benoit for his Louisiana-based Whiskey Bayou label, EYE OF THE STORM is 11 tracks of "real deal" Hill Country Blues. Malcolm is joined by drummer Brady Blade with special appearances by Tab Benoit on drums and Tony Hall (Dumpstaphunk) on bass guitar. Malcolm expresses his enthusiasm: "Brady and I are always spontaneously explosive, and when Tony Hall (of Neville Brothers and Dumpstaphunk) also stopped by and played bass, it was like getting the keys to a Ferrari... I try to keep the music honest and direct like my heroes did. I add a modern twist to reflect this present moment in time, just like they did. They reached way back and pushed way forward at the same time and were pioneers of ancient sounds.” EYE OF THE STORM’s eleven tracks demonstrate Malcolm’s total mastery of Hill Country Blues as well as his ability to stretch the envelope a bit. Songs like “Lord Above”, “Modern Reminder”, and “Jungle” find Malcolm’s guitar working with the drums to create a classic Hill Country hypnotic drive, while songs like the title track and “Lift Us Up” find Malcolm working with a more contemporary song structure and singing melodically over a wider vocal range. When not on the road touring coast to coast playing for music fans, Malcolm is home playing in juke joints across the South where the music feels most comfortable. Whether playing in a backcountry juke joint, an urban night club or an international concert venue, Malcolm is clearly the Real Deal, and his deep soulfulness comes shining through. https://lightninmalcolm.com/