The Blues Hotel

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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 a soulful narrative of lineage, lived experience, and timeless artistry.

Highlights

• Featured Artist Interview: Guitar powerhouse Christina Crofts opens up about her career, influences, and her latest album Best of Bottleneck. From her early lessons with family to her evolution as a slide guitar virtuoso, Crofts shares stories of grit, soul, and sass.
• Live at the MBAS: The Greenhatch Blues Band delivers an electrifying set recorded with the Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society. Frontman Luke Greenhatch channels gospel‑infused vocals and Mississippi‑to‑Chicago authenticity, backed by Peter “Boom Boom” Balking (bass) and Peter “Bam Bam” Hodgers (drums).
• Then & Now: A comparative spin on Bo Diddley’s Who Do You Love?—from the stripped‑down 1956 Chess Records original to the cinematic 1987 La Bamba soundtrack version.
• Backstory Blues: The story behind Big Mama Thornton’s Ball and Chain, a testament to how personal pain becomes timeless art, and how Janis Joplin carried Thornton’s phrasing into Monterey Pop Festival history.
• Curated Playlist: From Big Bill Broonzy and Aretha Franklin to Dutch Tilders and Kerry B. Ryan, the episode stitches together classics and contemporary gems that frame the features with atmosphere and authenticity.

Broadcast & Availability

• Podcast Platforms: Stream on all major apps except Spotify, with extended interviews on the Blues Hotel Collective YouTube channel.
• Radio Partners:
• Mite Radio: Alternate Sundays at 7:00 p.m. AWST
• Indigo FM: Alternate Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m. AEDT

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 Dave Hole’s electrifying slide guitar at the Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society to the poignant contrast between Creedence Clearwater Revival’s tender Long As I Can See the Light and Cold Chisel’s raw reimagining, the episode celebrates the blues as both survival and storytelling, connecting Chicago streets to Melbourne bars.

Hosted by: Kelvin Huggins

Presented by: The Blues Hotel Collective

Next Episode: December 7, 2025

Keep the blues alive.

© 2025 The Blues Hotel Collective.

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 Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, and Koko Taylor, and the invisible hand of Willie Dixon, we explore how Chess Records bottled lightning and laid the blueprint for rock and roll. Through signature segments like Backstory Blues (Howlin’ Wolf’s “Back Door Man”), Then and Now (Elmore James vs. Dave Hole), and Buried in the Blues (Luther “Snake Boy” Johnson), we spotlight the legends, the lost, and the living echoes of a genre that refuses to fade.

Plus, we go global with Live at the MBAS, where Melbourne’s Phil Coyne and the Wayward Aces channel the Chicago groove with a rockabilly twist. This isn’t just a history lesson—it’s a declaration: Chicago Blues isn’t gone. It’s louder than ever.

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 (obscure, heartrending recordings born of hardship), and Live at the MBAS (vibrant performances from today’s Melbourne scene). Expect Robert Johnson’s mythology, prison-born music from Robert Pete Williams, gritty reinterpretations from Koko Taylor, and a spotlight on local bands like Catch 23. New episodes every two weeks. Also check out our companion podcast, Blues Moments in Time.

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 Blues (blues archaeology that exhumes brilliant, overlooked tracks), Then and Now (originals vs. modern covers that show how great songs live on), and Live at the MBAS (the best live performances from the Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society).

We argue — often loudly — that the blues is the bedrock of modern music. From Muddy Waters’ hoodoo-steeped swagger to Skip James’ hollowed falsetto, from BB King’s Lucille to new Australian acts cutting their own lines, The Blues Hotel treats songs as living stories. Expect quickfire history, close listening, a celebration of raw authenticity over polish, and coverage of the vibrant Australian blues scene — including highlights from the 2025 MBAS Blues Challenge final (winners Damon Smith and The Cam Walter Blues Band).

If you like your music with backstory, bite and a front-row seat to the live scene, check in — the house band’s tuning up and Rufus is storytelling.

"At The Blues Hotel... There ain't nothin' but the blues."

© 2025. The Blues Hotel Collective

Mentioned in this episode:

The Blues Hotel Collective Presents - The Blues Hotel.