Tinsley Ellis talks with Colin Campbell from his home in Atlanta, Georgia, taking us from the spark of seeing The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show to discovering the blues behind the blues.

He shares stories of witnessing BB King up close as a teenager, meeting and learning from blues legends, and how those early experiences shaped a lifetime in music. Tinsley also explains Bentonia tuning and its Mississippi roots, his love of hill country groove, and how he writes songs starting with the guitar lick first.

The episode explores his shift from electric to acoustic performance, the making of Labour of Love, and what success really means when you spend decades doing nothing but music.

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In this episode of the Blues Matters podcast, Colin Campbell sits down with Elles Bailey for an open and thoughtful conversation.

Elles reflects on an extraordinary year that included touring with Rag’n’Bone Man, finishing a long-in-the-making new album, and finding balance between life on the road and home life. She talks openly about songwriting, grief, joy, mental health, and why music is about connection rather than destination.

From stories behind key songs to her belief in enjoying the ride, this is a wide-ranging discussion with one of the UK’s most compelling voices.

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Colin Campbell speaks with Katie Knipp and producer/bassist Pancho Tomaselli about their adventurous reworking of Katie’s album Me. Pancho recounts how a live show sparked the idea to remix the entire record across genres from metal and house to neo soul and reggae. Katie reflects on fan reactions, the late Mick Martin’s influence, and the freedom that comes with creative risk-taking.

The conversation covers production details, artistic philosophy, and plans for Katie’s next album — a project she promises will be her bluesiest yet. Together they talk about evolving as artists, building bridges between audiences, and keeping the creative energy alive.

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Colin Campbell talks with Erin Harpe about life on a packed UK tour, learning Piedmont blues at home, and developing her voice as a singer and educator. Erin explains her love for small rooms, reflects on representation in the blues, and breaks down the making of Let the Mermaids Flirt with Me — a live, one-take Mississippi John Hurt tribute cut in her Boston living room.

The conversation spans song choices like Casey Jones and Make Me a Pallet on Your Floor, tuning approaches, teaching, vintage guitars, recent BBC Radio 2 support, and what success means when you are carrying the acoustic blues tradition forward. Erin also previews future projects from a Memphis Minnie tribute to new Delta Swingers and Lovewhip recordings.

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Eric Bibb joins Blues Matters for a wide ranging conversation on One Mississippi, the early musical influences that guided his path, and the real life stories behind tracks such as Muddy Waters, This One Don't, and Waiting on the Sun. He explores history, connection, songwriting, and why blues music remains so vital today.

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Colin Campbell sits down with Christian “Babaux” Babu to trace the origins of Babaux and the Peacemakers. From a classical pianist mother and Piedmont blues in Virginia to life in Colorado, Babaux explains how moving from bass to resonator guitar unlocked a new voice. He shares advice from Bo Diddley, lessons in listening from Leo Nocentelli, and the aim of writing honest songs that heal.

The conversation dives into the making of Keep Both Hands on the Wheel — cut largely live at Clubhouse Records in Golden with post production from Joel Geis and mastering by David Glasser — and the stories behind Steal Your Love, Wildflower and Hardly Living. Babaux also talks band chemistry, adding Hammond B3, steel and fiddle, and building towards bigger festival runs.

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Colin Campbell sits down with Probyn Gregory, best known for his work with Brian Wilson and the Wondermints, to explore six decades of music. From discovering the Beach Boys on a transistor radio to joining Wilson’s touring band, Probyn tells the story behind a career built on curiosity, versatility, and respect for songcraft.

He discusses his influences from Neil Young to Todd Rundgren, the making of Smile 2004, life on the road with Brian Wilson and Jeff Beck, and his work with artists including Heart, Al Jardine and Weird Al Yankovic. The conversation also touches on his production of The Unreleased Songs of Murry Wilson and the importance of supporting live musicians in an era of streaming.

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In this episode, Stephen Harrison is joined by Christopher Wyze for a deep dive into Christmas songs within the blues and the story behind his latest festive releases.

Christopher explains why the holidays are a perfect fit for the blues, how his band has grown as a mainly studio based outfit with fans around the world, and how a casual introduction through Select-O-Hits led to a whirlwind collaboration with Emma Wilson. He walks through the Royal Studios session with Boo Mitchell and the Hi Rhythm players, the writing of the original duet, and his long standing obsession with Leroy Carr and Scrapper Blackwell that led him to tackle Christmas In Jail (Ain’t That A Pain).

He also reflects on presenting at the Josie Awards at the Grand Ole Opry House, working with Johnny Phillips and the Phillips family legacy, the importance of video and adapting to the digital age, and why the blues scene still feels like a shared family between musicians, studios, labels and fans.

Hear more conversations with the artists who keep the blues moving forward at bluesmatters