The Blues Hotel

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.

Welcome to The Blues Hotel, where the music never stops and every song tells a story that matters.

Hosted by Kelvin Huggins with Rufus "Old Man" Tate, The Blues Hotel takes you on an unforgettable journey through the heart and soul of blues music. From the timeless classics of the Delta, Chicago, and Texas blues to hidden gems of a bygone era and today's independent rising stars, we open our doors to the full spectrum of this foundational American art form.

What Makes Us Different

The blues isn't just a playlist—it's a scar, a reflection of lived experience that spans generations. As Big Bill Broonzy said, "Blues is a natural fact. Is something that a fellow lives." At The Blues Hotel, we dig deep into these stories, exploring the raw authenticity and unpolished power that makes blues music so enduring.

What You'll Discover

• Backstory Blues: Uncover the fascinating stories behind legendary tracks and the artists who created them
• Buried in the Blues: Spotlight on forgotten, overlooked, and criminally underrated gems
• From Past to Present: How blues shaped modern music and continues to evolve with today's artists
• Australian Blues: Celebrating homegrown talent and "real Aussie Blues"
• Cross-Generational Impact: Explore how blues "infected" rock, grunge, punk, and pop

Featured Content

Each episode weaves together classic legends like BB King, Lead Belly, Willie Dixon, and Howlin' Wolf with contemporary artists who carry the torch forward. We celebrate labels like Alligator Records that keep the "raw, raucous electric blues" alive with "no polish, just power."

Whether it's the working man's anthem of Fats Domino's "Blue Monday," the cross-generational influence of Willie Dixon's "Backdoor Man," or the modern troubles of "She's on Facebook All the Time," we connect the dots between yesterday's pain and today's struggles.

Join the Community

The Blues Hotel isn't just a show—it's a community. Connect with fellow blues lovers in The Blues Hotel Listeners Lounge on Facebook, where stories get deeper and legends live on. Because the blues ain't just music, it's memory, and memory deserves a mic.

At The Blues Hotel, there ain't nothin' but the blues.

Available on all major podcast platforms

Stream at: www.theblueshotel.com.au

Email: admin@theblueshotel.com.au

YouTube: Exclusive interviews with guest artists

Mentioned in this episode:

The Blues Hotel Collective Presents - The Blues Hotel.

Step inside The Blues Hotel, where the music never sleeps and the stories run deep. In this episode, host Kelvin Huggins and introducing resident truth-teller Rufus “Old Man” Tate take you on a soul-stirring journey through the living, breathing world of blues—past, present, and far beyond the front porch.

Then & Now

From Howlin’ Wolf’s primal growl to The Dead Daisies’ gritty 2025 reimagining of “Little Red Rooster,” this episode proves the blues ain’t stuck in time—it’s always moving, always morphing. Hear how today’s rising stars like Cold Snap and Zevon Lee carry the torch, lit long ago in the Delta and now burning bright in Melbourne’s underground.

Global Grooves & Forgotten Legends

We travel from Mississippi juke joints to Sunbury ’74, Australia’s answer to Woodstock, spotlighting swamp rhythms, Piedmont slide masters, and gospel-blues hybrids. Rufus dusts off the legacy of Barbecue Bob and Sister Rosetta Tharpe, reminding us that the blues walks many roads—some holy, some haunted.

Raw Truths & Rufus Riffs

Rufus lays down “scraps of truth stitched with heartbreak and a harmonica,” with Rufus Riffs, while Billie Holiday’s “Strange Fruit” and Bessie Smith’s bone-deep math lessons echo the blues’ power to protest, endure, and testify. Whether it’s the grind of nightwork or the grin behind Beth Hart’s storm, this episode doesn’t flinch—it feels.

Preservation & Protest

With shoutouts to the Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society and tales of chicken wire stages and spiritual awakenings, this episode honors the grit, groove, and ghosts of blues history. WC Handy didn’t invent the blues—he just listened. And so do we.

Welcome to the Blues Hotel

The doors are open. The floorboards hum. And Rufus is waiting in the lobby with a riff and a story. Come on in—there ain’t nothing but the blues.

© 2025 The Blues Hotel Collective.

Mentioned in this episode:

The Blues Hotel Collective Presents - The Blues Hotel.

"At the Blues Hotel, there ain't nothin' but the blues."

Welcome to The Blues Hotel, where the classics live, the independents shine, and the stories behind the music come alive. Hosted by Kelvin Huggins, this dedicated blues radio program showcases the full spectrum of blues music - from timeless classics and hidden gems to today's independent rising stars.

What Makes The Blues Hotel Special

The Blues Hotel is more than just a radio show - it's a destination for blues enthusiasts and newcomers alike. Our program celebrates the rich tapestry of blues music through carefully curated segments that explore every facet of this powerful genre.

Featured Segments

Blues Challenge Updates - Supporting emerging talent through live coverage of the Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society's annual Blues Challenge heats and updates.

Backstory Blues - Deep dives into the history and cultural impact of iconic blues songs, revealing the stories that shaped the music we love.

Then and Now - Exploring the evolution of classic blues by pairing original recordings with contemporary reimaginings, showing how timeless songs continue to inspire new generations.

Aussie Blues Classics - Celebrating both legendary and emerging Australian blues artists, giving local talent the recognition they deserve.

New Music Spotlights - Featuring the latest releases from contemporary blues artists keeping the tradition alive and pushing boundaries.

Musical Journey

From the raw, rebellious energy of John Lee Hooker's "Boogie Chillin'" to the emotional depth of Jimi Hendrix's "Red House," The Blues Hotel takes listeners on a journey through blues history while keeping one foot firmly planted in the present. We explore themes of love and loss, everyday struggles and triumphs, and the blues as both companion and healer.

Community Connection

The Blues Hotel is proud to support the Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society (MBAS), a volunteer-run organization in its 35th year that has achieved unparalleled success at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis. We're committed to nurturing new talent and connecting Australian blues artists to the international stage.

Join The Blues Hotel Collective at theblueshotel.com.au for alerts, quarterly newsletters, and everything blues. Come on in, pull up a chair, and let the blues do what they do best.

© 2025 The Blues Hotel Collective.

In this episode of The Blues Hotel, we pull up a chair at the silky crossroads of blues and jazz — where smooth rhythms meet soulful grit, and timeless songs wear new suits. Host Kelvin Huggins takes you on a journey through classic and contemporary tracks that blur the lines between the two genres, from T-Bone Walker’s cool-swinging Call It Stormy Monday to Jimmy Smith’s soul-jazz groove Back at the Chicken Shack.

Our featured guest is Renate Bianca — Dutch-Tasmanian songwriter, composer, and performer — whose music masterfully dances between smoky jazz phrasing and the raw emotion of the blues. In a heartfelt conversation, she shares her songwriting philosophy, her fascination with humanity in all its beautiful imperfection, and why live performance is an act of community.

We also drop in on the Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society’s Annual Blues Challenge, spotlighting standout performances from Pete Cornelius and Gypsy King Jones as they vie for a place at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis.

With stops along the way for Nina Simone’s haunting Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood, Dr. John’s swaggering Right Place, Wrong Time, and a touch of local Australian blues magic, this is an episode where history, heart, and groove meet under one roof — The Blues Hotel.

• The Blues Hotel Collective. - Official website of the Blues Hotel Collective - Home of The Blues Hotel and Just Talkin' Blues.
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• Renaté Bianca Music - Official website of Renaté Bianca
• Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society - Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society (MBAS) is a not-for-profit Blues club that aims to bring together Blues enthusiasts, Blues artists and budding musicians and support and promote Australian Blues artists locally and overseas.

© 2025 The Blues Hotel Collective.

Mentioned in this episode:

The Blues Hotel Collective Presents - The Blues Hotel.