Will Wilde - Raw Blues (2013)

Will Wilde picked up his first harmonica at the age of 16 and played it until his lips bled. Weaned on the likes of Muddy Waters, Sonny Boy Williamson and Buddy Guy, Wilde grew up steeped in traditional Chicago Blues yet his focus as an artist remains resolutely on the future. Wilde fuses raw blues with rock, soul and funk. He takes what's authentic and powerful about the music he grew up loving and introduces other influences without losing the heart and conviction of the blues. His live show has been described as: "A masterclass of blues harp playing, bar none." (Blues in the North West).
Wilde made his first album when he was 19, Nothing but Trouble, which was well reviewed in ‘Blues Matters’ and ‘Blues in Britain’. In 2011 he signed a two album deal with Rock the Earth Records. His first album with Rock the Earth, Unleashed, is described as: "An exemplary album with an extraordinary variety of styles" (Bluesbreeker NL) and "Pure, simple and low-down... vocal in classic Sam Cooke Mode" 8/10 (Blues in Britain).
On his latest album Raw Blues, Wilde returns to his roots paying homage to the stripped down Chicago blues that first inspired him to play. Raw Blues features Richard Newman on drums (Rory Gallagher, Steve Marriot, Sam Brown), Stuart Dixon on guitar (Eddie Floyd, Geno Washington, Marcus Malone) and Victoria Smith on Bass (Girls with Guitars, Dani Wilde, The Ramonas).
Wilde has been four times nominated in the British Blues Awards for best Harmonica player (2010/2011/2012/2013) and he has shared the stage with various notable blues artists. He has appeared twice on the Legendary Blues Cruise playing with veterans such as Sherman Robertson, Michael Burks, Earl Thomas and Taj Mahal.