Everyone’s moaning about the state of things. The music industry is supposed to be flat on its back. No-one’s got any money, festivals are closing, newspapers are in the dock…

But wait! All over the place, kids are picking up guitars and playing the blues! It’s been the best decade of blues for… well, decades. Or at least since 1986. It’s blues time again as everyone scratches about looking for some honesty and real music. And you can’t fake the blues.

Watch out this year for some sensational playing from youngsters like Krissy Matthews and Aaron Keylock, while the old guard dusts off its chops and reminds everyone how it’s really done.

We’re certainly dusting off ours, especially Mick, who has never had so much space to play the music he loves most. Until you’ve heard him dig into a slow blues with that big tone, you haven’t heard the whole story of the blues.

So here’s to 2012 and a year of pure, honest, real blues.

Don’t forget to boogie

Son Maxwell