Joanne Shaw Taylor in Gainesville

Joanne Shaw Taylor is an English blues-rock guitarist and singer-songwriter, born in Wednesbury in 1985. Her debut album, White Sugar, introduced her forceful electric-guitar playing and husky vocals; later records include Diamonds in the Dirt, The Dirty Truth, Reckless Heart and The Blues Album. At the 2010 Crossroads Guitar Festival, she appeared on a lineup curated by Eric Clapton. Blues from the Heart Live subsequently documented a full-band performance at the Franklin Theatre in Tennessee and included guest appearances by Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Mike Farris. Her 2023 headline debut at London’s Royal Albert Hall was later released as Live at the Royal Albert Hall.

Ally Venable is an American blues-rock singer, songwriter and guitarist from Kilgore, Texas. She leads the Ally Venable Band and is known for electric-guitar-driven records including Texas Honey, Heart of Fire and Real Gone. Buddy Guy appeared on “Texas Louisiana,” while Kenny Wayne Shepherd played on “Bring on the Pain.” In 2019, she toured Europe as part of Ruf Records’ Blues Caravan alongside Ina Forsman and Katarina Pejak. She later opened concerts for Buddy Guy and Kenny Wayne Shepherd, while her own band played blues clubs, theatres and festivals in the United States and Europe.