Selwyn Birchwood in Newport

Selwyn Birchwood is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter who plays contemporary electric blues, blues rock and soul blues. His band won the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, where he also received the competition’s guitar award named for Albert King. His recordings for Alligator Records include Don’t Call No Ambulance, Pick Your Poison, Living in a Burning House and Exorcist. Selwyn Birchwood toured as a guitarist in Sonny Rhodes’s band early in his career, an experience that helped establish lap steel alongside electric guitar in his own performances. After the International Blues Challenge victory, he and his band took that format to clubs and blues festivals, including the Chicago Blues Festival and the King Biscuit Blues Festival.