Will Wilde

Will Wilde

Will Wilde is a blues harmonica player and singer who grows out of the Chicago blues tradition while also drawing on rock, soul and funk. He picks up his first harmonica at 16 and develops an approach rooted in the sounds of Muddy Waters, Sonny Boy Williamson and Buddy Guy. His style keeps the core of blues intact while adding other influences, and his live playing is described as a strong example of blues harp performance.

Recordings

Wilde makes his first album, Nothing but Trouble, when he is 19. The record is well reviewed in Blues Matters and Blues in Britain. In 2011 he signs a two-album deal with Rock the Earth Records. His first release for the label, Unleashed, attracts praise for its range of styles and for its classic vocal approach. On Raw Blues, he returns to a more stripped-down Chicago blues sound that reflects the music that first inspires him to play.

Collaborators and live work

Raw Blues features Richard Newman on drums, Stuart Dixon on guitar and Victoria Smith on bass. Newman has worked with Rory Gallagher, Steve Marriot and Sam Brown; Dixon has played with Eddie Floyd, Geno Washington and Marcus Malone; and Smith is associated with Girls with Guitars, Dani Wilde and The Ramonas. Wilde also appears twice on the Legendary Blues Cruise, where he performs with artists including Sherman Robertson, Michael Burks, Earl Thomas and Taj Mahal.

Awards and recognition

Wilde is nominated four times for Best Harmonica Player in the British Blues Awards, with nominations in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.