Tony Holiday has been at the forefront of a Memphis soul-blues revival, driven by a collective of young, savvy, and well-schooled musicians with a “family-like” attitude and a deep belief in one another.
Over the past couple of years, Holiday has been touring extensively, pausing occasionally to write and record with producer Eric Corne in Memphis and Los Angeles. The result is his forthcoming album, Keep Your Head Up, set for release on April 18, 2025, via Forty Below Records. The album showcases a masterful command of diverse styles, as Holiday leads his band seamlessly through Texas, Chicago, and hill country blues, infused with plenty of Memphis soul and even a touch of Afrobeat.
The album features a stellar lineup of special guests, including Eddie 9V, Kevin Burt, Albert Castiglia, and Laura Chavez, last year’s Blues Music Award winner for Guitarist of the Year, while Holiday shines throughout on vocals and harmonica.
The latest single, Walk on the Water, was a surprise addition to the record. Written by Eric Corne, the track delivers inspiration and depth. “I think Walk on the Water will pleasantly surprise people as much as it surprised me,” Holiday shared.
The album opens with the Freddie King classic She’s A Burglar, a gripping Texas blues track featuring Eddie 9V on lead guitar and shared vocals. Next comes the intense Chicago blues-flavored Twist My Fate, written by Corne and showcasing Holiday’s outstanding harmonica work alongside Kevin Burt’s powerful vocals.
Holiday and Corne take A Woman Named Trouble in a bold new direction with Afrobeat influences, highlighted by a riveting trumpet solo from Mark Pender (of E Street Band fame). The album then grooves into Memphis soul territory with Good Times, complemented by AJ Fullerton’s contributions.
Laura Chavez delivers a stunning performance on the soulful, horn-laden Shoulda Known Better. The album shifts gears to modern hill country blues with Walk On the Water, where Corne adds a unique bluegrass-style harmony.
Other highlights include Albert Castiglia’s spirited guitar and vocal work on the Snooks Eaglin classic Drive It Home and Holiday’s harmonica prowess, which shines even as he opts out of playing the instrument on over half the album’s tracks. The record closes with a bittersweet surprise: I Can Not Feel The Rain, a country-soul Americana gem co-written by Holiday, Corne, and Jad Tariq, who channels Steve Cropper’s iconic style.
There’s something magical in the water in Memphis, and Tony Holiday has tapped into it to write an exciting new chapter in this storied region’s musical history.
About Tony Holiday
Mentored by legendary musicians, Holiday and his loose Memphis collective have built upon the city’s rich traditions, carrying them forward with a contemporary edge. Since relocating from Salt Lake City to Memphis in 2017, Holiday has been at the heart of a soul-blues revival, grounded in community and collaboration.
Motel Mississippi, Holiday’s last release (2023), was recorded in Coldwater, Mississippi, at Zebra Ranch, the studio of the late Memphis legend Jim Dickinson. Blending North Mississippi Hill Country, Delta blues, and Memphis soul, the album delivers hypnotic grooves, driving rhythms, and juke joint energy.
Before Motel Mississippi, Holiday released Soul Service (2020) and two volumes of Porch Sessions, where he traveled across the U.S. and Europe recording blues musicians in intimate, authentic settings. These projects included legends like Grammy® winners Charlie Musselwhite and Bobby Rush alongside contemporary stars like Southern Avenue and John Németh, who has mentored Holiday since his move to Memphis.
Track Listing
She’s a Burglar
Twist My Fate
A Woman Named Trouble
Good Times
Shoulda Known Better
Walk On the Water
Drive It Home
I Can Not Feel The Rain
