Last October, I wrote about five outstanding female blues artists who may not be top of mind when thinking about the genre. I was reminded of this recently when fellow blogger Music Enthusiast included British blues rock guitarist Joanne Shaw Taylor in one of his “New Music Revues” and during a discussion noted an increasing number of female guitarists nowadays, especially blues. This inspired me to do some more digging on female blues artists to see who else is out there. Here are three additional dynamite ladies singing the blues. They are also great guitarists. And none of them is from the U.S.
Dani Wilde
Dani Wilde (left in above picture) is a 33-year-old blues and country singer-songwriter from Hullavington, a village in Southwest England. In 2007, she signed with German independent record label Ruf Records and released her debut album Heal My Blues in January 2008. Six additional records featuring Wilde have since appeared, the most recent being Live At Brighton Road from June 2017. According to her website, Blues Blast Magazine called Wilde “a modern day British blues phenomenon” and the album “a treat for the ear and the eyes.” Over the past 10 years, Wilde has performed across Europe, America, Canada and Africa and shared tickets with artists like Johnny Winter, Robben Ford, Bobby Womack and Taj Mahal. Here’s Don’t Quit Me Baby from the above live album, a tune written by Wilde.
Ana Popović
Ana Popović (middle in above picture) is a blues guitarist and singer from Serbia, who was born in Belgrade in May 1976 (then Yugoslavia). According to Popović’s website, her father, a guitar and bass player with an impressive blues and soul collection, always invited friends for nightly jam sessions. Popović started playing guitar as a 15-year-old and four years later formed the band Hush. In 1998, she recorded her first album with Hush, Hometown. Shortly thereafter, Popović went to The Netherlands and started to study jazz guitar. The following year, she formed the Ana Popović Band there and decided to terminate her studies after signing a deal with Ruf Records. BTW, that label seems to do a great job with signing new blues artists. In early 2001, Popović’s solo debut Hush! came out. She has since released 10 additional albums. Popović and her six-piece band have shared stages with B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Jeff Beck and Joe Bonamassa, among others. Here’s a great funky tune called Like It On Top, the title track from her latest album, which appeared last September and was co-produced by her and Keb’ Mo’. Co-written by the two, the track features Robben Ford on guitar.
Eliana Cargnelutti
Eliana Cargnelutti (right in above picture) is a 29-year-old guitarist and singer from Udine, Italy. According to her website, she graduated in jazz guitar at the conservatory “G. Frescobaldi” in Ferrara…is the new hope of Italian rock blues…and one of the rare real front women of the Italian scene. She plays a flavor of rock blues with a bit of everything in between: electric funk, mixed with pop and jazzy instrumentals, raw rock, tight blues grooves, illuminated by her skills as an electric guitarist. In addition to various Italian blues artists, Cargnelutti has played with American artists like John Craig (guitarist of Ike & Tina Turner), Peter Stroud (guitarist of Sheryl Crow) and the Joe Pitts Band. To date she has released two solo albums: Love Affairs (November 2013) and Electric Woman (January 2015). She also appeared together with Sadie Johnson and Heather Crosse on Girls With Guitars, a record and tour project by yes, you guessed it right: Ruf Records. Here’s I’m A Woman, an original tune from Electric Woman – mamma mia!
With all this great music, I can’t help but think about Etta James’ line The blues is my business, and business is good. Still, when it comes to female blues artists, I feel they still don’t get the limelight they deserve. But with labels like Ruf Records and kick-ass artists such as the above, things seem to be changing.
Sources: Wikipedia, Dani Wilde website, Ana Popović website, Eliana Cargnelutti website, YouTube
Christian's Music Musings 
Hier ist noch Sue Foley zu erwähnen; seit 2001 arbeitet sie an dem Projekt ” Blues Guitar Woman”, einer Geschichte und Biographie von Gitarristinnen verschiedener Musikrichtungen.
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Popovic was one of the ladies I had in mind. The others here I don’t know or am vaguely familiar with. I have to do some listening tonight for my final Zep post but I’ll check these out later.
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Popovic is great, based on what I’ve heard so far. I think you’re going to like the other two artists as well.
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All really, really good. Ballsy too. I wish Popovic would drop the sex kitten thing, though. Not just the tune but every picture of her tries to be sexy. Just play and sing.
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Agree that looks should be secondary when it comes to music.
I suppose Popovic is leveraging one of the few advantages a female artist may have in a business that’s still largely male-dominated. But while it might get her more attention, she risks degrading herself as an artist. That would be a real pity, since she’s super talented!
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I see your point. But it’s undercut by the fact that the other ladies in your piece don’t do it. Nor did Bonnie Raitt, e.g., who came out of a much more male-dominated, sexist culture. But at the end of the day, it’s her choice .Maybe looking sexy is just part of feeling good or part of the show. For me – and I’m pretty sure – I’m not plunking down dollar one unless someone can play. I’ve toyed with going to see Popovic when she comes to town. But as we discussed recently, I’m dialing back some and don’t have to see everybody.
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All true. BTW, Bonnie Raitt is one of my all-time favorite artists – a true class act, in my opinion!
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