CKUT: Cha Cha Cha In Blue: Playlist from February 22, 2026

Cha Cha Cha In Blue : Playlist from February 22, 2026

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Blues from every era. Interview with artists, concert listings, blues related events, information and trivia, gearhead heaven…just what kind of harmonica was that?

On Cha Cha Cha In Blue, the longest-running blues show in Montreal, host John Detcheverry devotes equal time to the classics, new releases and Canadian artists. On the air since 1990.

Listeners can expect to hear the likes of Paul Deslauriers, Buddy Guy, Otis Rush, Pop Staples, Downchild, Steve Rowe, MonkeyJunk, and Charlie Musselwhite, as well as live performances and interviews.

Every Sunday 9 - 11pm (EST)

February 22, 2026: HOT NEW SINGLES! NEW RELEASES! This Week In Blues History! Where It's At (The Live Music Roundup)!

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Tonight on Cha Cha Cha In Blue we start with the latest singles from Boston's Delta Generators, Kentucky's Otis, Belgium's Guy Verlinde, our own Son Of Dave, and Brooklyn's Emanuel Casablanca. Then we take the 45 adapter from the spindle and move to new album tracks from Spencer Mackenzie, Duke Robillard, Mitch Ryder, The Swingin' Blackjacks, Teresa James & The Rhythm Tramps, and Alex Lopez. The "history" part of the show goes all the way back to 1923 for a track from Bessie Smith then continues with James P. Johnson, Jabbo Smith's Rhythm Aces, Texas Johnny Brown, Slim Gaillard, Memphis Slim, Clarence "Bon Ton" Garlow, Jesse Fortune, A.C. Reed with Bonnie Raitt, Michael Powers and a pair of rock n' roll classics covered by Johnny Winter. We'll end with a preview of two live entertainment options this week: the Durham County Poets will be at Ste. Anne's Blues Café on Friday and Kim Adams & The House Cats return to Mariposa on Saturday.

(✓ = new, ㏄ = CanCon)

Artist	Track	Album	Label	Year	Comments
INTRO
Harry Manx	ID - Harry Manx						㏄
Junior Wells/Talk	Cha Cha Cha In Blue	Messin' With The Kid	Charly Records	1957	What's on tonight's show.
HOT NEW SINGLES!
Delta Generators	I Got You	On & On	Indie	2026	Boston-based blues rock band the Delta Generators have announced the release of their new album ON & ON, on May 22 and also released the official music video for the album’s lead single, “I Got You,” directed by Jim Foster of Red 13. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2bo979eqWE	✓
Otis	I'm Wicked	I'm Wicked - Single	Indie	2026	Rock n’ rollers OTIS, hailing from Kentucky USA, released their new single and video ‘I’m Wicked’. Boone Froggett (frontman/guitarist) laughs about the genesis of the song, “It’s a funny story! Lyrically it came from Alex influencing the song telling us about a funeral he was at. Families were there, all talking to the preacher as they filed out, and when he met Alex he kind of just stood back saying “Son, I can’t shake your hand. You’ve got the evil in you. At practice he was telling us about it, we all thought it hilarious as Alex is one of the nicest guys around! I think a lot of people can relate to Alex’s story, you know sometimes you get singled out for no reason."	✓
Guy Verlinde	Me & My Blues	Me & My Blues - single	BANDR Music	2026	Two-time Belgian Blues Award winner Guy Verlinde will turn 50 on March 22, a milestone he is celebrating with an extensive Anniversary Tour, a deluxe Best Of 4CD box set culled from his extensive library, and a Best of Blues LP. “Me & My Blues” is a new recording of one of his most personal songs, about resilience and resurrection.	✓
	Masters at Work_CKUT Ad
Blind Lemon Pledge	ID - Blind Lemon Pledge
Son Of Dave	Rotten Donnie	Bluegrass EP	Goddamn Records	2026	Son Of Dave (AKA Benjamin Darvil) has made a four song EP in a Bluegrass style ! This is the first cheeky track. Comes with video.... https://youtu.be/KvaEwuJRBZU Son Of Dave took pleasure in returning to mandolin and the 'grassier side of things, which was a large part of his early musical projects (see Crash Test Dummies pre gothic period)	✓	㏄
Emanuel Casablanca	Pistol	Jubilee	Bad Boy Of Blues Inc	2025	Brooklyn-born Emanuel Casablanca premiered his video for ‘Pistol,’ his latest blues-rock anthem. He is presently touring for his Jubilee album which came out last November and preparing his upcoming album 'It’s Getting Strange.' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XbxyR7q5nA	✓
ON THE NEW RELEASE DECK
	Talk Time ID				JUNO-nominated and Maple Blues Award winner Spencer Mackenzie just released his new album, Empty Chairs on Friday. The CD and vinyl edition of the album is available from www.spencermackenzie.ca. The digital edition of the album is available on all streaming platforms. Produced by 2X JUNO-nominated producer and Emmy Award-winning mixer Ross Hayes Citrullo, guitarist of The Commoners, the album captures Mackenzie’s signature blend of gritty, introspective blues rock.
Spencer Mackenzie	Empty Chairs	Empty Chairs	Gypsy Soul Records	2026	Empty Chairs: A soulful blues rock song that expresses anger and frustration from the perspective of friends and families, who have lost innocent people they love due to gun violence. This can't be the new normal! It's got to change! Watch the live video of title track “Empty Chairs” LIVE From Quebec City 2025 on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5734FSW28D0	✓	㏄
	AD TRACK 03 Heal Black Girl Heal Promo
The Commoners	ID - The Commoners						㏄
Spencer Mackenzie	Till I Get To You	Empty Chairs	Gypsy Soul Records	2026	Till I Get to You: All the pressure you carry is lifted when you get to the one you love with this soulful acoustic style song about the person that is always there for you, understands you, gets you, and helps you through it all.	✓	㏄
	Talk Time ID				Two-time Grammy nominee and four-time Blues Music Award winner Duke Robillard (Best Instrumentalist–Guitar) celebrates his recent signing to Nola Blue Records with Friday's release of his label debut, Blast Off. Robillard co-founded Roomful of Blues in 1967 and later replaced Jimmy Vaughan in The Fabulous Thunderbirds. With more than 35 albums under his own name and contributions to dozens more, including "Scream, Holler & Howl" by Blue Moon Marquee. The twelve-track album includes three originals—two instrumentals and one historic yet newly recorded blues composition written by Robillard when he was just seventeen years old.
Duke Robillard	Play Boy Hop	Blast Off!	NOLA Blue Records	2026	“Play Boy Hop,” written by A.M. Brunner, is a tight instrumental showcase.	✓
	Full Circle Show Promo
Miss Emily	ID - Miss Emily						㏄
Duke Robillard	Feel My Cares	Blast Off!	NOLA Blue Records	2026	“Feel My Cares,” the lone self-composed slow, slinky blues was written when he was 17 (he co-pens a few others)	✓
	Talk Time ID				Just providing an intro to this group of new releases
Mitch Ryder	The Thrill of it All	Songs From The Road	Ruf Records	2026	“The Thrill Of It All” is the first single from Mitch Ryder’s live album Songs From The Road, recorded on tour in Germany in 2025 and released on Friday. With audio recorded at Berlin’s Frannz Club and DVD footage filmed in Lindewerra, home of Ruf Records	✓
The Swingin' Blackjacks	I Travel Light	Never Tire, Never Stop	Rhythm Train Recordings	2026	After more than two decades of rockin' it right across Ontario, The Swingin' Blackjacks are back with a new full-length album 'Never Tire, Never Stop'. Featuring a lineup of bandleader Matt Allen on guitar and lead vocals (currently does triple duty fronting The Swingin' Blackjacks, The Tex-Styles, and performing as a solo artist) Canadian blues nobility Gary Kendall (Downchild, among others) on bass and vocals, and jazz-trained percussion master Adam David on drums and vocals, the band delivers their signature blend of rockabilly and jumpin' blues.	✓	㏄
	AD TRACK 45 Montreal social justice activism in print
Teresa James	ID - Teresa James
Teresa James & The Rhythm Tramps	Bad At Being Good	Bad At Being Good	MoMojo Records	2026	Grammy-nominated Teresa James is a born and bred Houston Texas singer now residing in Los Angeles, Ca. Along with her band the Rhythm Tramps they have released 14 albums! The title track “Bad at Being Good” features Jon Cleary on piano. Who else would rhyme “You’re gonna need your own personal Jesus / To make up for all your malfeasance …. You’re so bad at being good.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8drNbAwweak	✓
Alex Lopez	Loving You Gave Me The Blues	Retro Revival	Maremil Music	2026	For his eighth studio release "Retro Revival", The Alex Lopez Xpress (ALX) reunites Lopez with Steve Roberts on bass and Kana Leimbach on drums to complete the power trio dynamic. Lopez wrote or co-wrote all eleven tracks on the album.	✓
COMMEMORATING THIS WEEK IN BLUES HISTORY
	Talk Time ID				This Week In Blues History
Bessie Smith	Gulf Coast Blues	The Complete Recordings Volume 1 (1923-1924)	Columbia Records	1923	Recorded Feb 26, 1923
James P. Johnson	Snowy Morning Blues	The Original James P. Johnson, 1942-1945: Piano Solos	Smithsonian Folkways Recordings	1927	Recorded Feb 25, 1927 in NYC plus "All I Had Is Gone".
Jabbo Smith's Rhythm Aces	Sleepy Time Blues	Jabbo Smith's Rhythm Aces' Sweet and Low Blues	Charly Records	1929	Recorded Feb 22, 1929 in Chicago for the Brunswick label.
	AD TRACK 06 MONNAIE
	Other Worlds on Earth_CKUT Show Promo
Mitch Woods	ID - Mitch Woods
Texas Johnny Brown	Bongo Boogie	Atlantic Blues: Guitar	Atlantic Records	1949	b. 1928-0222, ACKERMAN, MS
Slim Gaillard	Travelin' Blues	Shuckin' And Jivin'	Charly R&B	1945	d. 1991-0226, LONDON, UK 75
Memphis Slim	Natt Dee Special	The Come Back	Delmark Records	1952	d. 1988-0224, PARIS, FRANCE 72
Clarence "Bon Ton" Garlow	I'm Hurt	Louisiana Swamp Blues	Capitol Records	1953	b. 1911-0227, WELSH, LA
Jesse Fortune	Good Things	Chicago Blues Of The 1960's	Paula Records	1963	b. 1930-0228, MACON, MS
	AD TRACK Small Little Foot Soldiers Promo
Reverend Freakchild	ID - Reverend Freakchild
Johnny Winter	Slippin' And Slidin'	Second Winter	Columbia Records	1969	b. 1944-0223, BEAUMONT, TX Feb 27, 1956 On this day Little Richard's first number one R&B hit, "Slippin' and Slidin'," backed with "Long Tall Sally," was released on Specialty.
Johnny Winter	Johnny B. Goode	Second Winter	Columbia Records	1969	b. 1944-0223, BEAUMONT, TX Feb 28, 1958 On this day Chuck Berry recorded the classic "Johnny B. Goode".
A.C. Reed	This Little Voice feat Bonnie Raitt	I'm In The Wrong Business	Alligator Records	1987	d. 2005-0225, CHICAGO, IL 77
Michael Powers	Psychotic Reaction	Onyx Root	Baryon Records	2004	b. 1952-0224, BAYONNE, NJ
WHERE IT'S AT (MONTREAL EDITION)
	Talk Time ID				Live blues/roots for the week starting Feb 22 (and beyond). The full list is on the blog https://ckut.ca/music/
Durham County Poets	Back At The Groove Shack	Out Of The Woods	Indie	2022	FRI FEB 27 AT Sainte-Anne Blues Café 12 Maple Street, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC https://www.facebook.com/events/2010120676431192/		㏄
Kim Adams & The House Cats	Everybody Wants To Be A Cat	Cover Stories	Indie	2016	SAT FEB 28 AT Mariposa Bistro Café 5562 CH Upper Lachine Rd. Montreal, QC https://www.facebook.com/events/879052288256083/		㏄

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