Bonnie Raitt is one of a now dwindling but thankfully still active set of musicians from the golden age of the 1970s California blues and roots music scene. Burbank born and raised into a showbiz family, most music aficionados of this genre picked up on flame haired Bonnie through her connection with Little Feat as she and Lowell George separately, and occasionally in concert, promulgated their mastery of the slide guitar that is forever trapped in aspic on numerous seminal albums.
Yet it took a personal shockwave of record company neglect and her continuing sobriety for a resolute Raitt to rise out of her snake pit of despair. In doing so, she ascended previously unreachable rungs on the treacherous music industry ladder to success by transforming her career prospects with her 1989 Billboard number one, and Grammy album of the year, Nick Of Time. This was an accolade she could only distantly dream about when releasing her eponymous debut release in 1971. As is playing this world famous venerable venue for the first time. (Edit BPJ: Bonnie performed here on June 27, 2013 also)
Once again, during tonight’s classy set, she proved that her slinky, down in the groove slide technique is more than a musical calling card as this artist also possesses a winning hand of songwriting skills. Her still entrancing voice conveys her deep love of the blues as well as those many gritty commercial hits. Tonight, she glided into one of the most prestigious venues of her illustrious career and performed a set list of mostly covers that have a direct connection to her heart and soul. Her slightly hoarse voice added extra grit to tracks that occasionally veered just over the line into middle of the road fare.
As ever, she generously gave shout-outs to many of her departed music idols. Her heartfelt solo acoustic guitar rendition of John Prine’s Angel of Montgomery was pin drop magic. Sippie Wallace’s Women Be Wise, Mabel John’s Your Good Thing (Is About To End) and Randell Bramblett’s God Was In The Water were but a few of the old-time blues tunes she entertained us with via crate digging her inner jukebox. Covering modern classics with her fine arrangements of John Hiatt’s Thing Called Love, Richard & Linda Thompson’s Dimming Of The Day and Annie Lennox’s Little Bird served to smartly update tonight’s roving songbook set. A three-song encore including, for the many who have been there and finding their way back, her sublime hit I Can’t Make You Love Me and Gerry Rafferty’s Right Down The Line finished with her incendiary slide play on the uplifting bounce of Talking Heads’s Burning Down the House.
With a total show running time of ninety minutes, including the encore, it might be nitpicking to claim that there was a perfunctory element to tonight’s otherwise deeply satisfying performance. Thankfully, there was no interval. With a smattering of notable guests in the audience: Robbie McIntosh, Giles Martin, Twiggy and Leigh Lawson etc. Bonnie thanked her devoted following for turning out and keeping her music and that of her cherished idols alive.
About The Author
Paul Davies
Began his career in journalism at the now defunct, pre-digital Smash Hits magazine, which was situated in London’s Carnaby Street. After learning the ropes, he washed up at Vox Magazine, essentially the NME’S monthly magazine, as the Internet arrived into our lives. Thereon, he eventually graduated onto Q Magazine when people still treasured the magazine that they bought. His journalistic career since has been on newspapers at The Times, The Independent/i newspaper, Daily & Sunday Express and, ofcourse, National Rock Review.
One of the interesting things about many of the songwriting giants of late sixties and early seventies roots music is how young they all were even as they penned classic songs that seemed as if they must have always existed, just waiting for someone to hew them from the compositional granite.
John Prine was just 24 when he released the graceful Angel from Montgomery, while the 26 year old Richard Thompson had already shot to fame with Fairport Convention, quit to go solo and released an album with his wife Linda by the time he released Dimming of the Day in 1975. Nevertheless the mature perspective in the lyrics or perhaps their creator’s preternatural talents mean that the songs have aged gracefully and offer their lessons equally beneficently in older hands.
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Tonight both of those tracks are given an outing by legendary singer and guitarist Bonnie Raitt.
The 75 year old has done more than five decades in the music business, first as a no-shit-taken rocker then as Grammy Awards fave and now as an elder stateswoman of Americana and a still passionate advocate for both social justice and roots songwriting.
Over an hour and a half set she’ll also show that she can still play a mean slide guitar, leading her crack band through a set that draws on every era of her storied career.
First though is a short set from the absurdly talented New Orleans via Kent pianist Jon Cleary. With tributes to piano icons like Jelly Roll Morton and Professor Longhair, he’s clearly deeply steeped in this music but though he has a likeable stage presence perhaps his vocal talents don’t always match up to his skill on the keys. Still he’d clearly make an incredible sidesman.
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From the moment Bonnie Raitt walks onstage she is equal parts charming and commanding, whether it be taking potshots at Donald Trump or plotting to use the time travelling standing stones from Outlander to go back to 1972 and “have some words with some people I dated”.
With her red curls and bootcut jeans she looks like she has for roughly half a century and while her voice has aged a little, it’s only become more expressive and characterful. Bob Dylan and Neil Young could take notes.
Alongside the aforementioned Prine and Thompson covers, she tackles blues singer Sippie Wallace on a stunning Women Be Wise and two tracks from Scots, Annie Lennox’s Little Bird and Gerry Rafferty’s Right Down The Line.
Cleary emerges to play piano for a trio of tracks, lending a swing to Raitt’s bluesy riffs but among an impressive backing band, the standout is South African former Beach Boys drummer Ricky Fataar whose subtle grooves and fills push the band forward without ever threatening to steal centre stage.
Raitt may be too modest to mention it tonight but her most recent record was a critical triumph too, with title track Just Like That defeating Taylor Swift to win a Grammy and slotting into the set comfortably alongside teary classics like Nick of Time and I Can’t Make You Love Me.
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Ending her set with the rollicking Love Letter and a romp through BB King’s Never Make Your Move To Soon, Raitt and her band are off on the road to Glasgow, continuing to spread the gospel of her talented songwriting contemporaries and showcase plenty of her own.
Tonight, the Wolverhampton Civic Hall plays host to the legendary Bonnie Raitt, whom at the age of 75 shows no sign of slowing down. With 17 albums and a touring schedule that would frighten any young artist, this multi-nominated and award-winning sassy lady, even a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, sounded as good as ever, as she treated the Wolverhampton audience to a sometimes very informal, top quality, riveting performance.
The thing with a Raitt concert is that she loves to cover other artists tunes even if she has not recorded them herself, very unusual but refreshing, and tonight actually playing nine, not that she had any complaint from the audience.
Amongst the set is of course, the Allen Shamblin and Mike Reid penned, ‘I Can’t Make You Love Me’. A classic tune with Raitt performing it sat on a stool at the front of the stage, made the hairs stand up, and the sound, which was spot on, let you feel the emotion of this much covered number.
Another highlight was a terrific version of Annie Lennox’s ‘Little Bird’, which showcased her very adaptable vocal range. And as part of her encore, a reggae flavoured version of ‘Right Down The Line’, written by Gerry Rafferty, you can’t pigeon hole Ms Raitt! As for her guitar playing, impeccable, as always.
When an artist as renowned as Bonnie Raitt reaches a certain age, the one question that always comes up is whether they’ve thought about retiring. Well, why should she? She is as good as she ever was, as attested by the rapturous reception of the Civic Hall attendees tonight. Long live queen Raitt.
Bandana Blues is and will always be a labor of love. Please help Spinner deal with the costs of hosting & bandwidth. Visit www.bandanablues.com and hit the tipjar. Any amount is much appreciated, no matter how small. Thank you.
Bonnie Raitt is nothing if not loyal. And when she caught wind of the fact that Mike Reid and I were writing and recording together, she was quick to volunteer to sing on our song “The Bridge.” It’s one of my favorite songs Mike and I have written. And I can no longer imagine it without her heroic spirit present. ~ Joe Henry
Released on: 2025-09-05 Producer: Joe Henry Music Publisher: Rivers and Roads Music (ASCAP - admin by Endurance Music Group) Music Publisher: Mule Rider (ASCAP) Music Publisher: Blue Raincoat Music (ASCAP) ℗ 2025 Work Song Inc. marketed and distributed by Thirty Tigers
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Prison Bound Blues · Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie has contributed a new recording of "Prison Bound Blues" written by Leroy Carr to a project called Better Than Jail, an extraordinary new album benefiting Free Hearts and Equal Justice USA. Better Than Jail is available everywhere today and features covers of iconic prison songs from Steve Earle, Taj Mahal,Margo Price, The War and Treaty and many more. The album seeks to raise awareness and support for the urgent need to reduce the harm of the criminal justice system. https://found.ee/BetterThanJail.
I'm so proud to have joined in with so many illustrious artists in creating this very special album in support of rural prison reform. Overlooked for far too long, this issue cuts across all cultural and political divides and deserves all our focused attention to finally bring about some swift and meaningful action. Better Than Jail is one of the most inspired and heartfelt albums I've been blessed to be a part of and I hope it sets a fire in hearts far and wide to join in our efforts." ~ Bonnie Raitt
Released on: 2024-10-04 Executive Producer: Brian Hunt Producer: Kenny Greenberg Producer: Wally Wilson Producer: Bonnie Raitt Recording Engineer: Jason Lehning at Sound Emporium Mastering Engineer: Alex McCollough at True East Mastering Production Assistant: Shannon Finnegan Mixer: Justin Niebank at Hounds Ear Music Publisher: Universal Music Corp. Composer, Lyricist: Leroy Carr ℗ Believe Entertainment Group and Wyatt Road Records
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The Fabulous Thunderbirds - Nothing in Rambling Ft. Bonnie Raitt, Taj Mahal, Keb' Mo' & Mick Fleetwood
In celebration of the band’s 50th Anniversary, The Fabulous Thunderbirds have just released Struck Down, their first studio album in eight years on Stony Plain Records. The ten-track album includes a wonderful cover of Memphis Minnie’s “Nothing in Rambling,” featuring longtime friends, T-Birds founding member Kim Wilson, along with Bonnie, Keb’ Mo’, Taj Mahal and Mick Fleetwood. — BRHQ
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Little Feat - Long Distance Call
“I’ve always loved Little Feat and this new incarnation of the band is bringing some serious heat, cred and new blood to their enduring legacy. Every Feat fan loves us some Sam. I’m so glad he’s now gotten a chance to step out front and center and put his spin on these wonderful blues songs. I loved singing "Long Distance Call" with him, always one of my favorites, and Scott slayed on slide. Know you’ll enjoy hanging out with us at Sam’s Place!" -- Bonnie Raitt
“Long Distance Call” was written by blues legend, Muddy Waters. It has Sam Clayton and Bonnie Raitt on vocals, Scott Sharrard on Dobro, Fred Tackett on acoustic guitar, Tony Leone on drums, and Michael “The Bull” LoBue on harmonica. The album also features Bill Payne on piano and Kenny Gradney on bass.
Little Feat have composed an album that’s their love letter to the blues entitled, ‘Sam’s Place.’ “Long Distance Call” plus many other blues classics are on this album. You can stream and order ‘Sam’s Place’ here: https://orcd.co/samsplace
Broken Hearts & Dirty Windows: Songs of John Prine, Vol. 2, the anticipated new John Prine tribute record from Oh Boy Records, is out today. Stream/purchase HERE.
Created as a celebration of Prine’s life and career, the album features new renditions of some of Prine’s most beloved songs performed by Brandi Carlile (“I Remember Everything”), Tyler Childers (“Yes I Guess They Oughta Name A Drink After You”), Iris DeMent (“One Red Rose”), Emmylou Harris (“Hello In There”), Jason Isbell (“Souvenirs”), Valerie June (“Summer’s End”), Margo Price (“Sweet Revenge”), Bonnie Raitt (“Angel From Montgomery”), Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats (“Pretty Good”), Amanda Shires (“Saddle in the Rain”), Sturgill Simpson(“Paradise”) and John Paul White (“Sam Stone”). Proceeds from the album will benefit twelve different non-profit organizations, one selected by each of the featured artists.
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Bonnie Raitt - Write Me a Few of Your Lines/Kokomo Blues
60 years anniversary celebration of Arhoolie
December 10, 2020
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Arhoolie Foundation celebrates it's 60th anniversary (1960-2020) with an online broadcast.
Bonnie Raitt - Shadow of Doubt
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival
October 3, 2020
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass celebrates it's 20th anniversary with an online broadcast titled “Let The Music Play On”.
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Bonnie Raitt & Boz Scaggs - You Don't Know Like I Know
Farm Aid 2020 On the Road
Sam & Dave classic written by Isaac Hayes and David Porter.
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Sheryl Crow & Bonnie Raitt - Everything Is Broken
[Eric Clapton’s Crossroads 2019]
Eric Clapton, one of the world’s pre-eminent blues/rock guitarists, once again summoned an all-star team of six-string heroes for his fifth Crossroads Guitar Festival in 2019. Held at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, the two-day concert event raised funds for the Crossroads Centre in Antigua, the chemical dependency treatment and education facility that Clapton founded in 1998.
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'A Tribute To Mose Allison'
Celebrates The Music Of An Exciting Jazz Master
Raitt contributed to a new album, If You're Going To The City: A Tribute To Mose Allison, which celebrates the late singer and pianist, who famously blended the rough-edged blues of the Mississippi Delta with the 1950s jazz of New York City.
NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro talks to Bonnie Raitt about her friendship with the Mose Allison. They're also joined by Amy Allison — his daughter, who executive produced the album — about selecting an unexpected list of artists to contribute songs to the album.
Recorded on tour June 3, 2017 - Centennial Hall, London - Ontario Canada
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