Boston-based GA-20 clearly is on to something big. It’s a movement, a new traditional blues revival. The dynamic, throwback blues trio are disciples of the place where traditional blues, country and rock ‘n’ roll intersect.  “We make records that we would want to listen to,” says guitarist Matt Stubbs. “It’s our take on the song-based traditional electric blues we love.” Stubbs and guitarist/vocalist Pat Faherty, and drummer Tim Carman have been at the forefront of this traditional blues revival since they first formed in 2018. It’s no wonder they skyrocketed to the top of the Billboard Blues Charts.  On Crackdown, GA-20’s third full-length release, the band creates an unvarnished, ramshackle blues that is at once traditional and refreshingly modern, finding inspiration on the edges of the genre, where early electric blues first converged with country and rock ‘n’ roll. 

Matt Stubbs is a 14-year veteran of legendary blues master Charlie Musselwhite’s touring band, and has performed with James Cotton and John Hammond, among many others. Stubbs met Faherty in Boston, and their mutual love of traditional electric blues, R&B, and rock ‘n’ roll led them to write, perform and eventually record their modern vision of this life-altering music. With drummer Tim Carman on board, their 2020 EP Live Vol. 1, debuted at #1 on the Billboard Blues Chart. GA-20’s sophomore album, 2021’s Try It…You Might Like It! GA-20 Does Hound Dog Taylor debuted at #1 on the Billboard Blues Chart as well as #1 radio charting in the UK and Australia, and was nominated for a 2022 Blues Music Award. The band’s live album Live in Loveland was nominated for a 2023 Blues Blast Music Award and the band itself was nominated as Blues Band of the Year. Fun fact: The band is named after the guitar amplifier manufactured by Gibson from 1950 to 1961.