The final single to be taken from the celebrated Blues musician’s forthcoming album (out 24 March on Repute Records), “Ridin’” pays homage to the brave Freedom Riders of 1961 who risked their lives to help African American citizens register to vote. Speaking about the inspiration for the title-track of his new album, Bibb explains:
“”Ridin’” is the title song from my new album, inspired by the brave Freedom Riders who travelled from northern cities to the Deep South, risking their lives, helping African American citizens register to vote. Another source of inspiration was a painting from 1862, A ride for liberty, by Eastman Johnson, depicting an African American family escaping slavery on horseback. We’re still riding…”
His collaborator and producer Glen Scott adds:
“Receiving WhatsApp notes from Eric with guitar motifs, song ideas and more-often-than-not completed songs is something I get very excited and inspired by. Ridin’ was no different. This song drew from all of the Blues, Soul, Rock energies that encompasses Eric as a modern-day blues troubadour and got to me even in its lo-fi state. I amped up the production values by way of drum, bass, organ and additional overdubs from Eric. Additional recordings were executed live on the floor at Atlantis Studios Stockholm with Staffan Astner (electric guitar), Olla Gustafson (lap steel) and Nicci Noutini (drums). Backing vocals by Paris Renita, Ash Haynes and Ida Sand added the soulful gospel icing to a juicy cake.”
The follow-up to his multiple award-winning, critically acclaimed 2021 album ‘Dear America’, Bibb’s new album ‘Ridin’’ is produced by Glen Scott and features Habib Koite, Taj Mahal, Steve Jordan, Tommy Sims, Harrison Kennedy, Russell Malone, Jontavious Willis as well as a host of brilliant session musicians & singers from around the globe.
The concept album draws inspiration from the oil painting A Ride For Liberty (1862) by Eastman Johnson, which depicts an African American family fleeing enslavement in the southern USA during the American Civil War. The album’s themes of struggle, liberation, and perseverance and Bibb’s captivating storytelling prove once again that the blues are a powerful tool for social commentary.
‘Ridin’’ also contains the previous singles “500 Miles”, “Family” and “The Ballad of John Howard Griffin feat. Russell Malone”, which was released to support US Black History Month. Following the album’s release Bibb will embark on an extensive headline UK and Ireland tour throughout May 2023 – dates and details below.
A two-time Grammy Award nominee with multiple Blues Foundation awards, Eric Bibb is known and revered globally for having carved his own musical destiny with honesty and power. Eric’s father, the late Leon Bibb, was an activist, actor, and folk singer who marched at Selma with Dr. Martin Luther King. Eric’s youth was spent immersed in the Village folk scene. Names like Dylan, Baez, and Seeger were visitors to his home. He was deeply influenced by Odetta, Richie Havens, and Taj Mahal – who guests on ‘’Ridin’’ – and he has synthesised all of that into his very own style.
ERIC BIBB RIDIN’ TOUR – UK & IRELAND DATES:
May 3 Basingstoke The Anvil
May 4 Pontardawe Arts Centre
May 5 Birmingham Town Hall
May 6 Wimborne Tivoli Theatre
May 8 Bury St. Edmunds The Apex
May 9 Bexhill on Sea De la Warr Pavilion
May 11 London King’s Place
May 13 Frome Cheese & Grain
May 14 Exeter Phoenix
May 16 Edinburgh Queen’s Hall
May 17 Glasgow Saint Lukes
May 19 Manchester Stoller Hall
May 20 Leeds City Varieties Music Hall
May 22 Whitley Bay Playhouse
May 23 Milton Keynes The Stables
May 25 Belfast Mandela Hall
May 26 Dublin Liberty Hall Theatre
May 28 Limerick Dolan’s
May 29 Cork Cyprus Avenue
Tickets on sale here:
https://www.ericbibb.com/event/eric-bibb-ridin-uk-ireland-tour-2023/