5 Apps Every Blues Music Enthusiast Needs
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5 Apps Every Blues Music Enthusiast Needs
Music apps are very handy and, when mixed with genre love, can be the best apps around.
The blues may not be your go-to music genre for app lovers—something about the blues evokes a certain vintage quality that eschews all modern technology for more retro outfits—but the truth is, the digital age has made loving the blues that much easier and that much more accessible.
For enthusiasts who really dig the history, rich sounds, and incredible performances of blues musicians, there are great options for discovering even more. From internet radio stations primed for blues only to a “blues trail” app that takes the listener down a historic journey, these are the five must-have apps for every person who says he loves the blues.
1. Blues Music Radio Stations
Discover your favorites and new hits with this music radio app that allows you to choose between different blues radio playlists to arrive at the one station that is absolutely perfect for you. With over 50 different subgenres of radio to choose—from American Road Radio to Bar Rockin’ Blues—you can sit back and let the radio stations pick the best tunes for you.
Available for iOs. Free.
2. YouTube
The YouTube app may be an obvious go-to, but it’s breadth and width of music is as deep as the internet goes—and for blues lovers this is great news. From blues around the world to the latest ingénues, YouTube is hands down the best website (and app!) around for accessing free music. For vintage or lesser-known favorites, YouTube can be the only source for it, and with great tools like a virtual private network, it can be accessed anywhere in the world.
For customizing the app for blues, create your own playlists, like people’s videos, and follow users who post your favorites to create a personal experience with this mega platform. My advice is always to start with one of your favorite artists, like B. B. King or John Lee Hooker, and let the YouTube rabbit hole lead you down.
Available for iOS, Android. Free.
3. Mississippi Blues Trail
Mississippi Blue Trail is the app for the history buff who just can’t get enough blues tunes. Begin in the homeland of the genre and take a tour down memory lane with this app that will point out all the hotspots in Mississippi, USA. Perfect for a die-hard blues enthusiast or a casual alternative tripper, this app will lead you to markers along the timeline of the blues genre to hear both music and fun facts you’ve never encountered before.
You can create your own itinerary, chase down must-see markers, and discover the connections between your favorite artists and the places that created them. Funded by grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and more, this is one app that will expand your knowledge not just musically but culturally as well.
Available for iOS. Free.
4. Blues Music Radios
While Blues Music Radios app isn’t one of the free ones, it definitely delivers with the best, most curated blues playlists around and without all of the annoying ads that come with most internet radios. From delta blues to contemporary blues, you can select the subgenre of your liking and jam until your battery runs out of power. With an easy to use interface and plenty of options to choose from, this app is by far the best on the market for straight-up blues tunes with zero fuss.
Available for iOS. $5.99.
5. Blues Music Trivia
For blues lovers who are confident in their genre skills, I suggest downloading the Blues Music Trivia App to challenge your knowledge. With over 90 different trivia questions about the genre, this app can provide the perfect distraction on your commute to work or while you wait in line for your morning cup of joe. With obscure facts and folkloric tidbits, genre fans will love getting ahead with some of their blues-loving friends by testing them on subgenre history, famous artists, songs and more.
Available for iOS. $0.99.
Blues has a long history that leads all the way through cultural upheaval and ends with influencing almost every modern song you hear on the radio. So to get a little closer to the style that’s responsible for everyone from Leon Bridges to John Mayer, invest a little time and iCloud space to include these great apps into your every day.
About me: Cassie is an avid music lover with interest in everything from Czech dechovka folk music to European freetekno and is always on the search for the next great thing. From blogging to spending hours finding the coolest music festivals around—she hopes to be off to the Blues & Blueberry Festival next—she loves to discover the best jams and apps for making listening and discovery easier than ever. She hopes you enjoy these five apps for listening to the blues; it’s one of her most beloved genres!
Website : www.culturecoverage.com
