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3x UK Blues Award Winner, #1 recording artist, radio presenter, Take Me To The River All StarAbout Mississippi MacDonald
Oli “Mississippi” MacDonald" (Mac) is a Soul-Blues singer/songwriter/guitarist from London, England. In 2024, he won 2 UK Blues Federation Awards – Traditional Blues Artist Of The Year and Acoustic Blues Act Of The Year. In 2025, he won the Best Acoustic Act for the second time.
Since his signing to APM Records in 2021, he has appeared on BBC Radio 2’s Blues Show with Cerys Matthews, showcased on Beale Street and appeared on the legendary King Biscuit Time (Helena AK). He has recorded with established US artists Vaneese Thomas (Rufus Thomas), Benny Turner (Freddie King, Mighty Joe Young), and the Reverend Shawn Amos. Most recently, he has recorded with Hi Rhythm (Al Green, Ann Peebles, Otis Clay) in Memphis at Royal Studios, with Grammy Award winning producer Boo Mitchell.
In May 2024, Mississippi joined the Take Me To The River All Stars along with William Bell (Stax), Hi Rhythm, Jools Holland and Eric Gales both for an upcoming feature film, and headlining Red Rooster Festival. In the Summer of 2024, Mississippi headlined the Glastonbury Lovefields Stage. In 2025, he appeared at Jazzfest New Orleans with the Take Me To The River All Star Revue, with Cyril, Ian and Ivan Neville, Joanne Shaw Taylor, Lina Beach and Taj Mahal. In July this year, he’ll be part of the Take Me To The River Memphis Revue at London’s Barbican Theatre, with Hi Rhythm and Carla Thomas.
Mississippi’s first record for APM, “Do Right, Say Right” was named in the top 10 Blues Albums of 2022 by Mojo Magazine. Touring his second album for APM Records, Heavy State Loving Blues, he was appraised by Blues In Britain Magazine as “one of finest modern bluesmen in the U.K. and on this release he’s excelled in all areas.”
His second APM album “Heavy State Loving Blues” charted for multiple weeks at the top of the RMR Global Blues Report, second only to Buddy Guy, was in the Living Blues (US) top 25 charts for January and February ’23 and received major international airplay, including Sirius XM BB King’s Bluesville in the US. In the UK, the record was #1 in the IBBA Blues Charts for 2 months running – a feat that hadn’t been achieved by any artist (UK or International) for many years.
Mississippi’s new album, I Got What You Need, was released on 25th October 2024, and hit number 1 on the RMR Global Soul Blues Chart within one week. IGWYN was the IBBA #1 album of November 2024 (#2 in the prior month). The record has had extensive international airplay, and in the UK, including Cerys Matthews’ BBC Radio 2 Show.
Earlier this year, Mac joined Maritimeradio.co.uk in London, presenting the weekly Oli Mac Show, an hour of the greatest soul, blues, gospel and more.
On July 4th, Mac will release “Oli Mac Presents – Mississippi MacDonald, Slim Pickin’ – a brand new 10 track album celebrating his most recent UK Blues Award.
Blues Matters Magazine said Mississippi is “a UK Blues-Soul Master who consistently turns out top quality music with an eye and ear steeped in Memphis Soul”
“Mississippi MacDonald represents the next generation of great guitarists who hail from the UK…wholly authentic, he’s earned the right to claim the name” Living Blues, USA
“He has a rich full voice and plays some stunning guitar, but most of all his heart and soul are filled with the blues as it should be played” Blues In Britain
“Contemporary British bluesman Mississippi MacDonald proves he’s as legit as they come on his hard-charging new record HSLB…a compelling, engaging artist who is going to make a lot of new friends with this record. Make sure you’re one of them” Rock and Blues Muse
“Hell Yeah!….fabulous, very Albert King circa his Stax days and in my world, it doesnt get much better than that”, Blues Matters!
“Superior soul-blues singing and songwriting” Mojo, Issue 345
“Mississippi MacDonald has very capably demonstrated that he is a next generation blues man carrying on the soul blues traditions of his predecessors.” Blues Blast Magazine (US)
“Born in London, “Mississippi” MacDonald may have been emersed in Brit pop as a child, but he’s one of the deepest, true-blue and soulful artists in Europe today. A two-time UK Blues Award winner, he absolutely shines, delivering stinging single-note runs on a six-string while delivering vocals in a honeyed style that would make his forebears in Memphis smile” Chicago Blues Guide
“MacDonald’s blues ring with authenticity — quite an achievement considering it’s mostly original music. He’s a powerful, soulful vocalist, and his guitar work is stunning” BluesRoadHouse.com
“British musicians have long had a burning passion for American roots music and none more than Mississippi MacDonald….. [he] continues to carry the torch as a next generation blues man”. Bluestownmusic.nl
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Smile Bar & Venue, Huddersfield, United Kingdom
