Jake Leg

When Five Horse Johnson formed back in 1995, referring to themselves as a “blues band,” a few brows might well have been furrowed. But this is a band that has always understood that the blues isn’t a formula – it’s a way of looking at the world. Their take on the blooze is as a dirty, sensual thing, enhanced with a healthy dose of humor. Now some two decades and seven albums into their career – with eighth Jake Leg Boogie, set to drop in Summer 2017 on Small Stone – Five Horse Johnson have dug out a niche of their own, a genuine love and respect for traditional blues and classic rock leading them to likewise become one of the most loved and respected bands in the heavy rock underground. Always a freight train live, they’ve toured the US (with Clutch and Halfway to Gone) and Europe extensively (including the festival circuit), gathering fans, friends, and drinking partners all over the Western World.

From the pioneering string bands and old-time banjo maestros to country music’s first superstar Jimmie Rodgers, this Rough Guide features many of the trailblazing artists who paved the way for the country music explosion to come.