As always, as part of convention behind the annual Mahindra Blues Festival, the pride of position of the opening act – on 8^th February, 2025 at Mumbai’s Mehboob Studios – went to city-based Kanchan Daniel. While singing pop and rock, especially retro, appears more her forte due to her deservedly earned reputation for strong vocals, Kanchan’s effort of singing the blues appeared contrived as if being compelled to place more effort than required due to the imposition of the prestigious platform provided to her.

Moving onto the winner of the Grammy Award for ‘Best Contemporary Blues Album’ for ‘Mileage’ on February 2^nd this year, Texas-based Ruthie Foster converted the well-earned recognition of her brand of soul, blues, gospel and, to a lesser extent, folk by capturing her musical vitality through her live performance. Immediacy was established by her four-piece backing band across the genres by a varied repertoire, including songs such as Smalltown Blues which took more of an acoustic slant on the rockabilly tune.

After describing her journey in Mumbai’s traffic (“how did you drive here?”), Ruthie’s powerful and versatile voice, infusing the power and emotions of gospel, was heard in complete glory in an a capella track, joined in harmony by the rest of the band and their hand clapping providing the beat. Throughout in prime form, Ruthie made a particularly powerful statement on the mid-tempo shuffler, Phenomenal Woman, which focused on the talents of keyboardist Scotty Miller. Guitarist Hadden Sayers also received an opportunity to showcase his talent on the appropriate-titled Back to The Blues, sung as a duet with Ruthie.

A brilliant performance that would be hard to top by any act that followed, and that is precisely what occurred with Day One headliners, the Teskey Brothers. The Australian blues rock band from Melbourne were named after the two brothers who formed the group in 2008: Josh Teskey (vocals, rhythm guitar) and Sam Teskey (lead guitar). Often straying from the blues and soul sound that built them a legion of loyal fans through the years, in a favour of almost country and, as their set followed, the sound became stereotyped, appearing to be more like performing a single song divided into multiple parts.

Day Two of the Mahindra Blues Festival commenced with the Mumbai-born, LA-based Megan Murray opening activities. What a pleasant surprise it turned out to be with her strong vocals effortlessly holding the audience spellbound, supported by a tight band, and an unpretentious confidence in her eclectic approach to music.

Stand out tracks were renditions of Messin' With The Kid, a rhythm and blues-influenced song originally recorded by Junior Wells, John Prine’s gospel-tinged Angel From Montgomery, the piano-laden Women Be Wise by Sippie Wallace where the keyboardist doubled on trombone, Allman Brothers’ rocking Whipping Post, the up-tempo Push Da Button from the ‘The Colour Purple’ musical, and Steamroller Blues (a.k.a. Steamroller), a blues parody written by James Taylor that originally appeared on his classic 1970 album, ‘Sweet Baby James’. However, the highlight of Megan’s set list was undoubtedly her self-composed Lay You Down, which focused on Megan’s softer side, backed by some delightful harmonies. A fabulous start to the concluding day of the Mahindra Blues Festival.

With the next scheduled artist, 15-year-old Taj Ferrant playing truant apparently on account of “severe weather conditions and heavy snowfall” in the U.S., it fell on Ruthie Forster to make her second appearance at the Festival, covering songs not featured during the previous evening as well as repeats.

In fact, Kolkata-based guitarist Arinjoy Sarkar who, with his trio, has performed at the Mahindra Blues Festival on a number of occasions was present at this edition too, but as a blues fan, and it would certainly not have been out of place for the organisers to have requested him to fill the gap created by Taj Ferrant, especially with Arinjoy’s immense talent certainly being on par with the rest of the world.

Meanwhile, songs that remained highlights from Ruthie Foster’s repertoire remained the obvious rhythm-and-blues of Healing Time, Mississippi John Hurt’s Rich Little Women - which sounded like a version of popular American folk song, Midnight Special, popularised by Creedence Clearwater Revival wherein keyboardist Scotty Miller played a mandolin. However, what really brought the house down was Ruthie’s ode to Black Sabbath who announced a reunion and final gig on 5^th July at Aston Villa in the U.K. – War Pigs, which featured on Ruthie’s 2017album, ‘Joy Comes Back’. 

The concluding act was pedal steel guitarist Robert Randolph, who first performed at the Mahindra Blues Festival in 2012 accompanying Buddy Guy on Long Distance Call, before returning in 2013 with his Family Band.

Starting his set with a rocked up rendition of the sing-along I'm So Glad, a Delta blues song originally recorded by American musician Skip James in 1931 and subsequently popularised by Cream, the funky Sunshine’s Coming was another stand-out. A fabulous version of Roy Hawkins’ The Thrill Is Gone, popularised by BB King, featured guest vocals from Megan Murray was impressive too.

Robert Randolph is arguably the leading champion among pedal steel guitarists working outside of country music, and he was a fitting concluding act containing a heavyweight fusion of blues, rock, and gospel influences. With his instrument wailing hard and crying with passion. Robert and his band entered the expected all-star finale, which included a high energy version of Preston ‘Red’ Foster’s I Got My Mojo Working, popularised by Muddy Waters.

Nevertheless, with no A-listers at the Mahindra Blues Festival 2025, and the unfortunate non-arrival of Taj Farrant, the event was already a dampener even before it started. Nevertheless, from the international side of things, barring 2025 Grammy-winner Ruthie Foster’s appearance and, to a certain extent, Robert Randolph, the blues, this time around, appeared to be off colour.

The Mahindra Blues Festival was held on 8th and 9th February 2025 at Mehboob Studios, Bandra, Mumbai. 

Reviewed by Parag Kamani

Parag Kamani has been part of the media and entertainment industry across 35 years, having worked for licensors such as Warner Music and EMI/Virgin in music, as well as Warner Bros, Universal Pictures, and Paramount Pictures in the field of films. Parag continues pursuing his passion as a profession.