Shakenstir » When Rivers Meet New LP

Since their formation in 2019, the husband-and-wife duo Grace Bond (vocals, mandolin, violin) and Aaron Bond (vocals, guitar) have been quick to prove themselves one of the most exciting names in British blues rock. Blending Americana, folk, blues, and rock in a distinctly unique manner, they have been showered with many awards and accolades.

Their forthcoming album ACES ARE HIGH follows two critically acclaimed records: WE FLY FREE (2020), which reached No.1 in the iTunes Blues Album Chart, and SAVING GRACE (2021), which charted at No.2 in the UK Official Jazz & Blues Albums Chart, No.5 UK Official Album Downloads Chart, and No.6 UK Official Independent Albums Chart. These were based purely on chart reporting digital sales and didn’t include physical sales.

When Rivers Meet were the first band to win four awards at the UK Blues Awards 2021 and another three awards in 2022, including Blues Band of The Year on both occasions. In 2023, WRM won Blues Band Of The Year, making them the only band to win this category three years in a row, and the only band to be inducted into the UK Blues Awards Hall Of Fame for this category. In 2021 When Rivers Meet were voted Best New Band at Planet Rock’s The Rocks Awards, and in 2022 won Planet Rock’s Blues Power Award and Album Of The Year Award with Saving Grace.

ACES ARE HIGH finds the duo returning with a more powerful sound than ever before. Aaron’s gnarled riffs hit harder alongside his deep vocal tones, while Grace’s vocals range wider with tantalising bite as they effortlessly climb scales like her striking slide mandolin which accompanies the likes of ‘Trail To Avalon’. The immediacy of the new record is showcased from the off with the hard-hitting opener ‘Infected’, while no punches are pulled on the kick-out-time anthem ‘5 Minutes Until Midnight’. Nevertheless, its contrasting sides find delicate moments such as the reflective acoustic song ‘Golden’ and the Americana of ‘By Your Side’.

ACES ARE HIGH - TRACK LISITING

1. Infected
2. Seen It All Before
3. Play My Game
4. Golden
5. Aces Are High
6. Trail To Avalon
7. Perfect Stranger
8. The Secret
9. By Your Side
10. 5 Minutes Until Midnight

When Rivers Meet developed a powerful live reputation with their first headline tour last year, which they played to capacity crowds across the country. This year they supported Reef of their UK tour and have just finished their second UK headline tour in larger venues, along with special guest, Brian May guitar prodigy, Arielle, receiving rave reviews once again.

This summer, the band have been announced to play numerous festivals, including Joe Bonamassa’s Keeping the Blues Alive Mediterranean III Cruise which departs Athens on 17 August. The cruise also features Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Blackberry Smoke, and many more artists from the contemporary blues music scene. Visit www.bluesaliveatseaeurope.com for more information.