Ian McHugh

Ian McHugh was born in 1975, which he thinks is probably a few years too late. Brought up by a mother who adored the music of Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald and a father who liked Foster and Allen he found himself drawn more towards his mothers taste than his fathers (thank goodness!), even more so than the pop his friends were listening to.

He didn’t really discover the blues until his teens, but when he did he began to consume it in all it’s forms, from the rockier revival that was going on at the time, back through the 60’s blues boom, the 50’s Chicago classics right back to the Delta and before. It was also at this time he began his guitar playing, looking to emulate his heroes, Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy and Freddie King, something he’s still trying to do.

His voyage of discovery has continued ever since, and his show, Blues is the Truth, reflects that with a variety of blues that stretches from Robert Johnson and Bessie Smith through to John Mayer and the White Stripes. If it’s blues and has an exciting energy he’ll adore it and he’s made it a big part of the show to discover and expose new and exciting talent. Regular features include Cover Comparisons, where two versions of the same song are played back to back and the new Delta Corner which features three tracks from the early days of recorded blues.

Along with the show Ian performs as part of Blues is Truth, one of the most exciting bands on the current London blues scene and can often be found shooting (with a camera) at live music events.