Mississippi MacDonald (Band)

Event information

3x UK Blues Award Winner #1 recording artist, radio presenter, Take Me To The River All Star

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 2x Grammy Award winning producer Boo Mitchell with albums to be released in 2026.

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 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. In April '25, Mac joined Maritimeradio.co.uk in London, presenting the weekly Oli Mac Show, an hour of the greatest soul, blues, gospel and more.

In 2025, celebrating his third UK Blues Award, Mac released Oli Mac Presents Slim Pickin'. Charting at #1 in the RMR Acoustic Blues category, RnR magazine awarded the record a coveted 5 stars stating "Mississippi MacDonald has produced a true nugget of acoustic folk blues... all ten tracks represent 21st century blues of the highest order. If only all side projects were this good". Mac's 2026 started strong - 2 nights with Paul Jones & Friends at GLive in Guildford (including Andy Fairweather Low, Colin Blunstone and Sir Van Morrison), and touring with Grammy Nominee and BMA Award Winning Artists Curtis Salgado, including an appearance at London's January Blues Festival. In late January, Mac was nominated for no fewer than 6 UK Blues Federation Awards for 2026, more than any other artist.

Oli "Mississippi" MacDonald's fluid fingers, a singular voice and songwriting talent mark him as the new voice of British soul-blues – note his name.

What they say about Mac:

"He just has it, he gets it, the sound, the feeling, the legacy is wrapped up in him and his playing" MISS CARLA THOMAS

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 immersed 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

Slim Pickin’: https://open.spotify.com/album/7tYkF3AVja8tRTGIzVRL2R?si=a0XD6RtiTSG5B5eabZVR0w

I Got What You Need: https://open.spotify.com/album/5553FboAdeKg90aAVUtLMX?si=AzlMrOuhQJC92M-bkX1O4Q

Heavy State Loving Blues: https://open.spotify.com/album/3Yh5Oq9qa4e7PvKN3bCPTQ?si=Bh2tZdPJQ8ufo4l8JtfPfg

Website - www.mississippimacdonald.com

Instagram: @Mississippimacdonald

Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaOjCq79MBr6DMaTGy9LINQ