2nd SHIFT Concert: Rory Block

To work squarely within the confines of a musical tradition and still be considered a “pioneer” requires a certain boldness. Rory Block has managed to pull off this striking feat exactly, fusing her mastery of various blues traditions with a voice and guitar style as thoroughly her own as it is inspired by the masters with whom she studied.

Though also a singer and songwriter in her own right, Block is a vital link to the raw power of the acoustic country blues that emerged from the Mississippi Delta in the early 20th century, exemplified by artists such as Robert Johnson, Son House, and Mississippi John Hurt. Once a premier artist on the prestigious Rounder Records label (back when it was locally based),

Block is a living legend heavily decorated with blues music awards and genre accolades. Like a lot of the blues masters, Rory Block is still out on the road, decades into a storied career.

We are so grateful that the highway will lead her to Waltham to kick off our 2026 2nd Shift Music Series fall season.