Born in Whitehorse and now rooted on Vancouver Island, Brandon Isaak has carved out a reputation as one of Canada’s most authentic voices in the blues. His latest project, ‘Walkin’ With The Blues’, has spent three weeks on the Roots Music Report’s Canadian Chart—including a turn at #1—proving that Isaak’s deep respect for tradition resonates with audiences across the country.
Isaak, a seasoned musician with nearly four decades of experience and two decades steeped in the blues, has long been admired for his gravelly voice, wailing guitar solos, and storytelling chops. With a career that has taken him across three continents, he has built a sound rooted in the masters—T-Bone Walker, Ronnie Earl, Anson Funderburg, Fenton Robinson—while remaining distinctly his own. His electric blues brings both urgency and reverence, honoring the canon while speaking to today.
The making of ‘Walkin’ With The Blues’ was as raw and heartfelt as the music itself. Recorded on Vancouver Island with ribbon microphones, vintage gear, and Isaak at the helm as producer and engineer, the album thrives on immediacy. ‘We crafted this album in a single room, with ribbon mics, cold beer, and all the heart we could muster,’ Isaak shares. ‘Every note played was real, unfiltered, honest.’ That spirit fuels the record’s shuffles, ballads, and grooves.
Backed by The Saints of Swing—Joey Smith on upright bass, Darryl Havers on piano, Mike Kalanj on organ, Chris Norquist on drums, Leo Valvassori on bass, Jerry Cook on saxophones, and Alfons Fear on trumpet—the album captures the energy of seasoned players at their peak. Together, they create a sound that is lush, lived-in, and endlessly alive, echoing decades of blues lineage.
The new single, “Little Did He Know,” out now, continues Isaak’s trademark blend of humour and heart. ‘I always love blues artists with a sense of humour and a funny lyric,’ Isaak says. ‘This song was written after decades of research into life and women. I have written everything I know about woman in this one comprehensive study, in a song called Little Did He Know.’ Both playful and wise, the track embodies Isaak’s approach to storytelling: deeply rooted in tradition, yet always personal.
Isaak reflects on the process: ‘What a rewarding and magical experience it was to write and record this new album. Time seemed to slip away as I immersed myself in the music. I set out to create an old-school blues record, the kind that filled the airwaves of my childhood.’ That dedication shows, with ‘Walkin’ With The Blues’ already hailed as his most straight-up blues record to date.
With the new album, Isaak enters a new chapter one defined not by reinvention, but by refinement. His music doesn’t aim to modernize the blues so much as to reassert its timeless appeal. Every chorus, riff, and lyric speaks to why this music endures: it is human, it is honest, it is alive.
To celebrate the release, Isaak will embark on an extensive tour across Western Canada, bringing his new album to life with performances full of storytelling, humour, and heart.
Tour stops include:
• Sept 4 – Blues Barn – Leduc, Alberta
• Sept 5 – Large House Concert – Red Deer, Alberta
• Sept 6 – Badlands Amphitheatre – Drumheller, Alberta
• Sept 11 – Mackie House Concert – Coldstream, BC
• Sept 13 – Vibrant Wine Vineyard – Kelowna, BC
• Sept 20 – Osborne Bay – Crofton, BC
• Oct 7 – Oak Bay Recreation Centre – Victoria, BC
• Oct 18 – Cobblestone Music Venue – Cobblestone, BC
• Oct 31 – Marsh Lake – Yukon
• Nov 1 – Old Firehall – Whitehorse, Yukon
• Nov 21 – Hermann’s Jazz Club – Victoria, BC
Blues audiences know Isaak not just as a musician, but as a storyteller, teacher, and keeper of the flame. He’s dedicated to sharing the lessons of life and music with younger players, passing down the wisdom of his heroes while carving out his own distinct place in the tradition.
