Oliver “Mississippi” MacDonald – a singer, guitarist and songwriter from London, England – speaks quietly but makes music with real gravitas. Olly (as friends call him) is a rising star, having been honoured with a session by Cerys Matthews on her BBC Radio 2 Blues show and championed by Mojo. Both his fellow musicians and music industry pundits predict big things for MacDonald. His 2022 album Heavy State Loving Blues demonstrated how MacDonald’s gravitas has developed, matching his remarkable guitar playing with soulful vocals and strong original songs: here is a rising talent making his mark on the soul blues scene. 

“I first got interested in guitar when I was a youngster at school and grunge and Britpop were what everyone was listening to,” recalls MacDonald, “but I was more interested in what I heard in my parents’ record collection – the likes of B.B. King and Al Green, classic American blues and soul artists. I never dreamed of being in Nirvana or Oasis like a lot of my school mates, instead I wanted to go to Chicago and see the clubs where Muddy Waters used to play!” This led to Olly being nicknamed “Mississippi” by pals due to his passion for music from the US South. Interestingly, MacDonald says he never felt any great connection to the British blues scene of the 1960s. “I like records I’ve heard by the Stones and Fleetwood Mac and John Mayall,” he notes, “but when I was learning guitar those artists were rock superstars, and I was attracted to much more downhome sounds. I vividly recall going into the local Virgin record shop with the money I’d saved and buying an Albert Collins LP – and that blew my mind!” 

MacDonald learnt guitar from studying the likes of the Kings – B.B., Albert, Freddie – and the aforementioned Collins. He also listened intently to the likes of Z.Z. Hill and O.V. Wright, Southern soul singers whose voices possessed a blues inflection. “They express themselves with real power yet remain eloquent and soulful,” says MacDonald. “No histrionics or showing off – the great soul and blues vocalists sing in a way that conveys the song as if a friend were telling you of their trials and tribulations. Same for my favourite guitarists – I value economy and expression, not guitar histrionics.” 

MacDonald, happy to be a tortoise not a hare, worked away at his craft, playing locally, and releasing recordings via CD Baby, a suburban bluesman with a family to support. Then, post-lockdown, he raised his game, signed to Another Planet Music, and started getting booked beyond the local pub/club circuit he’d cut his teeth on. His APM debut album Do Right, Say Right was released in late 2021 and won accolades across the UK, Europe, and the US. Guesting on US harp player/vocalist Steve Bailey’s Crazy About You (a tribute to the late Sonny Boy Williamson II) demonstrated that Olly could hold his own with the Americans. Then came Heavy State Loving Blues – here MacDonald demanded and grabbed attention: he is the most exciting British electric guitarist in years as well as a singer and songwriter of considerable note. And never less than soulful. 

“I’ve been out there grafting for several years,” notes MacDonald, “and it is like I’ve finished my apprenticeship and am ready to play alongside my heroes. Veteran Memphis soul singer Vaneese Thomas – Rufus Thomas’ youngest daughter – guested on Heavy State and it was an honour to sing alongside her, we really connected. This led to me being invited to play a showcase at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis and record a track with Freddie King’s brother Benny Turner. I also got to meet Boo Mitchell & Hi Rhythm (more to come on that).” 

Oliver “Mississippi” MacDonald’s fluid fingers, a singular voice and songwriting talent mark him as the new voice of British soul-blues – note his name. 

Garth Cartwright (writes for The Guardian UK)