Sophomore Alligator release from a rising force in the blues, a deeply soulful vocalist, powerhouse harmonica player and skilled, witty songwriter. Chris’ 2024 debut, The Hard Line, debuted at #1 on the Billboard Blues chart, and earned him multiple Blues Music Award nominations, including Artist Of The Year and Best Live Performer.
The Hard Line also reached #1 on the Big Blues and Living Blues radio charts.
Riveting and relentless live performer has played all over the U.S., as well as in Canada, the UK, France, Spain, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Czech Republic, Portugal, Switzerland, Austria and Slovakia. Tour dates in support of Blue Collar begin on street date in Greensboro, followed by Atlanta and then a week
gigging all over Florida. Touring continues across the U.S. to Illinois and festivals in Ohio and Wisconsin and the Riverfront Blues Festival in Montana. West Coast shows include Tacoma, Sacramento and San Francisco, plus three Los Angeles-area dates and Las Vegas.
Aggressive promotion to over 750 print and internet media contacts around the world for reviews, features and tour date coverage, and nearly 1500 radio contacts for regular airplay and specialty show spins.
Blue Collar features 11 original songs that turn Chris O’Leary’s rich personal history into a one-of-a-kind, energetic, deep-dish gumbo of Chicago blues, Memphis soul and New Orleans funk. The music is fueled by his dynamic, swaggering band, and highlighted by O’Leary’s powerful harp work and soul-testifying vocals. Guest artists include Alligator labelmate Lil’ Ed Williams, Muddy Waters alum Bob Margolin and Cajun/Zydeco legend Wayne Toups.