4/27/2026
To Everyone Who’s Been There From the Beginning
There’s something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately.
Not the next song.
Not the next show.
Not even the direction the band is heading in.
Just… the time that’s already passed.
And the people who were there for it.
Before I ever fronted a band…
Before I had a microphone in my hand…
Before any of this became what it is now…
There were people standing in front of a stage somewhere watching me play guitar.
Some of you go back that far.
Some of you saw me in those early bands.
Some of you were there when I was just the guitar player off to the side, trying to figure things out.
Some of you were there when I first stepped up and started singing, whether I was ready or not.
And some of you have been showing up ever since.
That’s not something I take lightly.
Because the truth is - this hasn’t been a straight line.
It hasn’t been smooth.
It hasn’t always made sense.
It hasn’t always looked like it was going anywhere.
There have been stops.
Restarts.
Lineup changes.
Different versions of the band.
Different sounds.
Different directions.
And through all of that…
Some of you stayed.
You came out to shows.
You supported the music.
You shared things.
You said something when it mattered.
Or you just showed up again.
Even when it wasn’t perfect.
Even when it was still being figured out.
Even when I was still trying to figure it out.
I think people sometimes assume that musicians just move forward and don’t really look back.
That’s not true.
At least it’s not true for me.
I remember the rooms.
I remember the faces.
I remember the people who kept showing up.
I remember the moments where something clicked - even if it was just for a few seconds.
And I remember the people who were there for those moments.
Right now, things are shifting again.
The sound is changing.
The band is getting heavier.
The show is becoming more focused, more intentional, more like what I’ve had in my head for a long time.
It’s not about chasing something new.
It’s about finally stepping into something that feels more honest.
And as that happens, I keep thinking about the people who were there before any of this had a name… or a direction… or a plan.
The ones who saw it when it was just raw.
The ones who stayed through all the versions.
The ones who are still here.
So this isn’t a promo post.
It’s not about a show date.
It’s not about a release.
It’s not about anything coming up.
This is just me saying:
Thank you.
Thank you for showing up when it wasn’t polished.
Thank you for sticking around when it wasn’t clear where things were going.
Thank you for giving this thing time to grow.
That matters more than people probably realize.
The next chapter is already starting to take shape.
And if you’ve been there from the beginning… or anywhere along the way…
I hope you stick around for what’s coming next.
- James Pitts
7/2/2026
The James Pitts Band Has Been Quiet For A Reason
New music is coming. The stage is calling. And 2027 booking starts now.
New music is coming. The stage is calling. And 2027 booking starts now.
This year has been a little quieter on the live front for The James Pitts Band.
That has been intentional.
The band has not disappeared. We have not walked away from the stage. We have not stopped caring about live music, the blues, the people who have supported us, or the rooms that have welcomed us over the years.
We have simply taken this year to do something that needed real time, real focus, and real commitment.
We have been writing and recording.
The main reason is a project that means a lot to me personally:
50 at 50.
For my 50th birthday, I have been working toward a major original music release built around 50 new songs. It is one of the biggest creative projects I have ever taken on, and I did not want to treat it casually. I did not want to squeeze it between shows, rush it, or make it something halfway finished just so I could say it was done.
I wanted to give it the attention it deserves.
That meant stepping back from performing for a season and putting the energy into writing, recording, arranging, shaping, and building a body of work that says something real.
This is not just about making another record.
This is about documenting where I am as a songwriter, guitarist, vocalist, and blues musician at this point in my life.
It is about putting decades of experience, mistakes, lessons, stages, miles, heartbreak, survival, groove, guitar, and soul into songs that can stand on their own.
It is about creating something that feels worthy of the number.
50 songs. 50 years. One statement.
For me, this project is not a gimmick. It is not a stunt. It is not just a catchy title.
It is a marker.
A way of saying: I am still here. I am still writing. I am still playing. I still have something to say. And the music still matters.
Over the years, The James Pitts Band has moved through a lot of chapters. Different rooms. Different players. Different seasons. Different records. Different directions pulling at different times. But the thing that keeps coming back into focus is the same thing that started all of this in the first place:
The blues.
Not one tiny version of it.
Not a museum version.
Not background music.
The full thing.
Traditional blues. Blues rock. Soul blues. Funk blues. Original music. Songs with groove. Songs with bite. Songs with soul. Songs with fire. Songs that belong in front of people.
That is where this band belongs.
That is the direction we are carrying forward.
The James Pitts Band is a Full Service Blues band.
That means when we come back to the stage, we are not coming back watered down. We are not coming back confused. We are not coming back trying to chase a trend or fit into somebody else’s box.
We are coming back clearer.
We are coming back with new music.
We are coming back with a stronger sense of who we are.
And yes, we are absolutely coming back to performing in 2027.
In fact, as of today, we are officially beginning booking for 2027.
If you are a venue, festival, blues society, brewery, concert series, private event, rally, or live music room looking for a real Full Service Blues band, we are now accepting 2027 booking inquiries.
The live show will continue to be built around what has always mattered most:
Guitar-driven blues.
Original songs.
Strong grooves.
Real vocals.
Audience connection.
Traditional Blues. Blues Rock. Soul Blues. Funk Blues. Original Music.
A show that is built for the room.
Taking this year off from live performance was not easy. I love playing. I love standing in front of a room and feeling that exchange between the band and the audience. I love the moment when a groove catches, when the guitar opens up, when people start moving, when the room starts paying attention, when a song becomes bigger than the stage.
But sometimes the music needs a different kind of work.
Sometimes you have to step away from the noise long enough to hear what the next chapter is supposed to be.
That is what this year has been.
A writing year.
A recording year.
A building year.
A year of getting ready.
To everyone who has continued to follow, support, message, listen, share, and ask when we are coming back: thank you.
We are coming back.
And when we do, we will be bringing new music with us.
The 50 at 50 project is still in motion, and there will be more updates coming as the songs continue to take shape. I will be sharing more about the writing, the recording, the stories behind the songs, and the release plans as things move forward.
But I wanted to say this clearly now:
The James Pitts Band has not stopped.
We are writing.
We are recording.
We are preparing.
We are booking 2027.
And when we return to the stage, we are coming back as exactly what we are:
A Full Service Blues band.
Nearly 30 years on stage.
Still playing like it matters.
If you want to bring The James Pitts Band to your venue, festival, event, blues society, brewery, rally, or concert series in 2027, booking inquiries are now open.
Let’s make 2027 a strong one.
James Pitts
