Mike Zito: Live At Rockpalast 2024 (DVD/CD Combo) Pre-Order Deadline July 31/26 Release Date September 8/26

Mike Zito - Live at Rockpalast 2024 captures one of modern blues rock's most vital and authentic voices at the height of his powers. Recorded on October 9, 2024, at the Crossroads Festival in Bonn, Germany, this electrifying performance--filmed and produced in stunning picture and sound quality by WDR Rockpalast--presents Zito's dynamic trio featuring Doug Bykirt (bass, backing vocals) and Matt Johnson (drums, backing vocals). Across nearly two hours of music, Zito delivers a masterclass in soulful songwriting, fierce guitar work, and heartfelt storytelling drawn from a lifetime in the blues.

Born and raised in St. Louis, Zito picked up the guitar at age five and became a cornerstone of the city's blues scene before breaking nationally with early independent releases like America's Most Wanted and Slow It Down. His breakthrough came after signing to Eclecto Groove Records, where the title track of Pearl River earned the 2010 Blues Music Award for "Song of the Year." Later albums such as Greyhound and Gone to Texas cemented his reputation for blending roots grit with modern polish, while Make Blues Not War (2016) and First Class Life (2018) both topped the Billboard Blues Albums chart.

Zito's career has also been defined by collaboration and mentorship. As co-founder of Gulf Coast Records with Guy Hale, he has championed emerging blues artists while continuing his own prolific recording and touring schedule. His partnership with Albert Castiglia as the Blood Brothers yielded the 2024 chart-topping Life Is Hard, a blistering testament to resilience and shared musical spirit.

This release--available as a 2CD/DVD set--presents Zito's Rockpalast debut in its entirety, including searing performances of "Mississippi Nights," "Blues for the Southside," and "Life Is Hard." His live tone--raw yet precise, cutting yet warm--reminds listeners why he remains one of the genre's most respected and emotionally open performers. The accompanying DVD captures the chemistry and energy of the trio in high definition, offering fans an immersive concert experience.

For devotees of Joe Bonamassa, Walter Trout, and Sonny Landreth, Mike Zito - Live at Rockpalast 2024 is essential--proof that the blues not only endures but continues to evolve through artists who live every word they sing and every note they play.

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