LUKE Modern Blues Trio, LP

This album will be released on the 25.09.2026.

With 'Modern Blues Trio', Saarbrücken-based singer, guitarist, and songwriter Lukas Schüßler—aka LUKE—presents his rawest album to date. With over 15 years on stage, including support slots for Patti Smith, Keb’ Mo’, Taj Mahal, and PUR, as well as three nominations for the German Blues Challenge (2023–2025), LUKE has honed his sound across four releases. On Modern Blues Trio, he strips it down to the essentials.

Together with Elmar Federkeil (drums) and Stefan Engelmann (bass), LUKE carries on the tradition of iconic blues trios such as the John Mayer Trio, Robben Ford & The Blue Line, and Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble. He remains true to his own signature style, blending the classic trio sound with influences from soul, rock, and pop, carried by his distinctive vocals and the characteristic, singing Stratocaster tone.

Most of the album was recorded live in the studio. Instead of being built up layer by layer on a computer, the tracks are based on the trio’s actual performances: guitar and vocals, bass and drums, played and recorded together. This creates an energy and dynamism that is otherwise most commonly associated with live concerts. Thanks to its stripped-down trio lineup, Modern Blues Trio sounds rawer, bluesier, and more groove-oriented than its predecessors, without sacrificing catchy and varied songwriting.

Two songs at opposite ends of the album demonstrate the full range of their sound: The soulful, pop-infused “If I Were You” represents the accessible side with modern songwriting that works just as well on the radio as it does in a live club. In contrast, the deeply blues-rooted “Dancing With The Blues” highlights the trio’s joy of improvisational playing and most directly captures what makes these three musicians so special live.

The album was recorded at KAHNELABS, the studio of renowned guitarist and producer Stefan Kahne, who has previously produced Andreas Kümmert, among others. The focus on the essentials and the musicians’ exceptional chemistry lend the songs a naturalness and intensity that define the album’s character.

Modern Blues Trio showcases three seasoned musicians at their best—musicians who don’t preserve the blues but rather push its boundaries and consciously transcend genre limits. Modern blues: deeply rooted in tradition yet open to new directions.

Line up:

Lukas Schüßler (Guitar, Vocals), Stefan Engelmann (Bass), Elmar Federkeil (Drums)

Track listing:

1. Double Trouble Boggie
2. Dancing With The Blues
3. They Don´t Remember My Name
4. Doin´ It All For My Baby
5. If I Were You
6. You Keep Me Hanging On
7. On And On
8. It Ain´t No Rock´n´Roll
9. Open Your Eyes
10. Joanna Is Gone
11. Don´t Let Me Down

Product details:

• Artist: LUKE
• Format: LP
• All songs were written by Lukas Schüssler except 'Don't Let Me Down' (Lennon-McCartney)