There comes a point in every great musician’s career where experience, confidence and creativity collide. For Mick McConnell, that moment is happening right now.

Already recognised worldwide as the long-serving guitarist with one of the hardest working British bands with millions of record sales behind them, McConnell has quietly spent the last couple of years building something altogether different—something deeply personal, refreshingly authentic, and rapidly becoming one of the most talked-about stories on the British blues-rock circuit.

With the forthcoming release of his brand-new album Things Are Looking Up, and an extensive 24-date UK and Irish Tour, and a string of acclaimed headline performances behind him, Mick McConnell & Blue Thunder are now playing at some of the UK’s best blues venues, are carrying the momentum of a band whose time has truly come.

This isn’t simply another blues band riding the revival. This is, contemporary British blues-rock with songs at its heart. What separates Mick McConnell from so many modern blues guitarists is that he doesn’t simply write riffs… He writes songs. Proper songs. The kind that stays with you long after the final encore. Songs with memorable choruses, beautifully crafted melodies and lyrics that feel honest, lived-in, and real.

Rather than endless twelve-bar workouts or extended guitar solos, McConnell has developed a style that blends the emotional honesty of classic British rock with American blues, soulful melodies and contemporary production. It’s blues-rock that speaks to both lifelong blues devotees and classic rock fans alike—a genuinely commercial modern blues-rock sound without ever compromising its authenticity.

It’s perhaps no surprise. Before becoming an internationally touring guitarist, McConnell spent years as an in-house songwriter for publishing giants Warner Chappell, learning his craft alongside some of the music industry’s finest writers. That background is everywhere in his music. It’s little wonder, that critics have increasingly begun to recognise him as one of Britain’s finest songwriter-guitarists.

‘Things Are Looking Up’ as a body of work, takes the listener on a journey of emotions with moving and catchy songwriting at the core of the album. Produced by Stuart McCreadie and Mick McConnell, the material focuses on various aspects of the human condition whether it be the optimism from the title track, the self-reflection from ‘Worst Of Me’ or the tongue-in-cheek look of mortality on ‘Pearly Gates.’

They are returning to the UK and Irish live circuit in Autumn 2026 for a series of headline
shows, a co-headline date with Hannah Wicklund and festival appearances.

For more information on Mick McConnell and Blue Thunder visit:

Website: https://www.mickmcconnell.com/