On the night of July 3rd, the walls of 16 Toneladas in Valencia shook with the deep grooves and raw blues-rock of North Mississippi Allstars. The trio—featuring brothers Luther and Cody Dickinson and bassist Carwyn Ellis—delivered a two-hour (plus) set rooted in the rich soil of Delta blues, Southern rock, and improvisational jam band energy. The Dickinson brothers don’t just play the blues—they were born into it. Sons of the legendary Jim Dickinson, a renowned session musician and producer who worked with The Rolling Stones, Aretha Franklin, and Bob Dylan, Luther and Cody carry a rare musical pedigree. But they’ve forged their own sound: gritty, expansive, and deeply connected to the hill country traditions of their native North Mississippi.

The night opened with the classic “Sitting On Top of the World”, a song by the Mississippi Sheiks later recorded by Howlin’ Wolf. Luther’s signature slide guitar immediately took centre stage, delivering the haunting tones that have become the band’s hallmark. The trio flowed smoothly into a powerful medley of “Po Black Maddie” and “Skinny Woman”, both from their debut album—hypnotic, raw, and full of the swampy textures that define the hill country blues.

“Stay All Night”, with Cody on vocals, turned up the tempo. Pulled from their latest album Still Shakin’ (recorded with Robert Kimbrough), it mixed high-energy rock with blues muscle. The crowd was locked in. Cody’s vocals and rhythm work drove the groove home.

A standout moment came with “You Got To Move”, a gospel-blues spiritual by Mississippi Fred McDowell, sung by Cody with grit and soul, while Luther’s slide work wailed like a Southern church revival. That rolled into the soulful “Need To Be Free” from Prayer For Peace, again showcasing Luther’s expressive touch on guitar and Carwyn’s solid, understated basslines.

Then came a signature moment—Cody broke out his electric washboard for a wildly original solo, a nod to the band’s love of fife-and-drum traditions. It was so catchy with the drum and bass accompanying… it almost sounded like a dance track!  A drum explosion followed, before the trio launched into “Bye Bye Baby”, a collaboration with the late Otha Turner that channels North Mississippi’s folk legacy. The set surged with a full-force instrumental wave into “Away, Way Too Long”, carried by Luther’s ripping solos.

The second half of the night stayed high-voltage. Cody took the lead again on “All Night Long”, a deep cut from their debut. Then came the crowd favourite “Going Down South”, with Luther delivering riff after heavy riff, the guitar snarling and sliding like a wild animal.

Funkier vibes took over with “Snake Drive” and “Let My Baby Ride”, where the chorus had the crowd chanting and the rhythm section locked tight. Then came the deep Delta roots of “Shake ‘Em On Down”, a Bukka White classic reimagined with Luther’s blistering guitar work. The main set ended on a massive high.

But the Allstars had more to give. For the encore, they returned with “Back Back Train”, a gospel-tinged closer that left the audience buzzing, hands raised, and hearts full. With their deep musical lineage, raw energy, and masterful musicianship, North Mississippi Allstars aren’t just keeping the blues alive—they’re pushing it forward. Luther Dickinson’s wild command of guitar and slide, Cody Dickinson’s fire on drums, (electric) washboard, and vocals, and Carwyn Ellis’s steady, supple, soulful bass created a live experience that was both deeply rooted and thrillingly free. Curiously, the super cool Welsh bass player had a haircut that was very much like that of the iconic Rolling Stone Brian Jones!

If the child is the father of the man then Cody has his Dad’s Southern charm and ease. He is a very talented yet ‘downhome’ kinda guy who you can see just has so much fun playing those damn drums and electric washboard and singing and interacting with the crowd! Guitarist and lead singer Luther is a virtuoso with fire in his soul and has magnetic stage presence too. The Dickinson brothers have a telepathy that just can’t be bought when it comes to playing live, even exchanging their respective instruments throughout the set. It would not be an exaggeration to say that both the Rolling Stones and Aretha would have really enjoyed being at this gig! At 16 Toneladas, the ‘Allstars’ reminded everyone that the blues isn’t just history—it’s a living, stomping, howling force. A night to remember.

Report by ‘24/7 Valencia’ team

Article copyright ‘24/7 Valencia’

Photos copyright Philip Solomonson /   ’24/7 Valencia’