Luther Dickinson is a royal blues rocker who has led the North Mississippi Allstars for over a quarter century and is a touring member of the Allman Family Revival. Dickinson is a familiar face in the pages of GP and graced the cover in 2008 when he was a member of the Black Crowes, alongside Rich Robinson. The latest Allstars album, Set Sail, features some of Dickinson’s most soulful tunes and slinky slide playing. He shared deep insights in a 2022 feature interview.
“Thinking about the guitar fretboard horizontally can be hipper than vertically because the melody is there. It gives the phrasing a vocal quality. If you can connect your ear and your mind with your heart and your hand playing intervals on one or two strings, then the whole guitar just kind of unlocks itself.”
He adds, “I’m addicted to playing behind the slide, letting fretted notes pop out to provide something solid you can hang your hat on amidst all the squirrelly slide microtones.”
In the same interview, he also reported that Set Sail is a “transitional record” in terms of tone. Dickinson has always been closely associated with the throaty tone of a Gibson hollowbody with either a humbucker or P-90s in the neck position, but he has recently fallen in love with the sound of Lollar’s Regal pickups coming through his signature Category 5 amps.
Dickinson told GP in 2022, “Those wide-range style pickups are so clean, chimey, and bell-like that you can hear each note in every chord. That’s my new sound.”
Come hear it in the North Bay on July 18. The Allstars lineup features Luther’s co-pilot brother, drummer, and electric washboard extraordinaire, Cody Dickinson, plus Jesse Williams on bass.
Guitar Player Presents is thrilled to partner with KC Turner Presents to welcome the North Mississippi Allstars back to the West Coast. Come share the warm outdoor summer vibes at this Cookout Concert Series event starting early in the evening, plus pick up a free GP magazine and a set of Martin strings while you’re there. Secure your spot.
Win Tickets
For a chance to win a pair of tickets to GP Presents the North Mississippi Allstars in Novato, California, send an email to gp@jimmyleslie.com with “Luther” in the subject and simply include a sentence about yourself and why you want to go.
Phone contact is greatly appreciated for confirmation.
Winner must provide their own transportation to the Hopmonk Tavern in Novato, California, on Thursday, July 18, and have their own accommodations in the Bay Area.
Best of luck!
Event Details
GP Presents North Mississippi Allstars plus Sam Chase – Thursday, July 18
The Hopmonk Tavern– 224 Vintage Way, Novato, California
4pm doors: 6pm show
Free GP magazines, Martin strings
Get Tickets
The Black Friday deals are reaching fever pitch, with Sweetwater offering up to 80% off big-name guitar brands - including $900 off a PRS!
"The luthier said, 'I've never seen one that had this penciling inside. It's a ground-zero Jazzmaster.’ ” Thurston Moore was gifted a vintage axe when Sonic Youth's gear was stolen. He had no idea how rare it was
