Eleven-times UK Blues Award nominated band The Milk Men, will release their seventh album, ‘The Milky Way‘, in May. Featuring eleven new original songs, it is their first album since last year’s ‘Live at Milkfest‘ (review here), and their first studio album since 2024’s blues chart Number one album ‘Holy Cow!‘ The band’s first single from the album, entitled ‘Waiting For Some Rock’n’Roll‘, is released Friday 17th April and is available to stream and buy from all usual platforms. The brilliant video for the song was directed by film maker Ben Mole, and depicts The Milk Men bringing rock’n’roll to the galaxy! Who knew aliens could rock so hard?
Stream / download – here
“‘Waiting For Some Rock’n’Roll‘ is such a fun song,” says The Milk Men’s lead guitarist Adam Norsworthy. “It has that big fun jungle beat and a tight, tough verse, then it explodes into a huge melodic chorus. It’s very ‘us’ in that it draws its influences form everywhere. We also loved the video idea of zipping round the galaxy delivering our music to alien races, who are literally ‘waiting for some rock’n’roll’”. The song will be followed up by two further singles from the album.
The Milky Way’s album cover is designed by Mark Wilkinson, a legend of album cover art having done classic album covers for legends including Iron Maiden, Marillion, Judge Dredd, Judas Priest, and many more.
Lead singer Jamie Smy says: “To have Mark illustrate an album cover for The Milk Men is a dream come true for the band, especially as his artwork adorned my and Adam’s childhood bedrooms. Armed only with the thinnest of briefs to create a picture of the band in outer space, Mark has created an iconic image that now sits alongside ‘Misplaced Childhood‘, ‘The Book of Souls‘ and ‘Painkiller‘ as one of his greatest and most imaginative album designs!”
The last few years have seen the band’s reputation soar, with a UK Blues Challenge final spot, countless award nominations, and festival headline appearances all over the UK. Their fan base has grown considerably, in no small part due to the band’s joyous, dynamic live shows and hook-laden original blues rock albums. As a result, ‘The Milky Way‘ is now one of the most eagerly-anticipated blues rock releases of the year. Its eleven tracks, all penned by the band, take in blues, blues rock and rock in all its hues, from the heavy riff-tastic drive of ‘Down in the Hole‘, to the gloriously melodic ‘Loving You Baby‘. It’s all classic Milk Men.
“The last studio album was lean, tough and punchy,” says Adam. “And we loved it, but we wanted a bit more colour on this one, more shades between all the rock’n’roll. We’re a little looser on this record, it feels a bit like we have let our hair down – or what we have left of it! – and had more obvious fun”.
The album was engineered by James Horwood at Soundlab Studios in Loughton, North London, and then the tracks were handed over to Adam and Wayne Proctor, who set about creating ‘The Milky Way‘‘s vibe– a galaxy of cracking tunes that all rely on a classic drum beat, a guitar riff, a bass lick and a rasping rock’n’roll vocal.
The album will be officially launched at an album launch gig on Thursday May 14th at the legendary 100 Club in Oxford Street, London. There will be surprise guests on the night and support will come from Tom Davies & the Bluebirds. All ticket holders can also claim a free gift on the night.
The Milk Men’s Jamie and Adam are best friends who met at school when they were eleven. They have been in many bands together over the years, but it wasn’t until they both developed a deep love of the blues in their late teens, that the idea for a powerful, dynamic blues band playing catchy songs took shape.
Although Adam formed The Mustangs – four-time British Blues award nominees and UK music scene veterans – he and Jamie eventually formed The Milk Men and were joined by Mike Roberts, who drummed with the legendary Pirates, and Lloyd Green on bass – son of British R’n’B guitar legend Mick Green.
This mix of talents and personalities has proved irresistible to the band’s ever-growing following. Jamie’s raw blues voice is reminiscent of Rod Stewart in his prime, he prances and preens about the stage like a man born to it. Shades of Freddie Mercury, Bon Scott, Lee Brilleaux and Fish all come into his performance, but with Jamie’s extra spoonful of humour and wit, there is no one quite like him. Mike’s powerful drumming comes from a jazz background, and he brings with it a loveable, playful personality that comes out in his stage presence. He is known as the Dapper Drummer, the best-dressed player on the circuit – always immaculately clothed from head to toe in fine suits. An homage to Charlie Watts perhaps?
With a music legend as a father, it would be easy for Lloyd Green to shy away from the stage, but with his beautiful bass playing – eloquent, lyrical, funky, and powerful, quite the opposite is true. He is the band’s secret weapon – crafting beautiful bass lines and performing them with an imposing, impressive stage presence that perfectly balances out Adam on the other side of Jamie. He can write a great tune too.
A well-known veteran of the UK blues rock scene, guitarist Adam is the perfect foil to singer Jamie. The pair’s stage dynamic is electric, with Adam firing off live-wire solos you can sing along to, whilst his smooth tenor backing vocals blend perfectly with Jamie’s husky voice to create big harmonies in even bigger choruses. Adam is also the organiser and director of Milkfest, the band’s annual one-day charity festival held at the O2 complex in London, which to date has raised over £10,000 for both The Brain Tumour Charity and Dementia UK.
The band is joined by two esteemed guests on the record – blues harp great Nigel Feist and hammond legend Greg Coulson, both of whom bring their huge talents to the album’s final two songs.
And now, on ‘The Milky Way‘ all the band’s talents come together to create their most exciting album yet. That’s a big statement, especially as their last studio album reached Number 1 on the Amazon and iTunes blues charts, and that album’s first single ‘One Man Band‘, was also a Number 1 on the blues charts.
“We love rock’n’roll,” says Lloyd. “And we wanted to re-connect with that side of ourselves. This is our most rock’n’roll album ever, but we haven’t forgotten the hooks! It’s great to know that people will be humming along to every track, because the album is just full of melody and great moments.”
Drummer Mike adds: “The last twelve months has seen the band develop into an even more cohesive force on and off stage. On the new album we have allowed the music more space to breathe and as a result we are focusing more on the groove and feel of what we do. It generates a lovely swing in our playing!”.
The band’s philosophy is to deliver quality music, on stage and off, whilst letting people know you are having fun. That infectious attitude is all over ‘The Milky Way‘ from the big jungle drum groove and statement chorus of first single ‘Waiting For Some Rock’n’Roll‘, to the infectious groove and Stone-inspired hooks of ‘Son Of A Gun‘.
The band wears their influences on their sleeve, then rolls them up and gets on with delivering an album and live show that are somehow completely unique and unforgettable. “Life affirming” or “The most fun night we’ve had in ages” are becoming familiar end-of-the-night tributes at Milk Men gigs.
So why not try ‘The Milky Way‘ yourself, and put some milk in your music? The best blues rock album of 2026 is on its way! Get ready for The Milk Men’s full-phat, gold-topped music delivered in style!
Track Listing:
- Waiting For Some Rock’n’Roll
- Son Of A Gun
- Down In The Hole
- Loving You Baby
- Give It Up
- Little Devil
- Another You
- Jimmy The Weasel
- Nothing On You
- I’ve Been Losing
- Evergreen
2026 Tour Dates:
Thursday 23rd April – Wirral Blues Club
Friday 24th April – The Green Hotel, Kinross, Scotland
Saturday 25th April – Steelie’s, Hartlepool
Thursday 14th May – 100 Club, London NEW ALBUM LAUNCH! + Support
Tuesday May 19th – Tuesday Night Music Club, Coulsdon
Saturday 23rd May – Diseworth Blues Club
Friday 29th May – Lamplight Tavern, Dudley
10th-17th June – Lindos Rocks, Rhodes, Greece
Saturday 27th June – Alfold Rock & Blues Festival
Sunday July 12th – Ely Folk Festival, Cambridge (headliner)
Saturday 8th August – Plumpton Revival Festival, East Sussex, Main Stage
Saturday 15th August – The Acapela Studio, Cardiff
Saturday 12th September – Warrington Blues Club
Thursday 24th September – Red Arrow, Ramsgate
Saturday 26th September – Railway Hotel, Southend
Saturday 3rd October – Swanage Blues Festival
Saturday 10th October – Torquay Rock’n’Blues Festival, Devon
Sunday 25th October – Cavern Freehouse, Raynes Park (4pm)
Friday 13th November – Darlington Forum
Saturday 14th November – Greystones, Sheffield
Sunday 15th November – Flying Circus, Newark (4pm)
Saturday 5th December – Barleylands, Billericay, Essex
Saturday 12th December – International Arts Centre, Leicester
Line-up:
Jamie Smy – Vocals, Backing Vocals
Adam Norsworthy – Guitars, Backing Vocals, Piano, Keyboards
Lloyd Green – Bass Guitar
Mike Roberts – Drums
ADDITIONAL MUSICIANS
Nigel Feist – Blues Harp on I’ve Been Losing
Greg Coulson – Hammond Organ, Piano on Evergreen
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