Jimmy Regal And The Royals Announce New Album

Jimmy Regal And The Royals have announced their new album ‘Snap Back’

Jimmy Regal and the Royals is a driving, dynamic band that takes the roots of blues to new places. They are inspired from music cultures around the world, such as North Mississippi, New Orleans, Senegal and Mali – but remain unashamedly South London.

The core set up of harmonica, guitar and drums is the basis of a unique and inventive sound which is many-layered – it is often described as ‘huge’. The band explores diverse influences while keeping a grounding in no-nonsense rhythm and blues.

They tour both as a three-piece and with a horn section and have recorded with some of West Africa’s best musicians, London’s top horn players and many others.

After their debut album hit the UK charts in 2017, they scored four top-10 UK blues albums. Their last studio album, ‘First and Last Stop‘, went to #1 in the UK charts, was #1 most played UK act in the International Roots Music Report charts for three straight weeks and was a US top 10 placing in the Contemporary Blues charts. They received nominations from the UK Blues Federation for best album and best band in 2024 and 2026.

They have toured the UK extensively, including stages at the biggest blues festivals, and built a reputation as an electrifying live act. They have supported major US blues acts such as Cedric Burnside and GA-20. In 2026, they played the Kafou Music Festival in Dakar, Senegal, as a guest of griot musician and genius kora player Diabel Cissokho – who has also recorded with the band.

[For fans of: Junior Kimbrough, Cedric Burnside, Ali Farka Toure, Little Walter, Bo Diddley, North Mississippi Allstars, GA-20]

Pre-Save their new single ‘Don’t Know Diddly’ – here

‘Snap Back’: Track By Track:

“These are all original songs, continuing our exploration of the past and future roots of blues, the myriad rhythms that flow in and out across and around the globe, from Africa to America to the UK to everywhere and back again.

The importance of song – lyricism, themes ranging from the grit and joy of everyday life to poets, characters, fights in pubs, the fight inside you, bad cars. These songs are all true.

It’s always been the mission of the band to expand what we do rhythmically, there’s so much diversity and richness to be inspired by.

This is why we collaborate with musicians from West Africa, to share and learn about a rich musical culture.”

Don’t Know Diddley:

The Bo Diddley beat is an adaption of an essentially African rhythm. It can be found in so many contexts and cultures, like the heartbeat of life itself. It is closely linked to the clave, a 3-2 or a 2-3 pattern.

I came up with the basic guitar riff after listening to Howlin’ Wolf’s ‘300 Pounds of Joy’, which layers two types of clave over each other, making it a very funky groove. It’s what happens in New Orleans a lot.

There’s a long tradition of songs about Bo Diddley, not least by the man himself. The Neville Brothers did a tribute to the man. Errol Linton included his song ‘Bo Diddit’ on a recent album.

The lyrics are about people we met who didn’t know who he was and the history and importance of that rhythm. It makes for a great audience call-and-response song at gigs. We’re on a mission to tell people and spread the joy around.

Congas and horns – trumpet, tenor and bass sax.

This will be the first single release from the album on Friday 17^th July 2026.

Shining Through on the 122

This is inspired by Huey ‘Piano’ Smith, who recorded rhythm and blues classics in New Orleans in the 1950s. There are hundreds of songs about New Orleans, people singing about where they come from. This is about South London, where we come from.

The song takes the Huey dragging-funky riff and twists it around, modulating keys and bringing in other dimensions.

We’ve layered harmonicas, with a touch of Leslie speaker effect, instead of using a traditional horn section. As with Huey, this is all about the gang vocals and we quote one of his greatest songs ‘Don’t You Just Know It’.

We celebrate the 122 bus, the places we hang out and Perry Vale Studios where we recorded the First and Last Stop album, in tribute to the legendary and much-missed producer Pat Collier. In a twist of fate, the track ended up at 122 bpm.

Snap Back

This riff started out as a variation on Junior Kimbrough’s ‘All Night Long’, which we recorded for the Late Night Chicken album. It’s evolved into something completely new.

It’s about getting up after being hit, standing tall and going at it again. The line ‘one more once, one more twice’ is a nod to Count Basie.

Disconnect

One of two tracks on the album directly influenced by our collaborations with Senegalese musician Diabel Cissokho and the music of West Africa.

Joining us on djembe is the remarkable Seydou from Burkina Faso, who is based in London. And on violin is the equally remarkable and longtime collaborator Kamila Bydlowska from Poland, who also lives in London.

This is an exploration of what we call ‘urban desert blues’, inspired by the sense of distance and hypnotic riffs from artists like Diabel, Vieux Farka Toure, Mdou Moctar, Boubacar Traore and many others and bringing it to where we live.

The lyrics are about memory, forgetfulness and figuring out how to keep that thread going.

I Wanna Be On Your Radio Show

Inspired by a jingle the great Johnny Sansone did for New Orleans radio station WWOZ. It’s a simple idea, but heartfelt. It started out as our own radio jingle we recorded to promote our live album, Well Boss, then expanded into a full song.

Don’t Try

Poet and novelist Charles Bukowski has ‘Don’t try’ written on his gravestone. It’s his view on the creative process and how it needs to burst out from you whether you want it to or not. He said: “… unless the sun inside you is burning your gut, don’t do it. when it is truly time, and if you have been chosen, it will do it by itself and it will keep on doing it until you die or it dies in you.”

He was a drunkard with something of the preacher in him.

This is one of the songs we have stretched out on, with layered percussion and guitars to build a sense of drama.

Hold On Tight

The second track to feature Seydou on djembe, who was on fire when he recorded this, it also features Edd Bateman on bass. Edd has years of experience playing with some of the great Senegalese and Malian musicians. He regularly tours worldwide with Bombino, the sensational guitarist from Niger.

The horn section also returns for the song’s coda – we went for a long-form song in tribute to Fela Kuti, with new sections flowing in and building to a massive crescendo.

Until I Die

Joff: “Another song that came around from sitting with a guitar just playing. Main riff arrived backstage before a gig. Musical inspirations are Diabel Cissokho and Junior Kimbrough. West Africa meets North Mississippi.”

Flat Battery Blues

Joff: “A true life story inspired by yet another cheap and terrible car I’ve owned. Cars are much like life. Often letting you down, leaving you stuck in the middle of nowhere, and with memories of the good ones you’ve had. Musically inspired by funk and Cedric Burnside.”

The track will be the second single to be released and is scheduled for release on Friday 14th August 2026.

What Mickey Did Next

Joff: “This one is inspired by my years of working in a South London bookies and the characters I met there. Some good and some bad. It’s also a follow up to Mickey two suits from “First and last stop” and chronicles the continuing adventures of Mickey two suits. A lovable but shady character who is always making bad decisions.”

Well Boss

Joff: “Full throttle harmonica instrumental. All live, no overdubs. Inspired by harmonica greats like Walter Horton and Rod Piazza.”

About The Band:

Joff Watkins: Harmonica, Vocals and Guitar.

Joff is widely recognised as one of the best harmonica players in the UK today. He has built his reputation as a session player for top acts including Rhoda Dakar and Shola Ama and has played numerous live sessions for BBC Radio.

Set Up – Marine Band harmonicas, Gretsch guitar. Fenders Bassman and Harp Train amps. Pedals: Boss Blues Driver, TC Electronic Sub’n’Up, Lone Wolf harp delay and drive, TC Electronic Hall of Fame mini.

CJ Williams: Guitar and Backing Vocals.

CJ stands apart due to his technique and approach, which blends bass, rhythm and lead in one package. Uses a two-amp set-up with a signal splitter and octave pedal to create a giant sound.

Set Up – Guitars: 2019 Gibson Les Paul special tribute double cut, p90s; 1965 Silvertone Silhouette, silverfoil pickups; 1972 Gibson es340, t-top humbuckers; 1972 Martin D-28. Amps: Tone King Imperial II; Quilter Tone Block 202. Pedals: TC Electronic Spark Booster and Flashback Mini II; Boss OC-5; Gig Rig ABY-Baby; Nobels ODR mini; DOD Carcosa Fuzz.

Sammy Samuels: Drums, Percussion and Backing Vocals.

Sammy extensively toured Australia, Canada and the US before settling in the UK. He has developed a highly original and layered rhythmic style to underpin the sound.

Set Up – Gretsch kit, Djembe

“Williams is an inventive guitarist and his duetting with Watkins is something quite joyful.” – RnR Magazine.

“It’s not hard to hear why this outfit is carving a reputation on the live circuit.” – Hi Fi News.

“This is just robust music in the hands of masters. Fans of original and nuanced blues and R&B will garner hours of enjoyment here.” – Blues Blast Magazine.

The new album ‘Snap Back’ will have its physical release on Friday 25^th September 2026.

The digital release on all platforms will be on Friday 2^nd October 2026.