Sonny Wolf – The Encyclopedia Brown of the Blues

I first encountered Sonny on January 21, 2021. It was a time, in Austin, when live music was still on “life-support.” December 2020 Christmas events had been cancelled for fear of another COVID outbreak and talk of a second shutdown was in the air. There was little to no live music but there was Sonny Wolf every Monday at Friends. I fell in love with his music and his knowledge of the music played. Anyone attending is entertained and educated at the same time. I never tire of hearing the story of Jimi Hendrix being invited over to England.

Sonny is a first-class blues player. He is also a man of endurance. Playing three straight hours, no break, Sonny delivers a high caliber performance each Monday at Friends on sixth street. He is a reason to get out of the house and enjoy Austin Live Music. He is an experience.

1). Who is Sonny Wolf?

I grew up in Montreal, Canada loving Blues and Rock n Roll music. In 2007, I moved to Austin Texas drawn by the history of the music scene here and the abundance of work I’ve been blessed with.

2). Tell me about your projects.

Paying my dues to play the Blues and sold my soul to Rock n Roll!!

3). Give me your interpretation of the Austin Music Scene of the past, present, and your hope for the future.

I think the glory days of the music scene here was probably back in the 1980s and 90s when Austin had plenty of venues that had live music and supported roots music in particular. Nowadays, the appreciation for roots music isn’t how it used to be with the current generation but I’m trying to keep it going by playing the music every night and educating people about the original artists who created this music. People love this music, the problem lies in that it is not promoted enough in the mainstream.

4). A.I. and music, your thoughts.

A.I. is fun but not something I’m interested in a serious context.I listened to a simulation of Bon Scott singing an AC/DC tune sung by Brian Johnson and it’s a cool ‘what if?’ but I don’t care for such modern technologies in the music I enjoy.

5). What is the question you are never asked?

I have no clue!!

The rule is that if the artist doesn’t put forth a question then I, the editor, gets to ask. Here goes.

Sonny, on the Monday’s I have attended your performance at Friend’s your is always enthusiastically delivered.

How do you keep it fresh and enjoyable? How does it not get old?