Blues artists HeavyDrunk and Watermelon Slim are combining forces for a UK tour and a new record, Bluesland Theme Park, to be released in 2025. HeavyDrunk and Watermelon Slim each have quite a repertoire individually (26 albums between the two), so it’s intriguing to think about how their styles will blend together on their first joint effort.
The duo’s first single, “Watermelon Girl,” premieres today on American Blues Scene. “Broke out for long Delta miles/ As I staggered along/ A friendly melody beckoned me on.” With its smooth, steady Caribbean current – steel drums, pedal steel guitar, and dulcet vocal tones – the song is the musical equivalent of a cool summer breeze when you need it most.
Rob Robinson (aka HeavyDrunk) wrote the song with the late legend Tony Joe White (“Polk Salad Annie”). Rob explains, “Tony used to come get crawfish and Ribs from my BBQ joint in Tennessee. We became friends and started writing ‘Watermelon Girl.’ Tony split for heaven before we could finish it, so I completed it for this record with Slim.”