Interview by Paul Salfen
North Mississippi Allstars return with Still Shakin’ on June 6, 2025 via New West Records. The 11-track album was produced by Luther & Cody Dickinson. Still Shakin’ follows their acclaimed 2022 album Set Sail, which No Depression said was “their most soulful, funky creation to date.”
Back in the day, the Allstars came up with the phrase Modern Mississippi Music to describe their collision of styles and attitudes: an obsession with Mississippi Hill Country and Sacred Steel cross-bred with their stoner/punk/psychedelic jams. Still Shakin’ embodies that idea with every note and incorporates wild explorations, weird experiments, and unexpected influences into their sound.
The video for the album’s title track, which was shot at the family’s beloved Zebra Ranch Studio, Willie Mitchell’s Royal Studio, at the Boulder Theater, and features footage supplied by North Mississippi Allstars fans. Of the song, Luther Dickinson said “Still Shakin’” is a testament to our chemistry and collaboration with bandmates, Joey and Ray Ray. The music came together easily, improvising in the studio and I began recording the lyrics as they came to me, day after day, out on the road, in hotel rooms, using my kid’s plastic karaoke mic. The song is filled with inside jokes from the last 30 years and gratitude to our fans for keeping us in the game.”
The North Mississippi Allstars are a southern rock/blues band from Hernando, Mississippi, known for their gritty, soulful blend of blues, rock, and roots music. The band was formed in 1996 by brothers Luther Dickinson (guitar, vocals) and Cody Dickinson (drums, keyboards, electric washboard), the sons of legendary Memphis musician and producer Jim Dickinson.
Key Highlights:
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Their music is heavily influenced by Hill Country blues, a raw, rhythmic style associated with artists like R.L. Burnside, Junior Kimbrough, and Mississippi Fred McDowell.
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Their debut album, “Shake Hands with Shorty” (2000), received a Grammy nomination and helped establish them as torchbearers of Mississippi blues for a new generation.
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Over the years, they’ve collaborated with a wide array of artists, including Robert Plant, Mavis Staples, John Hiatt, and The Black Crowes.
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The band’s sound often incorporates traditional blues with modern rock elements, sometimes mixing in funk, gospel, and even electronic textures.
They’re especially known for their energetic live shows and improvisational style, often jamming and extending traditional blues tunes into something completely unique.
🎧 Essential Albums:
1. Shake Hands with Shorty (2000)
Their debut and still a standout — raw Hill Country blues with a youthful, high-octane energy.
Key tracks:
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Shake ‘Em On Down
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Goin’ Down South
2. 51 Phantom (2001)
Leans more into southern rock and funk, but still rooted in the blues.
Key tracks:
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Snakes in My Bushes
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Lord Have Mercy
3. Electric Blue Watermelon (2005)
More polished and diverse, with guests like Lucinda Williams and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band.
Key tracks:
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Hurry Up Sunrise
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Moonshine
4. World Boogie Is Coming (2013)
A tribute to the Mississippi blues legends who influenced them, produced with a raw, swampy vibe.
Key tracks:
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Rollin ‘n Tumblin
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Shimmy
5. Up and Rolling (2019)
Features Mavis Staples and Jason Isbell; a return to their roots with a modern feel.
Key tracks:
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What You Gonna Do?
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Mean Old World
🎶 A Few Must-Hear Songs (if you want a sampler):
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Po Black Maddie – hypnotic, grooving blues.
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Mississippi Boll Weevil – raw and driving.
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Skinny Woman – classic blues theme with fuzzed-out attitude.
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Prayer for Peace – modern blues anthem with social commentary.
