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Award-winning Birmingham-based trio, Blue Nation (Neil Murdoch vocals/guitar, Luke Weston bass/backing vocals, Nick Sharman drums) are set to release their latest EP, ‘Wisdom for Pennies’, on 24th July, before heading up that mountain in Wales for Steelhouse Festival. Neil joined us to talk about the EP, as well as the background of the band, and who he is looking forward to catching very soon at Steelhouse.
What are the origins of Blue Nation? How long have you been playing together?
We have always been in bands and slogged the circuit, but Luke and I have been together 10 years this September! Nick joined about 3 years ago, but really in the last 18 months is when people have started to take notice
What should people expect when they check out the band? How would you describe yourself?
Riffs, lots of chat, and an escape from the day-to-day life. We want people to walk away with a smile on their faces and have had a great night. We are not the type of band to just play songs and look moody. Just not in our nature.
The new EP ‘Wisdom for Pennies’ lands on July 24th. How long have you had the songs brewing?
About a year, to be honest, we had a fair few to go into the studio with, but we wanted to step it up a gear again, so we really pushed ourselves to hit a new level of songwriting. It was probably the hardest time in the studio from that fact, as we didn’t want to settle for anything else.
What was it about ‘Watch Me Fly’ that made it the ideal choice for the lead single?
I think it’s driving nature and that it was a bit different from our previous releases. We wanted it to stick out a little and give people the “ooohhhh this is new” vibe. Thankfully, from the feedback we received, it did!
As one of those bizarre people who always overthink album titles and song titles, what’s the story behind the title ‘Wisdom For Pennies’?
Ha ha, without getting all introverted and musician-like, I think the easiest way to explain it is that the current state of the world and Wisdom is really cheap. So if you take someone’s Wisdom for Pennies what have you really got? It is about as close to a diss track as we get.
The title track slaps hard, but at the moment, ‘Tired of Waiting’ is edging ahead as our favourite track on the EP. What can you tell us about this one?
That nearly didn’t make it onto the EP. Luke and I came up with the harmonies in my front room, and we just looked at each other and thought, this has something. We spent hours just singing the chorus line back to each other, saying this feels great. Without those harmonies, it would have sat on the shelf forever. The song itself is about not belonging or not being in the place you should be. I think many people can relate to that feeling. An uneasy knot in your stomach that tells you, you know. It’s about recognizing that and realizing that you have the belief to change that.
‘Comfort’ is another highlight, very cool and perfect top-down, West Coast of America road trip material; how quickly did this one come together?
Really quick, Nick had the main riff, and then the melody came to be in about 10 mins. I think lyrically it is one of my favourite lines. “I feel older than tomorrow but younger by the day.” Just fell out of my head onto the paper. Writing in total took about 15 mins max.
It’s hard to believe that you released your debut album, ‘Cross The Line & Decide’, way back in 2013. In what ways do you feel that the band has grown since then?
It feels like a totally different band; we didn’t know how to use a studio or have the confidence to really push ourselves. We spoke about this the other day, we are the same people (mad as a box of frogs), but we have a confidence in what we are doing and who we are. We feel at home in our own skin onstage and in the studio. I would say that is the main difference.
Having caught you live at Firevolt Festival last year, there is a lot of joking around between songs, but aren’t blues players supposed to be all serious? Aren’t you afraid that you will have your membership to the “Woke up this morning…” society revoked?
Here is a bombshell: we don’t think we are blues! Yeah, we have blues riffs, but so does everyone. We cannot be anything but us, and what you see on stage is what you see at the merch tent or when you meet us. Music is about expression and just be totally honest with yourself and the audience. If we came out with the formula or “Woke up this morning,” the fans would see through it. If you are you, and genuinely you, people can accept you for who you really are. If that means we get memberships taken off us, then it means it wasn’t meant for us anyway.
When other trios have been asked about the advantages of playing as a trio, very often the answer is that there are fewer arguments: would you agree?
Nah, to be fair, we don’t argue. Yeah, we disagree; yeah, we have tough conversations with each other, but we all know that it is for the benefit of the band. No one is above or below anyone, and we are a unit, a band. You must stick together, when you are onstage, you lean on each other like in life. If you are fighting all the time, I would suggest you have the wrong band members, and the classic “Artistic differences” post on socials is around the corner!
In your mind, who is the ultimate power trio?
Cream, no doubt, anyone else is just trying to get to that level, including us!
With the much-missed Thunder sadly out of the picture, who do you feel is the UK Blues-Rock act most likely to succeed them?
I don’t think anyone needs to succeed them. Thunder’s music will always be here to be enjoyed. Luke [Morley] is still touring and releasing music, and I hope it will continue. Luke has been great with us; he has spoken about us and given quotes about us. I was at an event, and he introduced me to his friend: “This is Neil from Blue Nation, great band.” I nearly fell to the floor. Little moments like that are just amazing. Music changes and goes through cycles; we are just happy that so many bands are forging their own paths and making music they believe in.
Who are you looking forward to catching at Steelhouse Festival next week?
The lineup is class! It has to be Rival Sons, we are heading up on the Saturday due to everyone telling us about THE MOUNTAIN, so we hope to catch them as my word they can play!
What are your first musical memories? And what was the lightbulb moment that made you say “I want to do that”?
It is different for all of us; I know Luke’s was watching Quadrophenia, mine was when my dad showed me Queen at Live Aid, and I think with Nick it was in his family and he was always around it. Those moments happen for every musician; you can pinpoint it back. As soon as I saw Freddie sing and the crowd being with him, I was hooked.
What was the last gig that you attended as a fan?
Went to see Dom Martin at the Temperance. Is that allowed? I mean, he is our mate, but yeah, we are fans like!
What frustrates you about the music business?
To be brutally honest with you, nothing frustrates me. It is an amazing industry, and you have a choice: shake your fist at the sky and ask for more streaming money or bigger gigs, or you can be positive, get on with what is in your control, make music, play shows, and make people happy.
I see quite a few artists bemoaning TikTok and viral music moments, and I ask myself why it bothers you so much that someone else is having success in music. Is it a chip-on-the-shoulder kind of thing, or an “I wish it was me”? I don’t know; I don’t have the answer, but it perplexes me that I hear artists and bands moaning about the state of the industry. Change, adapt, cut your cloth accordingly, and work. Change is the only constant
What new music have you been enjoying recently?
Lightning Threads’ new album (also on tour with us this year) see what I did 😉 Robert Plant and Saving Grace, Fleet Foxes. My music is sometimes miles away from what we play.
What does the remainder of 2026 hold for Blue Nation?
Release the EP, festivals, rehearsals, video shoots, photo shoots, headline tour, and maybe something we have been planning for a while 😉
We love being busy, and we always want to be either making people go “what the…” or “have you seen what they have done now?!” It’s part of the journey, isn’t it, enjoying the moments that sometimes pass you by.
2026 live dates:
10 Sep 2026 – Glasgow The Attic
11 Sep 2026 – Newcastle The Cluny
12 Sep 2026 – Sheffield The Greystones
19 Sep 2026 – Llandudno Motorsport Lounge
20 Sep 2026 – Blackpool The Waterloo Music Bar
25 Sep 2026 – Bristol The Louisiana
3 Oct 2026 – Worthing The Factory
9 Oct 2026 – London 229
10 Oct 2026 – Stowmarket John Peel Centre
28 Nov 2026 – Birmingham The Crossing
‘Wisom for Pennies’ is available to preorder HERE.
Interview: Dave
Header photo credit: Haluk Gurer
Black and white image: credit Rob Blackham
Live images credit: Rob Wilkins Firevolt Festival 2025
