Joanne Shaw Taylor Returns with the Soul-Stirring “Hell Or High Water”
British blues-rock powerhouse Joanne Shaw Taylor opens 2026 with a fiercely emotional new single, Hell Or High Water, out now via Journeyman Records. Known for her commanding voice and ferocious guitar tone, Taylor digs deep on this latest track — a gospel-tinged blues anthem about fighting through personal darkness with grit and grace.
“Hell Or High Water is a defiant, soul‑bearing Blues/Gospel anthem about surviving the war inside your own head and refusing to give in,” says Taylor. “It’s about resilience and self-belief even in the hardest of times.”
From its haunting introduction to its handclap-laced chorus, the song pulses with a raw urgency. Lyrically, it explores self-doubt, faith, and perseverance — grounded in lines like “Devil on my shoulder keeps whispering in my ear” and the repeated prayer “Lord, don’t let me falter.” The emotional weight is balanced by Taylor’s signature guitar work, cutting through the track with blistering clarity.
The release follows a prolific stretch for Taylor, whose 2025 album Black & Gold — and its acoustic Deluxe Edition — earned wide acclaim. Critics praised its balance of intimacy and polish, with Classic Rock calling it “a 9/10 triumph,” while Guitarist Magazine emphasised Taylor’s stature as “one of today’s brightest stars.”
With Hell Or High Water, Taylor offers a first taste of what’s to come in 2026 — a year that promises more new music and relentless touring. The single signals an artist unafraid to evolve, blending vulnerability and conviction into one of her most potent statements yet.
2026 Tour Dates
UK Tour – January 2026 (with special guest Connor Selby):
25 Jan – Edinburgh – The Queen’s Hall
26 Jan – Buxton – Opera House
28 Jan – Blackpool – Opera House
29 Jan – Sunderland – The Fire Station
30 Jan – Southend – Palace Theatre
Spring U.S. Tour
Mar 18 – Skokie, IL – North Shore Center
Mar 20 – Kent, OH – The Kent Stage
Mar 21 – Pittsford, NY – Beston Hall
Mar 22 – Homer, NY – Center for the Arts
Mar 24 – Red Bank, NJ – The Vogel
Mar 25 – Sellersville, PA – Sellersville Theater
Mar 27 – State College, PA – The State Theatre
Mar 28 – Annapolis, MD – Rams Head On Stage
Mar 29 – Oakmont, PA – The Oaks Theater
Mar 31 – Hobart, IN – The Hobart Art Theater
Apr 2 – Franklin, TN – The Franklin Theatre
Apr 3 – Greenville, SC – Peace Center
Apr 4 – Cornelius, NC – Cain Center for the Arts
Apr 7 – Orlando, FL – The Plaza Live
Apr 9 – West Palm Beach, FL – Kravis Center
Apr 10 – Ponte Vedra, FL – Ponte Vedra Concert Hall
Apr 10–12 – Miramar Beach, FL – Sound Wave Beach Weekend (Sold Out)
For tickets and more information, visit joanneshawtaylor.com
