Jake La Botz brings his Gospel-Noir Americana back to Europe

Raised on the gritty streets of Chicago, Jake La Botz learned the blues firsthand from the last of the pre-war bluesmen. Guitar in hand, he roamed the country until he landed in Hollywood—where, against all odds, a film career began to take shape.

At 30, La Botz got clean from heroin and turned to Buddhist meditation, both as a personal practice and a path he now teaches. His spiritual journey also led him deep into the world of gospel, playing guitar in a Black Baptist church in South Central L.A. The result is a sound he calls Gospel-noir Americana—a gritty, soulful blend of blues, gospel, and storytelling.

That storytelling is front and center on his latest album, Hair on Fire, a collection of eccentric characters, dark humor, and spiritual themes, all delivered with La Botz’s trademark raw sincerity. In addition to music, La Botz has racked up over 20 film credits, with roles in True Detective, Rambo, On the Road, and most recently D.O.A., alongside punk legend John Doe of X. He’s also an accomplished writer, with short fiction published in The Inquisitive Eater, Metonym Literary Journal, and The Museum of Americana. A graphic memoir created with artist Nic Breutzman is on the way, along with a collection of short stories and a novella.

Joining him once again for his European tour is the Nuremberg-based Roots/Americana band Smokestack Lightnin’, ready to bring La Botz’s gritty gospel-blues to life onstage:

06/06: Cologne, DE - EDP
07/06: Breskens, NL - Dust! My Blues Festival
08/06: Meppel, NL - Muziekcafé Clouso
09/06: Baars, NL - Speelplaats Baars
10/06: Leiden, NL - Q-Bus
11/06: Zottegem, BE - Pasta & Blues
12/06: Rouen, FR - Rush
13/06: Remilly-Aillicourt, FR - Festival Court-Circuit 
15/06: Barcelona, ESP - La Nau
17/06: Orihuela, ESP - La Gramola
18/06: Valencia, ESP - 16 Toneladas
19/06: Zaragoza, ESP - Rock & Blues
20/06: Vitoria, ESP - Helldorado
21/06: Madrid, ESP - Gruta 77