Biography
Sue Foley, born March 29, 1968, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, grew up in a working-class family in the Mechanicsville neighborhood, where she was exposed to music early on. She began playing guitar at age 13, inspired by the Rolling Stones and a live James Cotton concert at 15, which solidified her commitment to blues guitar. By 16, she performed professionally with local Ottawa bands, and after high school, moved to Vancouver in the mid-1980s, forming the Sue Foley Band and touring Canada extensively.[1][2][4]
In 1989, after touring with Mark Hummel and catching the attention of Clifford Antone while sitting in with Duke Robillard, Foley relocated to Austin, Texas, at age 21. She signed with Antone's Records, releasing her acclaimed debut Young Girl Blues in 1992, followed by albums like Without a Warning (1993) and Big City Blues (1995). Known for her fiery Texas blues style blended with refined acoustic playing, she shared stages with B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Jimmie Vaughan, and others. In 1997, she returned to Canada to raise her son, winning a Juno Award for Love Comin' Down (2001), 17 Maple Blues Awards, three Trophees de Blues de France, and five Blues Music Awards, including the 2025 Koko Taylor Award.[1][2][3][6]
Foley's career continued with breakthroughs like The Ice Queen (2018, featuring Billy Gibbons and Jimmie Vaughan) and One Guitar Woman (2024), a solo acoustic tribute to female guitar pioneers, nominated for a 2025 Grammy for Best Traditional Blues Album. She remains a top modern blues artist, scholar, and author, with Guitar Women forthcoming in 2026.[2][3][4]
Fun Facts
- Foley played 300 dates in 1989 alone during her tour with Mark Hummel across the US, Canada, and Europe.
- She moved back to Canada in 1997 to raise her son but returned to Austin in the mid-2010s after learning of the new Antone's club.
- Her 2024 album One Guitar Woman honors female pioneers like Maybelle Carter, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Ida Presti, and Lydia Mendoza.
- Foley participated in the 'Antone’s Women' tour early in her solo career on the Antone’s label.
Associated Acts
- Back Alley John
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Clifford Antone - Mentor and label founder who signed her after seeing her play (Antone's Records albums including Young Girl Blues) [1989-1990s]
- Gatemouth Brown - Stylistic disciple and influence (Influenced her Texas blues style) [Early career]
- Lou Ann Barton - Student of Austin blues scene figure (Austin blues development) [1990s]
- Lavelle White - Student of Austin blues scene figure (Austin blues development) [1990s]
Key Collaborators
- Mark Hummel - Teamed with Sue Foley Band for extensive touring (Unnamed album recorded together) [1988-1989]
- Duke Robillard - Sat in with his band, leading to Antone's discovery (W.C. Handy Awards performance) [1989]
- Mike Flanigin - Partnership and producer (The Ice Queen album) [2018]
- Jimmie Vaughan - Shared stages and guest appearance (The Ice Queen) [2018]
- Billy Gibbons - Guest appearance (The Ice Queen) [2018]
Artists Influenced
- Laura Chavez - Recommended by Foley to Candye Kane, becoming her musical director (Candye Kane's band 2008-2016) [2000s-2016]
Connection Network
Discography
Albums
| Title | Release Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Love Comin' Down | 2000-05-09 | Album |
| The Ice Queen | 2018-02-03 | Album |
| One Guitar Woman | 2024-03-29 | Album |
| One Guitar Woman | 2024-03-29 | Album |
| Back For Me | 2025-03-28 | Album |
| Pinky's Blues | 2021-10-22 | Album |
| Back to the Blues | 2000-10-24 | Album |
| Big City Blues | 2012-09-24 | Album |
| Beyond The Crossroads | 2012-04-17 | Album |
| Young Girl Blues | 1992-02-04 | Album |
| Live In Austin Vol. 1 | 2023-10-27 | Album |
| They Called It Rhythm & Blues | 2022-03-18 | Album |
| Without a Warning | 2012-09-24 | Album |
| Live In Austin Vol. 1 | 2023-10-27 | Album |
| Pinky's Blues | 2021-10-22 | Album |
Top Tracks
- Mediterranean Breakfast (Love Comin' Down)
- Holes
- Holes
- The Ice Queen (The Ice Queen)
- Two Trains (Love Comin' Down)
- Nothing In Rambling (One Guitar Woman)
- The Ice Queen
- Nothing In Rambling (One Guitar Woman)
- Come To Me (The Ice Queen)
- The Lucky Ones (The Ice Queen)
External Links
Tags: #blues, #electric-blues
References
Heard on WWOZ
Sue Foley has been played 1 time on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.
| Date | Time | Title | Show | Spotify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 14, 2025 | 15:15 | In My Girlish Daysfrom One Guitar Woman | Homespun Americanaw/ Ol Man River |