ZZ Ward, Liam St. John

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Charlie Ward

Zz Ward at a piano

ZZ Ward

media release: ZZ Ward is gearing up to perform at the Majestic Theatre on Friday, March 28.

For Ward, the blues is in her DNA. Growing up surrounded by her father’s record collection, she was raised on the sounds of Howlin’ Wolf and Muddy Waters. By 12, she was already performing in blues clubs, her signature fedora and gritty, soulful voice setting her apart as an artist wise beyond her years. As her career took off—breaking into the Billboard Top 40 and topping the Blues charts—industry pressures nudged her toward a more polished sound. And for a while, she played along, collaborating along the way with GRAMMY winners Fantastic Negrito and Gary Clark Jr.

Then came Liberation, her new album out March 14—and, fittingly, her return to form. The record marks her debut with the legendary Sun Records, the label that helped launch the careers of Elvis Presley and Howlin’ Wolf. Produced by Ryan Spraker, Liberation finds Ward unapologetically embracing her roots, weaving together Delta rhythms, garage rock grit, and vintage soul. It’s an album born from transformation—both personal and professional. Stepping away from a major label for the first time in a decade, she also became a mother, a shift that made her more determined than ever to make music on her own terms. “This is who I’ve always wanted to be—a blues artist, on my terms,” ZZ shares. “It just took me a long time to get here.”