Think back to what you were doing when you were 16 years old. Maybe you were posted up on your parents’ couch playing video games. Maybe you were desperately trying to pass your high school math class. At 16, Taj Farrant, hailing from Australia, is touring the world shredding the blues—and staking his claim to legend status amongst guitar giants like Stevie Ray Vaughn, Jimi Hendrix, and Joe Bonamassa. I mean, I certainly wasn't jamming with Buddy Guy, Eric Gales, and Carlos Santana when I was a teen. Like they say, it takes one to know one... and even powerhouse blues legends who got their start years ago can see it plain as day: Taj Farrant is a natural-born star. Common themes you’ll see in his social media comments: “legend in the making,” “God-given talent,” and “the real deal”—having witnessed this young man play live, I couldn’t agree more. Read on for more about Taj Farrant’s sold-out show at the Rhythm Room in Phoenix, Arizona.
“Give him everything you’ve got, and he’ll give it right back and break some guitar strings for you,” Taj’s father said into the mic to a crowd packed in like sardines, who just moments earlier was chanting Taj’s name—eager to spend the evening reveling in pure, unadulterated talent. Taj took the stage and was greeted with roaring applause. Without hesitation, he jumped into his first song. The cozy venue swelled with wall-to-wall sound, the kind of sound that would easily fill a stadium. Taj’s band of young musicians made an immediate impression: these kids are hungry.
The audience was comprised of young-to-older adults, and they had no lack of enthusiasm. To see someone so young and so knowledgeable in the blues, with surprisingly mature vocals and a stage presence that rivals the greats who came before him… it was a sight to behold. People were bobbing their heads, cheering, and throwing up their hands and clapping, and Taj accepted all of it humbly. Taj and his band covered some classic blues charts that the crowd easily recognized, as well as some original songs from his aptly named debut album, Chapter One, which, by its title, confirms this is only just the beginning.
There's a certain feeling you get when you witness someone totally losing themselves in the music they're performing. It's like the performer and the instrument become one. The way Taj plays his guitar makes it clear: this is not just his passion, it's his calling. It's obvious through his energy that not only has he mastered the art of blues music, but he also has a genuine respect for it. From a musical perspective, improvising blues guitar solos and the knowledge in music theory required to do that on the spot, and do it well, is hard. And Taj is doing all of that flawlessly at 16. I keep emphasizing his age because that's truly how impressive his skills are. It's something you just need to see in person to fully comprehend (and even then, you can't believe how insanely talented he is). This kid is going to sell out arenas soon. Mark my words.
For Taj's parents, none of this is new to them. They've been witnessing this incredible talent since he was 7 years old. He was inspired to start learning guitar when he saw AC/DC live from atop his father's shoulders. Starting with a YouTube cover of “Tennessee Whiskey” that went massively viral (I'm talking 13 million+ views viral), then a standout performance of “Sweet Child of Mine” on The Ellen Show at the ripe age of 9, then going on to finish second in Australia's Got Talent that same year, Taj was wowing audiences even back then—and making it look easy. It's no wonder why he quickly garnered worldwide interest. Fast forward to August 23rd, 2025, at the Rhythm Room in Phoenix, Arizona, and his parents stood on stage behind him during a song towards the end of the show with looks of pure adoration as they watched him blow the roof off the joint. It goes without saying that a talent like Taj's needs to be protected, and they make sure of that. With parents like his, Taj is in great hands, and his future is so bright.
Taj's band has a massive sound, and they seem to be in perfect sync with each other on stage, oftentimes without needing to actually communicate. Adding to the family affair feel of the night was Taj's sister, Jazel, on keyboard. The songs she played in had some extra sparkle, and the added chemistry on stage between her and Taj as siblings was a delight to see. Coming from a musical family myself, there's just something special about playing music with your family, and it's also a real treat for the audience to see. Every member of the band carries their own weight in the music, and the overall impact is that of a well-seasoned professional group. If you close your eyes and just listen, you wouldn't expect this band to be comprised of young people. They're fun to watch, though, so don't close your eyes for too long.
Reviews online often remark on how Taj reminds them of a young version of [enter any legendary blues artist name here], and I definitely agree with those sentiments, but I would also argue that Taj is a beast all on his own. I've enjoyed blues music for most of my life, and I can say that there is just something different about Taj's music and the way he speaks through his guitar. In some of the songs on Chapter One you'll note some influences of pop and R&B here and there alongside the more "classic" blues influences. The album has something for every age group, and it perfectly paves the way for future projects (again, good call titling it Chapter One).
As for the set list, the show was well thought out and flowed smoothly from one song to the next, highlighting Taj's respect for the classics he covered as well as his stellar songwriting capabilities. The fact that his own songs blended so well with the covers is a great accomplishment in itself and further proves he's got a seat at the table with the greats.
Having listened through Chapter One prior to the show, I couldn't spot a single difference in quality between the recordings and the live performance. His vocals are soulful, raw, and full of emotion, both recorded and live. He's got a bit of rasp to his voice that adds a great effect to the music. His guitar sings just as beautifully in person as it does on the album, if not better. He interacts with the audience like they're good friends listening to him jam in his living room (he even plays in his socks). He seems to have a natural instinct for showmanship while still coming across as down-to-earth. Next time he's in your city, you need to catch his show. No excuses. And by the way, just as Taj’s father promised, he did in fact break a guitar string.
If you're able to snag a physical copy of Chapter One at Taj's shows or online, I implore you to. There's a real good chance it will be a collector's item someday.
Buy Taj Farrant's debut album, Chapter One, here:
Taj Farrant jamming with Buddy Guy
Taj Farrant jamming with Carlos Santana
Taj's first viral video at 9 years old, garnering over 13 million views and counting
