Woodie Alan: Beijing Blues Sessions

A blues band. A city across the world. A story only music could tell.

Before the bestsellers and the Allman Brothers legacy, Alan Paul fronted one of the most unexpected and beloved blues bands in China: Woodie Alan. Formed during his years living in Beijing, the band blended American blues and Chinese rock, quickly gaining a following and earning the title of Beijing’s Band of the Year in 2008.

Named after both Alan and Chinese guitarist Woodie Wu, the group became a cross-cultural phenomenon praised by legends like Billy Gibbons and Warren Haynes, and featured in Alan’s acclaimed memoir Big in China.

These videos capture the sound, soul, and spontaneity of that time. From smoky bar jams to festival stages, the Beijing Blues Sessions offer a rare window into an East-meets-West musical journey that defied expectations and built lasting bonds.