Duo “AS” consists of veteran guitar player Sulev Kalder, who is celebrating his 70th birthday this year and young talented singer Alexandra. Sulev has been attending August Blues for at least 25 years, the last five of them also on stage, Alexandra will perform at the festival for the third time.
For over 30 years, The Fabulous Thunderbirds have been the quintessential American band. The group’s distinctive and powerful sound, influenced by a diversity of musical styles, manifested itself into a unique musical hybrid via such barnburners as “Tuff Enuff” and “Wrap It Up”. Co-founder Kim Wilson, the sole original member, still spearheads the group as it evolves into its newest incarnation.
“We started as a straight blues band”, vocalist and harmonica player Wilson says. “We now incorporate a mixture of a lot of different styles. We’re an American music band and we’re much higher energy than we were before.”
“To be in the T-Birds, you need to understand the different styles of music and different ways of playing,” Wilson comments. “You have to be willing to adopt a more contemporary style. The guys we have now are able to do that.”
The band continues to tour extensively, in both the U.S. and Europe. Wilson is currently writing songs on his own, with band members and other writers.
“I’ve primarily been a solo songwriter, but I’m looking forward to experimenting with the guys in the band,” Wilson says.
The thread throughout the T-Birds career has been the respect the group commanded for its peerless musicianship and devotion to the sounds of blues, R & B and rock ‘n‘ roll. In fact, Muddy Waters called Wilson his favorite harmonica player and vocalist. “Muddy Waters was very good to me,” Wilson says. “He almost adopted me. I’ll never forget him.”
For Kim Wilson, the musical journey started in Goleta, California. At 17 he began playing the harmonica. His influences included Little Walter, George “Harmonica” Smith, Lazy Lester and James Cotton. At the same time, Wilson began singing and was deeply impacted by Bobby “Blue” Bland, B.B. King, Otis Rush, Jimmy Rodgers and Muddy Waters. In search of other musicians who shared his love of the blues, Wilson headed to Minneapolis. He stayed there for a year and a half, playing locally, before moving to the burgeoning music scene of Austin, Texas. It was there that he met Jimmie Vaughan and they founded the T-Birds in 1974. The band developed a reputation as a compelling live act and subsequently signed a record deal with CBS/Epic Records.
In 1979, The Fabulous Thunderbirds released their first self-titled album. Primarily blues influenced, it became a cult classic. “Things were wide open back then,” Wilson recalls. “There were hundreds of stages where bands could show what they had.”
In subsequent releases, the band started to incorporate more Cajun, rock ‘n roll and soul influences. The album “T-Bird Rhythm” marked a creative turning point for the group as it collaborated with noted producer Nick Lowe. In 1986, The Fabulous Thunderbirds reached a commercial peak with the album, “Tuff Enuff”. The single of the same title as well as the singles “Wrap It Up” and “Look At That”, all went top 40. The song, “Tuff Enuff” was featured in the film “Gung Ho” starring Michael Keaton.
For the remainder of the ’80s, the band continued to record and tour, and released the album, “Powerful Stuff”. Jimmie Vaughn left in 1989 but Wilson kept the group going, incorporating keyboards into the guitar-driven sound. Kim moved back to California in 1996, continuing to cultivate the T-Birds music.
“The thing about the T-Birds is that we can play both blues festival and rock venues,” Wilson comments. “We’re a diversified band now and everybody’s on the same page.”
The lineup:
• Kim Wilson – lead vocals, harmonica
• Johnny Moeller – guitar
• Bob Welsh – piano / guitar
• Rudy Albin – drums
• Steve Kirsty – bass
Eric Steckel is an American blues singer, guitarist, songwriter, and record producer. To date, Steckel has released 13 albums, and toured worldwide sharing the billing with Steve Vai, Gregg Allman, Johnny Winter, John Mayall, Ray Charles, Larry Carlton, Robben Ford, and others. In March 2024, Steckel was voted number 55 in Total Guitar magazine’s list of “The 100 Greatest Blues Guitarists of All Time”. In 2021, Steckel was named one of “10 Future Blues Stars” by Guitar Player.
In an era where pedalboards, laptops and samples have become commonplace, Eric Steckel goes against the grain and harkens his listeners back to the days when great guitars were played loudly through great amps. Hailed by many as the top rising star of Blues/Rock, Eric delivers a powerhouse performance that has left audiences in 25 countries (and counting) mesmerized. He brings an energy and passion to the stage that never disappoints and is a must see for fans of vintage guitar rock.
Few young guitarists can improve on Eric Steckel’s impressive resume. Eric’s debut CD, “A Few Degrees Warmer”, was recorded live in April 2002 when he was just 11 years old. It wasn’t long until he appeared at the 2003 Sarasota Blues Festival, where Eric’s powerful set became the talk of the day. Before the night was over, Eric was introduced by British Blues/Rock legend John Mayall as the youngest guitarist ever on stage with the Bluesbreakers. Eric left a lasting impression on Mayall, and in 2004, Mayall invited Eric to appear in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark during The Bluesbreakers’ Scandinavian Tour. In early 2005, Eric traveled to Los Angeles, where he joined Mayall for session work on the “Road Dogs” record.
Eric then spent the following years filled with marquee festival dates and sold-out concert tours in Holland, Germany, Belgium, and Italy. He opened for Johnny Winter at The Paradiso in Amsterdam, thrilled audiences at the Tegelen Bluesrock Festival, and shared the prime-time bill with Gregg Allman at the legendary Pistoia Blues Festival.
Eric released several critically acclaimed live and studio albums throughout his teens and young adulthood. 2006’s “Havana” was a hit among Blues guitar lovers, and tracks from this album are still featured often on SiriusXM’s Bluesville station. 2008’s “Feels Like Home” featured the talented Duane Trucks on drums and recalled the 70’s southern rock era. Hits from this album, such as “The Ghetto” and “Just Walk Away,” receive regular airplay to this day. In 2012, after years on the road, Eric again entered the studio to record a powerful modern Blues record. “Dismantle The Sun” emerged. In 2015, Eric embarked on a quest to record a fully transatlantic studio album with some of the finest producers, engineers, and musicians he knew. This led to “Black Gold” being recorded in Nashville, Tennessee, and Amsterdam, Netherlands. Eric’s current album, “Polyphonic Prayer,” is his most successful album to date and features Eric on every instrument besides the drums.
Road-tested and seasoned from 20+ years on stage and in the studio, Eric delivers his signature blend of Bluesmetal worldwide to appreciative guitar lovers in 25 countries and counting.
Eric has been featured in Top Guitar Magazine, Guitar World Magazine, Classic Rock Magazine, Blues Rock Review Magazine, Maxazine, Nightwatcher’s House of Rock, The Allentown (PA) Morning Call, The Doylestown (PA) Intelligencer, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The (NY) Times-Herald Record, Music Head Magazine, The Warren (NJ) Reporter Forum, The Easton (PA) Express, The Bridgewater (NJ) Courier Times, The Sarasota (FL) Herald-Tribune, the Lancaster (PA) Sunday News and The Florida Times Union. International press includes features in the Haagshe Courant, De Telegraaph, BluesMagazine (NL) and a MusikMaker (NL) feature. Eric was also featured in a Comcast CN8 TV News Extra and he has appeared on NBC 10 in Philadelphia, Comcast CN8, Fox Philadelphia, SNN6 in Sarasota and Reuters TV.
“There’s a young lady [Vanessa Collier] came onstage with me, I forget where I was, but she’s playing an alto saxophone, and man, she was amazing.”
Those are the words of Buddy Guy in a recent issue of American Blues Scene, describing an impromptu performance with Vanessa Collier on the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise. If you haven’t been fortunate enough to meet Vanessa and witness one of her head-turning, fiery, and passionate performances, you should definitely make sure you do. As a master musician and multi-instrumentalist, Vanessa Collier, weaves funk, soul, rock, and blues into every powerful performance and she is downright impressive. With soulful vocals, searing saxophone, and witty songwriting, Vanessa is blazing a trail, racking up an impressive arsenal of honours, and has already singled herself out as an artist of distinction and one we would all do well to watch.
It’s not simply the accolades she has accumulated so far, although they’ve been many — two Blues Music Awards for “Horn Player of the Year”, and a third BMA for “Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year”, eight Blues Music Award Nominations (BMAs), a Blues Blast Award nomination, the Jammingest Pro Award bestowed by the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise, First Place for lyrics in the International Songwriting Competition, Best of 2014 Blues Breaker on Dan Aykroyd’s BluesMobile — it’s the fact that she has accumulated all these honours even while her career is still in its infancy. A 2013 graduate of the prestigious Berklee College of Music, she’s toured nationally and internationally, released four critically acclaimed albums (2014’s Heart, Soul & Saxophone, 2017’s Meeting My Shadow, and 2018’s Honey Up, 2020’s Heart On The Line. Honey Up spent 9 weeks atop the Billboard Blues Album Charts Top 15, 3 months on the Living Blues Charts at #10 and #23, and continues to be spun on Sirius XM’s B.B. King’s Bluesville radio station!
It’s not surprising that the press has been quick to commend her efforts as well. Blues Blast Magazine affirms, “Vanessa Collier is a fresh face on the American blues scene, and in addition to her soulful vocals, she brings a mighty sax to the table…” Blues Music Magazine proclaims, “Collier is a fresh face who comes to the blues stage carrying her reed instruments, a dual degree from Berklee College of Music in Boston, a major label debut, almost two years of touring with Joe Louis Walker, and a mature musical vision…Collier commands center stage with her vocals, soloing, and stage presence.” Midwest Record exclaims, “This bluesy singing sax player knows how to bring the slinking funk to her captivating, award winning sound that has echoes in young Bonnie Raitt/Maria Muldaur vocal sounds…Killer stuff on every level, this sounds like one of the reasons you first became a music fan. Killer stuff.” and AXS.Com declares that she “might as well go ahead and add another shelf to her trophy case because clearly, she’s going to need it. With a voice that often recalls that of blues-rock stalwart Bonnie Raitt, Collier turns up the heat…”
Having first picked up the saxophone at the age of nine, Collier embarked on her road to recognition at Berklee, earning dual degrees in Performance and Music Production &
Engineering. While still completing her degree, Collier landed a position touring with Joe Louis Walker for a year and a half before Joe encouraged her to strike out on her own. And strike out she did.
These days, Collier spends much of her time on the road, performing at some of the most prestigious music festivals in the world. Her talents have taken her to the Blues Music Awards Show where, in the words of the Blues Foundation, Vanessa “blew the doors off the Blues Music Awards!”; Ottawa Blues Festival, where she earned two front page newspaper photos and rave reviews after her foot stomping debut there; twice on the Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise, where she earned the Jammingest Pro Award and was a featured artist with Tommy Castro’s Blues Review; Briggs Farm Festival, where she was the “most popular Briggs Farm act in 2017” (Elmore Magazine), and the list continues. In 2017, Vanessa was also a featured artist in three major tours across Europe as part of Ruf’s 2017 Blues Caravan.
Vanessa has won 3 Blues Music Awards – two for “Horn Player of the Year” in 2019 and 2020 and one in 2022 for “Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year”!! She has been nominated for eight Blues Music Awards since 2017, which puts her in elite company with artists such as Beth Hart, Samantha Fish, Shemekia Copeland, Ruthie Foster, Trombone Shorty, Al Basile, and Jimmy Carpenter.
“To hear and see vocalist, drummer and keyboardist Sheryl Youngblood perform is to be dazzled by her talent and uplifted by her soulful treatments of Blues, Gospel and R&B. Up-tempo numbers are body-shaking tent revival-esque, while her sorrowful bluesy numbers walk a redemptive road from sadness towards elation. Owing to Sheryl’s vivacious performing style, one is absolutely catapulted from the start.
Upbeat, positive but introspective, recent Delmark Records’ artist Youngblood is currently celebrating her newly released digital single titled “Every Single Day of Your Life” as a tribute to its writer, Jimmy Johnson.” (Blues Blast Magazine, January 18, 2024)
Now you can witness with your own eyes and ears the high spirits of Sheryl Youngblood, when she is touring Estonia and Finland with a Helsinki-based band Highway. Highway’s experienced musicians Jonne Kulluvaara (gtr), Jan-Olof “Puppe” Strandberg (b), Köpi Toivanen (drs) and “Good Rockin'” Kempas (voc & harp) promise to keep up with the pace.
Ultima Thule is probably the most important Estonian blues rock band of all times. The special programme “Bow” is a tribute to band’s late frontman Riho Sibul and other members who are no longer with us.
The project features guest artists Tõnis Mägi, Vaiko Eplik, Maria Vaigla, Robert Linna and Mikk Tammepõld.
Utima Thule are Raul Vaigla, Kalle Vilpuu, Aare Põder, Toomas Rull, Robert Vaigla.
Henri Herbert is a piano-playing phenomenon. Originally from The UK, he currently resides in Austin, Texas and tours extensively in the United States and Europe as a soloist. He is recognised as one of the most important exponents of boogie woogie and blues piano in the world. From an early age, Herbert was fascinated by the piano-pounding pioneers Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino and Pete Johnson. A video of Henri playing an impromptu blues on the public piano in London’s St Pancras Train Station has now reached an incredible 69 million views on Youtube. Henri was personally invited to perform with Canadian rock star Bryan Adams at Bryan’s Christmas party in London in 2014, and in 2022 gave a special performance in Nice, France for the Royal Family of Monaco. He has been hired for a return performance in Nice for later this year.
Henri was a member of the famous rock’n’roll band The Jim Jones Revue from 2011 to 2014, performing several world tours, including appearances at Rock En Seine in Paris, David Letterman’s The Late Show in New York and Album of the Week on Canal + in Paris. After the dissolution of The Jim Jones Revue, Herbert embarked on a solo career and has released several albums under his own name. All these releases were accompanied by numerous international tours. He has performed at the Cincinnati Blues Festival, South By Southwest Festival, Notts TV and Marc Riley’s BBC 6 in The UK, where he recently opened for Richard Hawley at a sold-out show in Sheffield. He continues to tour throughout The USA and Europe, with engagements at the Milan Piano Festival and the International Jazz Festival in Davos, Switzerland, as well as 2 sold out shows at The Blue Note in Hawaii, in 2021. Henri is also in great demand as an accompanist for Irish rock band The Strypes, USA guitar hero Charlie Sexton and blues legends Kim Wilson and The Fabulous Thunderbirds. Herbert was invited by The Lewis Family to play
Jerry Lee’s piano in Mississippi – a video of the performance was seen 25,000 times in two hours!
Press Quotes:
“A blazing young pianist” The New Yorker
“An incredible pianist, Jerry Lee would be proud” – Bryan Adams
“Possessed by the spirit of Jerry Lee Lewis” – John Aizlewood, London Evening Standard
“Henri’s singing is as sensual as Elvis at his most moody, but it’s his demonic piano playing that grabs the attention” – Ged Babey, Louder Than War
“Very few pianists on the planet can put as much sheer emotion or adrenaline-fuelled virtuosity into their performances” – Matt Frost, The Blues Magazine
“Classy, considered songwriting” – Henry Yates, Classic Rock Magazine
“His bar-room boogie piano manages to be, variously, celebratory, roiling, turbulent, manic and even – delicate and moving.” – Jude Clarke, BBC Music
The Fender Stratocaster is without a doubt the most iconic guitar model.
Almost every style of music has been played on it for the past 70 years. It has been played by guitar heroes such as Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jeff Beck and thousands of others, as well as Estonias own Slavka Kobrin and Riho Sibul…
The Strat created by Leo Fender in 1954 was, is and will be “forever ahead of its time”, as Fender’s slogan says, and one cannot help but agree.
To celebrate this beautiful event, a number of Estonian Strat players will gather on the Augustibluus stage to enjoy together this great achievement of human culture, which the Stratocaster undoubtedly is.
Super chic and stylish New Orleans style brass band from the South of France.
The band’s music is characterized by virtuosity, merciless stage energy, extremely witty repertoire integrating different styles, and a great sense of humor.
It is undoubtedly one of the best good mood projects of the Old World in its genre.
Doesn’t leave anyone cold.
“Bluetry is the music of words, and music is the bluetry of sounds,” to paraphrase Thomas Fuller. Hundreds of fans of Augustibluus Festival have thought after blues + poetry = bluetry (“bluule” in Estonian, as a mixture of “bluus” – blues – and “luule” – poetry) in a similar way. Thanks to the festival guests, this year Bluule will also be celebrating 10 years of performances at Augustibluus Festival, to honor the festival and loyal audience. Bluule will take the stage with a unique lineup of ten members and the perfomance will take longer than their usual program.
Exactly who among the beloved performers will appear in the cozy cinema hall of the Haapsalu Cultural Center on the evening of August 1st will be revealed already in May, when Bluule will open the cards for its small anniversary, one by one. Follow Augustibluus’ website and social media and mark your calendar, this year Bluule is on Thursday!
Bluule is a word and format specially created by Georg Merilo for Augustibluus. In turn, Bluule was born from the series of poetry concerts, the Romantic Poetry Program, which also has a rounder number – 15 years this summer.
Over the years, Estonian actores Merle Palmiste, Kärt Kross-Merilo, Lauri Liiv, Hardi Volmer, Gaute “Rohke Debelakk” Kivistik, Raivo Trass, Tambet Tuisk, Rain Tolk and others have performed with their favorite poems. Professional musicians have all been top players – Ain Agan, Carlos Ukareda, Taavi “Taff” Aavik, Mai Leisz, Kalle Vilpuu, Raul Vaigla, Alari Kriisa, Vilho Meier, Mikk Tammepöld, Steve Vanoni and others.
I Shot a Man was born in 2014, out of a stubborn determination to take blues music from its origins and play it as if it were born today.
The result is a sound that is essential, unfinished, unpolished, close to the world in which the blues was born, when instruments were few and rusty, but in the midst of that scrap metal, those musicians were able to give birth to melodies so pure that they became universal.
The absence of bass guitar forces the trio to invent new arrangements, to rethink rhythmics in a constant dialogue between percussion and a hundred-year-old fingerpicking.
Domenico De Fazio – electric guitars, resophonic, backing vocals
Manuel Peluso – lead vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar
Simone Pozzi – drums, percussion, backing vocals
Paul Venturi is one of Italy’s most remarkable bluesmen. During his career, he has performed at numerous festivals both on this side and across the Atlantic Ocean, including the highly prestigious New Orleans Jazz Festival.
He has also accompanied several artists from abroad such as J. Monque’ D and Washboard Chaz and participated in countless domestic and international projects.
Venturi has also represented Italy several times at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis and the European Blues Challenge.
Inspired by the traditions in black and white of the Old South, the guitar duet-and-vocal project imagined by Mathis HAUG and Benoît NOGARET comes to grips with an enlightened repertoire mixing Blues, Folk and old time Country music. The result gives weight to the notion of Americana while breaking away from the trappings of nostalgia.
The songs of the Carter Family, Big Bill Broonzy, Doc Watson, Reverend Gary Davis, Bill Monroe or the Stanley Brothers find themselves rejuvenated by Haug and Nogaret. The duo adds to the mix a handful of personal compositions, reminding us that Southern music, largely inspired by its Native American and African heritage, owes much to its European roots.
Guitarist, singer, and producer Mathis Haug has been a mainstay of the European scene for more than two decades. He has recorded six albums under his own name for the Dixiefrog and Nueva Onda labels, as well as an EP produced in Memphis.
Guitarist Benoit Nogaret has been influenced by American popular music since he was a child. Hailing from a musical family, he was encouraged by his father to take up the guitar and rapidly became a much sought-after player, on stage and in the studio.
Fired by their common passion for the acoustic guitar and authentic American music, Mathis and Benoît started playing together for fun in their kitchen over twenty years ago.
Benoît was working as a postman at the time and spent all his free time honing his guitar skills.
As for Mathis, he was burning up the highways with his own group when he wasn’t peddling his wares as guitarist and
bandleader for the likes of legendary Moroccan vocalist Oum, Tuscarora Nation artist and activist Pura Fé, harmonica wizard J.J. Milteau, blues greats Eric Bibb and Bid Daddy Wilson, jazz diva Angie Wells, as well as French Pop singer and former First Lady Carla Bruni who hired him as sideman, composer and producer.
When they were not on tour, Mathis and Benoît often warmed up their fingers together by playing tunes borrowed from the song bags of Big Bill Broonzy, Lead Belly, Ralph Stanley, showing their extensive knowledge of Americana.
Listening to Doc Watson’s recordings, they soon realized that the old master had recorded most of their favorite songs: “Whiskey Before Breakfast,” “Nashville Blues,” “Banks of the Ohio,” “Little Sadie,” “Rock, Salt and Nails”… Delving into the works of the North Carolina maestro, they decided to celebrate their friendship with a recorded tribute to Doc.
“Performing this warm music, initiating a rich dialogue with fellow musicians in the Internet era, introducing our old master Doc Watson to a whole new generation of Southern music fans is a major source of joy and satisfaction for us.” Mathis Haug and Benoît Nogaret.
This initial collaboration in the studio, entitled Sitting on top of the world , has been hailed by many Blues, Folk and Country specialists. This success has paved the way for a radiant and spirited stage program. Their polyphonic, call-and-response approach to the guitar duet formula is a fitting celebration of American music art form.
“I heard both “Deep River Blues” and “Little Sadie” and they sound wonderful. I look forward to meeting you guys down the road in real life someday.” Chris Eldrige (guitarist and singer of Punch Brothers)
Finnish actor Teijo Eloranta founded this swinging and good-minded blues band in 2006.
The musicians of Maisteri T. are experienced and they present the very top of finnish blues musicians. Sammeli Palovaara (guitar) and Juho Ranta (drums) are former members of “Tomi Leino Band” and Petri Loikala (bass) played for extended time for “Knucklebone Oscar Band”.
“Maisteri T.” is a hardworking band and it has the reputation of an excellent, feet-to-the-roof-lifting act, which doesn´t fear nor small neither bigger stages. The band plays all their songs in Finnish.
“Oh boy, oh boy – what a marvellous band! …Every detail in the band was in right place and they really can take their audience. Blues at it´s prime!” Jyrki Kallio/Aamulehti
“Before I had heard a single note from “Maisteri T. & Lihan tie”, I had heard lots of praising for the band. It is said that this band really creates a frenzied spirit on their gigs. After listening their debut album “Turpa kii ja tanssi!” I don´t doubt it at all. This is a stupendously good record. Such great blues is made in Finland. /Marko Aho, Blues-Finland
Teijo Eloranta – vocals, harmonica
Sammeli Palovaara – guitar
Petri Loikala – bass
Juho Ranta – drums
With a voice and mind full of nuances, Hedvig Hanson has moved more and more inward in time, preferring quieter and smaller concerts. Having 30 years of experience as a singer, performing with various ensembles, from a duo to a big band, having also had her share of international success, she has released 16 albums and received a lot of recognition.
Hedvig’s musical preferences still reflect her love for jazz, blues and soul, in recent years she mainly sings in her mother tongue, praising the melodiousness of the Estonian language. Her voice is full of feminine sensuality and motherly tenderness. Hedvig has remained faithful to the timeless, soulful music of the old school, rather than going along with the technicality and external effects of modern times.
With the greatest pleasure, she often performs with guitarist Marek Talts, whom they have already met during the recording of Hedvig’s most successful album “Come to me” in 2001.
Marek Talts is a guitarist who plays in various bands and projects with a musical focus on rhythm music and improvisation. For Marek, it is exciting to participate in music projects that combine different musical styles. He is happy also to participate in bands playing Christian worship music.
In 2020, the musician released his first solo album “Abstract Dance”, which contains his own creations and free improvisations. Marek has studied music at the Tallinn Music School and at the Viljandi Academy of Culture of the University of Tartu, where he also works as a teacher.
It is in their hometown Viljandi that Hedvig and Marek meet to rehearse and discuss things of the world. A similar worldview binds and contributes to making music. The duo loves to perform different kinds of music – swing, blues, ballads and also world music inspired songs.
This time at the Haapsalu Cathedral, the immense echo of the church will be decisive – that’s why slower, more meditative songs are chosen for the set, and depending on the festival, of course, blues will also be heard. A solemn Sunday it will be.
Toomas Vanem’s music is something for guitar-based instrumental music lovers.
Toomas comes to Augustibluus with a special plan to go back to his roots, and the key here is the blues. Namely, it will be a bluesy fusion of blues, funk, soul and rock, as well as electric jazz and reggae music. This kind of sound mediates deep emotions, among which you can also hear the influences of prog music and, of course, blues.
Toomas Vanem has collaborated with world-renowned names such as Stuart Hamm, Ritchie Kotzen, Nicko McBrain, Mattias IA Eklundh, Virgil Donati, Alex Argento. In 2024, Toomas Vanem re”leased his latest album “Confession”. The following solo album, which is already in the making, will be in the key of blues, and at Augustibluus you will hear how the musician opens himself to the audience and tells his story through his very personal approach to the music and guitar.
Blues-rock group Crosswood was established in early spring of 2014 by a group of musicians from southern Estonia (Tartu) who had previously played in many legendary Estonian bands such as ROSTA Aknad and Suuk. All the members share deep affection for music of the 60’s and 70’s and therefore the band’s musical focus is firmly fixed on that period. Crosswood plays tunes by Peter Green & Fleetwood Mac, Atomic Rooster, Cream, Johnny Winter, Free, John Mayall & Bluesbreakers etc. The current lineup includes Toomas Lunge (vocals), Riho Gross (guitar), Ivo Jääger (bass), Arvo Lepik (keyboards) and Priit Kald (drums).
Fresh from winning the title of newcomer of the year at the Estonian pop music awards “Kuldne Plaat 2024,” the fiery rock duo Räpina Jack has skyrocketed into the hearts and minds of domestic music enthusiasts like a comet. Indeed, today, anyone who cares even a little about good Estonian music knows who Räpina Jack is and what kind of music and worldview this band represents. It is certain that the musical landscape of Estonia has become significantly richer and more diverse thanks to the existence of this band because imagining such raw, bluesy, and hip-hop-infused rock’n’roll from scratch is difficult, and unfortunately, the amount of energy the band unleashes on stage into the audience cannot yet be measured with contemporary top-notch equipment.
Räpina Jack consists of two completely different artists: Hain Hoppe, also known as Hash, is a fiery guitar hero whose clever riffs, electrifying solos, and captivating, albeit arrogantly charming stage presence can ignite even the most indifferent soul. Kill Kaare, alias KillBaba, is a witty wordsmith with a sharp tongue, whose mouth unveils Räpina Jack’s slightly urbanized yet fundamentally down-to-earth worldview. The lyrics, sometimes rap- infused, sometimes melodic, shifting from current events to mystically fairy-tale-like, reflect Jack’s evolving search for identity. That, dear friends, is contemporary, modern rock’n’roll!
The band will perform at Augustibluus for the third time, and their successful and well- attended performances on various café terraces have prompted the organizers to promote the band to the festival’s main stage for the first time. What undoubtedly makes Räpina Jack’s performance at Augustibluus this time exceptionally exciting is that, for the first time, the band is abandoning its hip-hop approach and bringing to the stage with them a new, raw, bluesy setlist and live ensemble of exceptional musicians. So, in addition to the classic Räpina Jack duo, the band, under the moniker “Räpina Jack & The Hillbilly Terrorists“, will be joined by: Tarvi Aldur (guitars), Martin-Eero Kõressaar (bass guitar and double bass), and Peep Kallas (drums). These musicians need no further introduction to the Estonian music connoisseur, and it is certain that this collaboration will resonate with every true blues enthusiast at the Augustibluus festival.
The project “Tribute to Dire Straits” was born under the leadership of guitarist Rauno Laikjõe to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the legendary frontman and guitarist Mark Knopfler and his music.
“Mark Knopfler’s guitar playing has influenced me since I was a child. All the Dire Straits CDs on my father’s shelf were listened to through and through, and once I even managed to be in the front row at a Mark Knopfler concert. Unfortunately, he himself no longer actively gives concerts, but his work has influenced many musicians, with whom we decided to give a few good tribute concerts to honor one of the best bands of all time.”
In addition to Dire Straits’ the best of the best as “Walk of life”, “Sultans of Swing”, “Money for Nothing”, “On Every Street” and others, the tunes from Mark Knopfler’s later solo albums will also be performed.
Rauno Laikjõe – guitar, vocals
Jaanus Saago – guitar, vocals
Kaspar Tambur – keyboards, vocals
Margus Kappel – keyboards, lap steel
Martin-Eero Kõressaar – bass
Mikk Simson – drums
Grigori Rõžuk is a esteemed guitarist, known from the bands Bourbon Sugar, No More Fridays, Red Zeppelin and Rubundi.
Emma Johanna Lepasoo has been leading a successful solo project since 2020, but has also participated in Indrek Tammoja’s band Rändaja.
The project “Songs of the Silver Wolf” is based on the poetry collection by Vahur Afanasyev and is a tribute to the late poet and his work.
The lyrics of “Songs of the Silver Wolf” are deep and touch life in all its aspects. Emma and Vahur were friends and close creative collaborators, which makes this musical journey particularly personal and intimate.
South of Savoy brings you fresh sounds from the world of blues, soul and roots rock’n roll!
Rooting to the swamps, bogs, forests and lakes of Finland and Estonia, South of Savoy gives a new touch to the American southern rock. From hip twisting rock’n’roll, sunny country, soul-stirring blues and spiritual gospel – South of Savoy combines it all in their repertoire. As well as a full programme of original music, the band includes favourites from both the golden era of the last century and the contemporary blues world.
“They benefit from great and nimble interweaving guitar players, a charismatic singer, and a greasy, funky repertoire that fits right in with this bar’s ‘bearded, tattooed biker gang guzzling beer while playing table tennis’ ambiance.” – Justin Petrone
SOUTH OF SAVOY:
Krista Tiitinen – vocals
Oskar Malleus – guitar and vocals
August Skjoldby – guitar and slide
Jaan Jaanson – bass
Jeremia Kangas – drums
In 2016, Vello Jurtom called up a small group of former musicians to jam once a week for fun. Mati Vaarmann, the owner of the Stanford Music studio, offered shelter to the jammers and still does so kindly.
The main line-up cosists of Vello Jurtom, Jaak Arula, Argo Toomel and Mark Shagal. For more than a year, alto saxophonist Kalle Klein has been the fifth member of the team.
The band has appeared at several Estonian blues festivals and even at Jazzkaar, the biggest jazz festival of Estonia.
Coverage – sounds like Powerage and works like TNT!
Coverage is a group of musicians from different Estonian bands who joined forces in 2017 having one common line, which is rock music and all time favorite AC/DC. They have put their hands down to play AC/DC songs from the Bon Scott era. That period was in the 1970’s, in the start of AC/DC’s career and includes the albums High Voltage, Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, Let There Be Rock, Powerage, Highway To Hell and the EP Jailbreak. Those albums are all rock’n roll classics today and Bon Scott is by many considered one of the best lyricists in hard rock and his voice is loved by countless fans. So Coverage is an AC/DC tribute band playing timeless classics like Whole Lotta Rosie, Highway To Hell, It’s A Long Way To The Top, Jailbreak, etc.
Coverage are: Hardi (vocal), Kjetil (lead guitar), Ott (rhythm guitar), Kristo (bass) and Ville (drums). The band seeks to recreate the original AC/DC sound, and Hardi is notorious for sounding almost just like Bon Scott himself.
Born in the muddy delta of Loimijoki river the band follows the best traditions of the Mississippi Delta blues. The band plays both original tunes and borrowed favorites. Good mood and fireworks guaranteed!
The Rude Grooves, an Estonian/Australian blues/psychedelic rock band who were an energising presence on the Estonian music scene from 2011-2013, are reforming to help celebrate 30 years of Augustibluus with a special performance. The trio plays their own songs and covers the way they ought to be played; loud, with energy and passion. Joining founding members Kristjan Pärkson (guitar/vocals) and Mike Both (bass) will be Janno Tomingas (drums)
These dedicated musicians and rockabilly lovers got together to enjoy playing music and bring joy to the audience. The Swamp Shakers perform original music and play also fresh arrangements of the 1950’s rockabilly classics, country and hillbilly.
In March 2010, one year after it’s formation in 2009, the band headlined „The Rock’n roll Party # 20”. A year later Pete Anderson & The Swamp Shakers performed at one of the most prestigious rockabilly festivals in Europe – Rockabilly Rave festival. Pete Anderson’s solo record “Brass-A-Billy” was acknowledged as a winner of JPF Music Awards for the Best Rockabilly Album in 2009. In August 2011 the band appeared at the 25th anniversary of the legendary Sildajazz festival in Norway.
In 2012 The Swamp Shakers welcomed two new band members – a 16-year old Magic Marc who is a young talent and a true virtuoso guitar player and a professional and charismatic drummer Mr. Splash. They have performed in Estonia, Lithuania, Russia, Norway, Denmark, UK, Turkey, Finland, Sweden, Belgium and Netherlands.
In 2014 they released their debut album “Enjoy The Ride”. It contains 14 original compositions and has received raving reviews from all over the International rock’n roll community and professional reviewers.
CryBaby is a blues rock band from Tartu that has been active for over 30 years. At the end of last year they released their first album “Electric Gypsy” containing all original works (it was about time!).
Alar Kriisa (vocals, harmonica), Halvo Liivamägi (guitar), Tamar Parm (bass, keyboards) and Urmas Voe (drums) play in the band.
No More Fridays, rock band from Estonia, is more than just musicians making music. The desire and love for sounds that has never been created before is what makes this four piece creation memorable. You will find yourself wondering in the middle of Woodstock festival by listening their album and seeing them perform live makes you believe there are witches and fairies involved. And maybe you are right. Rock has never sounded so magical.
“Who Needs Truth Anyway” is No More Fridays first album that they released on the 15th of November. It is full of emotions and thoughts of what was, what is and what will be. There is Truth in it for everyone, You just have to find yours as they did theirs:
“If it gets any better, We will Fly”.
Jüri Rosenfeld is one of the blues forerunners in Estonia. Rosenfeld started playing the blues already in the ‘70es and has never stopped, even though he has been working as a phychiatrist in Finland for the past 30 years.
Rosenfeld about himself: “I always loved the blues, from my early days on. Used to play it a lot with different bands while living in Estonia. Thirty years of working as psychiatrist really took me away from the blues, but although you can take a man away from the blues, you can’t take the blues away from the man. And that’s exactly what I’m going to prove this time as a solo artist.”
Autt Of Office is a blues rock band, established in 2010 in the prolific swarm of Tartu Blues Club. All members, some of them hobbyists, have decades long experience in performing in various Estonian bands. The band plays their own compositions as well as some covers from great masters of the past, while also promoting Estonian rock and blues classics, appreciating also the Estonian language. The band’s second album released in 2021.
Urmas Kõrgesaar – guitars and vocals
Eiko Kuusik – leading vocal and acoustic guitar
Aavo Valtna – percussion
Üllar Kärt – harmonicas, guitars
Peeter Jaska – bass, fretless bass2
The Tomahawck Brothers is a cultural sensation. The foundation of all pop music. The main credo is to play all the notes. If it happens that one of the brothers lingers somewhere longer, no worries, he’ll catch up later. External beauty and glamour are extremely important to us! Beauty will save the world!
For Airi Allvee, blues has always been the foundation upon which she has built everything in her versatile career. Her biggest influences have been Etta James, Koko Taylor, Aretha Franklin, as well as great men like Nick Curran, Jimmy Vaughan, Kid Ramos and others.
T-40: Raul Ukareda, Ülo Krigul, Argo Toomel and Reigo Ahven, are simple workers in the field of blues who are not afraid to get their nails dirty. Out of great love for the rich soil from which all known rhythm music has sprung, or is on its way, it is not considered much to remove all the superfluous bells and whistles to dig deep to inspect the blues rhizomes.
Carlos Ukareda is the son of Raul Ukareda, an outstanding singer, guitarist and songwriter, who is considered by many to be the future hope of Estonian music and whose breakthrough to the world stage is only a matter of time.
Enn Vei Blues Band came together in 2015. These “boys” share an affection for the blues of the 1950-60s and it clearly reflects in their music. Their repertoire includes tunes from the legendary blues masters, such as Jimmy Reed, Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, and Little Walter.Enn Vei Blues Band is Priit Kald on drums, Priit Part on the guitar, Sergo Sorrok on the bass, and Enn Vei on the harmonica and vocals.
We’re bringing together the local music market – record shops, record labels, artists, audiophiles and other music lovers from above and below the floor – in one place! Pulling the strings will be Plaaditurg, a regular gathering of Estonian record collectors.
The Augustibluus Record Market will take place on Sunday at 11 am at the Promenade Dance Pavilion.
T-Birds Tribute Band is a bunch of friends that has been playing rhythm and blues in various formations for many years. As the Augustibluus’ headliner The Fabulous Thunderbirds is one of their all time favorites, they will honour the Texas Blues Kings by performing a selection of the grooviest tunes from their early years.
Ivar Kannelmäe – guitar, vocals
Meelis Saueauk – guitar, vocals
Ain Kalme – bass
Caspar Salo – drums
Indrek Tiisel – harmonica
Evelin Võigemast is one of the most beloved Estonian actresses. Everyone knows her.
Besides that, Evelin is a huge blues fan and an outstanding singer. Augustibluus’ stage has seen her many times, and will see again, but this year in the role of the MC!
Reigo Ahven is a man like an orchestra.
He is an outstanding drummer with an education in semiotics, a visionary and promoter of Estonian rhythm music, owner of the world-famous jazz club Philly Joe’s, start-up entrepreneur, teacher and traveler, to mention only a small part of Reigo’s endeavors.
Even at anniversary Augustibluus, Reigo has far more than one job, becoming a DJ is perhaps the most unexpected of them.
Andres Oja is primarily known as the drummer of the band Kolumbus Kris, but has also worked as a DJ at the turn of the millenium in various clubs in Estonia such as Hollywood, Dekoltee and Bonnie & Clyde and on ferries between Tallinn and Stockholm. Now more than 20 years later, he is back behind the turntable to make the festival crowd dance to the hits from different eras.
