LA HORA DEL BLUES
European Blues Union

2013 European Blues Challenge, General Assembly & Blues Market
Toulouse, 7 a 9 Marzo 2013
Por Roser Infiesta Valls Mrs. Zúmel, miembro de la Junta de la EBU

Durante unos pocos días Toulouse se ha convertido en la “capital europea del blues”, con la celebración de la tercera edición del European Blues Challenge de la European Blues Union, la Asamblea General de la European Blues Union y el Mercado del Blues, bajo el auspicio de la Sociedad de Blues de Toulouse y France Blues, que han realizado un magnifico trabajo, consiguiendo una perfecta organización que desde estas líneas deseo resaltar.
 

Músicos y aficionados de veinte países europeos se han dado cita en la bella ciudad de Toulouse para compartir tres días de camaradería y mucho blues.
 

Los actos comenzaron el jueves por la noche en dos de los mas renombrados clubs de la ciudad –Connexion y Le Dynamo- que abrieron sus puertas para presentar a algunas de las bandas más representativas junto a jóvenes promesas de la escena bluesera del sur de Francia y donde, entre cerveza y cerveza, pudimos disfrutar del buen hacer de grupos como Driftin’ Blues, Jumpin’ to the Westside, Daniel Blanc, Blues Power Band, Mannish Boys o Mountain Men.

Driftin' Blues & Jumpin' To The Westside

Blues Power Band
 

El buen tiempo y un clima que ya presagiaba la primavera nos han acompañado durante estos intensos días de blues y rencuentros con los buenos aficionados venidos de toda Europa.

Paseo en barca por el Canal de Midi
 

Por lo que se refiere al III European Blues Challenge propiamente dicho, debo destacar que se celebró en Le Bikini, una sala con buena capacidad y acústica aunque situada algo lejos de la zona céntrica de Toulouse. Ello no impidió que la sala estuviera prácticamente llena durante las dos noches del Challenge, creándose muy buen ambiente en todos los sentidos.
 

En un concurso en el que cada noche compiten un mínimo de 9 formaciones que sólo disponen de 20 minutos de actuación con un rapidísimo intervalo entre grupo y grupo (desde aquí felicitar a los técnicos de sonido por conseguir que las pausas no se alargaran mas de 5 minutos entre grupo y grupo), se hace difícil poder escribir una crónica mesurada y objetiva de cada uno de los participantes. Simplemente me quedaré con alguna pequeña pincelada que pueda ilustrar una parte de todo lo mucho y bueno que pudimos disfrutar cada una de las noches.
 

El entusiasmo y la buena disposición de Lightnin’ Guy –presentador y conductor del evento- consiguieron crear inmediatamente la complicidad necesaria entre músicos y audiencia.

Si ya es difícil iniciar una competición, mas lo es si se trata de un trío instrumental con piano, bajo y batería. Concretamente GZT representantes de Latvia, por lo que me quedo con su originalidad de piano blues y boogie, interpretado con gran corrección.

También me llama la atención la voz rota de los Heavypetrol & The Greyhounds (Luxemburgo), y la progresión en el escenario de The Bluesmopolitans (Austria).

Heavypatrol y Bluesmopolitans

Sorprenden por su juventud y su frescura el trío que representa a Rumanía, Soul Serenade, que presentan a una joven cantante de bonita voz que impacta en el público, respaldada por diversos instrumentos como mandolina, guitarra slide o armónica, aunque en su repertorio no faltan guiños a los orígenes, incluyendo un tema de Howlin’ Wolf.

Totalmente diferentes son los británicos BabaJack, que también incluyen a una cantante de voz rota que destaca por su aportación rítmica al cajón, en una mezcla de roots y blues contemporáneo interpretados con varios instrumentos de fabricación casera y una percutante slide en algunos momentos.

Me gustan los Sunnysiders de Croacia por su originalidad, presentándose los cuatro músicos sentados y creando con su interpretación un ambiente festivo, distendido y muy refrescante.

Le llega el turno a Chino & The Big Bet (Spain). A pesar de comenzar de forma muy intimista, rápidamente se crecen y realizan un show electrizante que sorprende a todo el público que se deja arrastrar por el swing y la arrolladora presencia escénica de Chino, muy bien acompañado por Rod Deville al contrabajo y Giggs Nother a la batería. Con solo 20 minutos para mostrar todo su saber, realizan temas muy variados como "Hush", o una tremenda y poderosa versión de "Dust My Broom" de Robert Johnson.

Chino & The Big Bet

Eslovaquia nos presenta a un solvente dúo acústico formado por Bonzo Radvanyi & Lubos Bena. Demuestran su profesionalidad en escena y su amplio conocimiento del blues mas rural y campestre.

La noche finaliza con los representantes belgas Hideaway, en mi opinión y junto a Chino & The Big Bet lo mejor del programa del viernes. Demuestran una gran experiencia y conocimiento del género, suenan empastados y producen un show altamente gratificante que levanta al público con su jump blues de alta calidad.

Hideaway

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En la mañana del sábado se realiza la Asamblea General de la European Blues Union y el Mercado del Blues.

La Asamblea presenta el estado de cuentas del ejercicio anterior comentando los ingresos y los gastos, que son aprobados.

También se procede a la votación para el nombramiento de tres plazas en la Junta Directiva de la EBU que habían quedado vacantes. Se presentan cuatro candidaturas: Antonio Boschi, de la Asociacion Roots & Blues (Italia), Carolin Wobber de Phamosa Music (Alemania), Montserrat Pratdesaba, cantante y artista (España) y Silvio Caldelari, director del Festival de Blues de Sierre (Suiza). Una vez realizada la votación los escogidos han sido Carolin Wobber, Montserrat Pratdesaba & Silvio Caldelari, por lo que la nueva junta queda formada por Thomas Ruf (presidente), Jean Guillermo (vice-presidente), Jorden Wouters (secretario), Winne Penninckx (tesorero), Carolin Wobber, Davide Grandi, Fred Delforge, Jostein Forsberg, Montse Pratdesaba, Pertti Nurmi, Roser Zúmel y Silvio Candelari, vocales.

Se incluye también a la presentación de Riga (Estonia) como la ciudad que acogerá el European Blues Challenge en 2014 y las candidaturas de Milán y Bruselas para 2015.

Finalmente en el turno de palabras se discuten temas como las categorías del próximo EBC o la presentación de la nueva web de la EBU.
 

Tras una pequeña pausa se inicia el Mercado del Blues, donde los miembros activos de la EBU presentan sus actividades en el campo del blues e interactúan en el establecimiento de futuros contactos. El mercado esta también abierto a músicos, medios, aficionados y publico en general y durante dos horas y media se convierte en el centro neurálgico del blues europeo.

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Si los artistas participantes en el EBC de la jornada del viernes fueron altamente gratificantes, los del sábado no se quedan atrás.

Abren el fuego los finlandeses Honey B & The T-Bones. Su carismática cantante se encarga de calentar al público en una actuación de va ganando enteros con una más que interesante y original mezcla de blues psicodélico y genuino Mississippi blues, acabando su set con un impresionante blues lento.

Deslumbran los Shaggy Dogs (Francia) por su energía sobre el escenario. Poderoso rock blues interpretado con electrizantes solos de guitarra y armónica aunque, en mi opinión, los temas suenan demasiado iguales.

Le llega el turno a Holanda, representada por Sugar Boy & The Sinners. A pesar de su juventud me convencen plenamente, suenan empastados y tienen “el sonido” de las bandas americanas. Conectan inmediatamente con el público gracias a su ritmo bailable y a la vez poderoso de la guitarra y armónica perfectamente respaldada por contrabajo y batería. Sin lugar a dudas se convierten en mis favoritos (después de Chino & The Big Bet, por supuesto).

Shaggy Dogs y Sugar Boy & The Sinners

Suiza compite con Fabian Anderhub. Sorprende por sus calientes y poderosos solos de guitarra y una puesta en escena muy estudiada y cuidada que inmediatamente engancha con el público mas joven y rockero de la sala.

Completamente diferente a la anterior es la actuación de los italianos Veronica Sbergia & Red Wine Serenades. Veronica aparece como una cantante muy naif pero no exenta de una gran sensualidad. Veronica nos transporta a épocas lejanas de los años 20 y 30 del siglo pasado con su blues de vaudeville. Destaca también el contraste interpretativo de la bajista del grupo, mujer de voz rota y poderosa y el acompañamiento de variados instrumentos como la tabla de lavar a cargo de la propia Veronica, kazoo, ukelele, contrabajo y guitarra en una actuación totalmente original que sorprende a más de uno.

Veronica Sbergia & The Red Wine Serenades

Otra banda que sorprende por su puesta en escena son los noruegos Yhgve & His Boogie Legs. Estos jóvenes noruegos, con una presencia que recuerda a los adolescentes de los años 40, demuestran una gran soltura y fluidez con un repertorio que se mueve a medio camino entre el rock and roll y el swing. Suenan potentes y muy conjuntados y hacen las delicias del público, aunque particularmente me impactaron más en sus actuaciones de hace un par de meses en el International Blues Challenge de la Blues Foundation en Memphis.

Dinamarca presenta a Chris Grey & BlueSpand, trío que sorprende por su autenticidad y su fuerza en escena. Suenan poderosos y auténticos con guiños al power blues pero también al blues más auténtico y original.

Le llega el turno a Polonia con Harpcore que, como su nombre indica, van de armónicas. Cuatro armonicistas liderando la banda con un total de siete músicos en escena ya es garantía de espectacularidad y aunque empiezan un poco fríos, a medida que transcurre su actuación van ganando en seguridad y subiendo enteros, proponiendo una actuación no exenta de riesgos, pero que atrae por su singularidad.

Tommuy Schneller Band, de Alemania, son otros de los favoritos de la noche. Avalados por una dilatada carrera, incluyen una poderosa sección de vientos, lo que les da fuerza y empaque en el escenario. Se nota que están muy rodados y que tienen recursos suficientes como para atraer a cualquier audiencia. Una actuación muy completa y que se hace corta.

El concurso finaliza con el poderoso blues de los suecos Matti Norlin & Badge, un trío que practica un blues rock sin concesiones, electrizante y muy actual, con algunas incursiones a la slide. Nada mejor que la fuerza de estos músicos para finalizar una noche llena de buenos momentos.

Ihgve & His Boogie Legs

 

La calidad ha sido mucha, por lo que imagino que va a ser una dura labor para los jueces decidir sobre los ganadores. Después de algunos minutos de suspense y de la presentación de los jueces a cargo de Lightnin’ Guy, Thomas Ruf, presidente de la European Blues Union y Jean Guillermo, vicepresidente de la EBU, suben al escenario y anuncian…

2º Premio… ex aequo para SOUL SERENADE (Rumania) y

CHINO & THE BIG BET (España)

1er. Premio… VERONICA SBERGIA & RED WINE SERENADERS (Italia)

No puedo discrepar de la valoración de los jueces, ya que los tres grupos tienen calidad y originalidad suficientes como para haberse proclamado vencedores y como es lógico me siento orgullosa y satisfecha del premio conseguido por nuestros representantes Chino & The Big Bet. Personalmente, creo que también sobresalieron Hideaway de Bélgica, Tommy Scheller de Alemania y Sugar Boy & The Sinners de Holanda que bien podrían haberse llevado algún galardón.

Después de esta tercera edición, creo que el European Blues Challenge se está consolidando como un gran evento europeo que, poco a poco, va ganando en prestigio y solera. No sin pena, nos despedimos de Toulouse, agradeciendo el gran trabajo de France Blues y la Sociedad de Blues de Toulouse y nos emplazamos para la cuarta edición del EBC en Riga.

Texto y Fotos: Roser Blues.

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EUROPEAN BLUES CHALLENGE. (Toulouse, March 8/9 th. 2013)
GENERAL INFORMATION

Friday 8th and Saturday 9th will be the nights of the challenge when 18 bands from 18 countries will perform in the nice and famous venue: "Le Bikini"
The rotation of location for our event gives the opportunity to discover new regions, new cooking, wine, culture.  Toulouse and the French south west region has a lot to offer.
The rotation gives also the possibility for discovering the national talents of the welcome country. This is the reason why France blues and the local Toulouse blues society we invite all of you for a hot and friendly welcome evening on Thursday from 9 pm to midnight.
Two clubs at 400 meters each other have been booked, each of them presenting 56 French bands (of course not the band to be chosen for the Challenge). We will present a mix of acoustic/electric/blues-rock/hip hop blues bands and blues women will not be forgotten :

SCHEDULE:

Thursday 7^th March:
20,30 till 00,30: Free entrance to 2 showcase of French local bands at Connexion Café 8, Rue Gabriel Peri (6 bands) and La Dynamo 5, Rue Amèlie (6 bands) located at 400 m. each other and at a walking distance from Grand Hotel d'Orleans, Ibis and Kyriad, in order to give exposure to programmers and specialized media of national talents.
The list of bands is:
Blues Power Band: http://www.bluespower-band.com
Daniel Blanc & Co: http://www.bluesiac.com
Driftin Blues: http://www.myspace.com/driftinbluesband
Flyin’ Muffins: http://www.myspace.com/flyinmuffins
Fred Cruweiller And The Backwash Blues Band: http://www.myspace.com/fredcruveillerandthebbb
In Volt: http://www.involt.fr
Jumpin’ To The Westside: http://www.jumpintothewestside.com
Mama’s Biscuit: http://mamasbiscuits.believeband.com/
Mannish Boys: http://mannish.boys.free.fr
Mountain Men: http://mountain-men.fr
Scarecrow: http://blueshiphop.com
Yann Lem: http://www.bluesiac.com
More information about the bands at  www.toulousesoblues.com

Friday 8^th. March:
Possibility to arrange a visit in English of the city by the Tourism Office.

14,00 to 16.30 pm: Installation of the Blues Market by the EBU members having asked for a table at Espaces Vanel (last floor of Mediatheque Cabanis,1 Allée Jacques Chaban Delmas 1,2 km from hotels d'Orleans, Ibis or Kyriad).

Le Bikini
Rue Théodore Monod, Parc Technologique du Canal
31520 Ramonville-Saint-Agne
+ 33.(0)5.62.24.09.50
www.lebikini.com
Tickets. Sales at:
Friday only: http://www.digitick.com/3eme-european-blues-challenge-concert-le-bikini-ramonville-08-mars-2013-css5-lebikini-pg101-ri1512954.html
Saturday only: http://www.digitick.com/3eme-european-blues-challenge-concert-le-bikini-ramonville-09-mars-2013-css5-lebikini-pg101-ri1512962.html
2 Days : http://www.digitick.com/3eme-european-blues-challenge-concert-le-bikini-ramonville-css5-lebikini-pg101-ri1512970

20,00 Latvia: GZT
20,25 Luxembourg: Heavy Petrol & The Greyhounds
20,50 Austria: The Bluesmopolitans
21,15 Bulgaria: Delta Roosters
21,40 Norway: Yngve And His Boogie Legs
22,05 United Kingdom: Babajak
22,30 Croatia: Sunnysiders
22,55 Spain: Chino & The Big Bet
23,20 Slovakia: Bonzo Radvanyi & Lubos Bena
23,45 Belgium: Hideaway

01,00 Bus transfer to the 3 hotels for EBU members having ordered VIP arrangement. 

Saturday 9^th. March:

09,30-10,30: Installation of stands of the Blues Market by EBU members having requested a stand.
10,00-10,30: Registration for EBU General Assembly
10,30-13,00: General Assembly
13,00-14,00: Lunch (included in Active Member VIP payment)
14,00-16,30; Blues Market exhibition and get-together event
16,30- 17,30 Dismantling of the Blues Market stands (by EBU members having a table).

Le Bikini
Rue Théodore Monod, Parc Technologique du Canal
31520 Ramonville-Saint-Agne
33. (0)5.62.24.09.50 www.lebikini.com
Tickets. Sales at:
Friday only: http://www.digitick.com/3eme-european-blues-challenge-concert-le-bikini-ramonville-08-mars-2013-css5-lebikini-pg101-ri1512954.html
Saturday only: http://www.digitick.com/3eme-european-blues-challenge-concert-le-bikini-ramonville-09-mars-2013-css5-lebikini-pg101-ri1512962.html
2 Days : http://www.digitick.com/3eme-european-blues-challenge-concert-le-bikini-ramonville-css5-lebikini-pg101-ri1512970

20,00 Finland: Honey B & T-Bones
20,25 France: Shaggy Dogs
20,50 Netherlands: Sugar Boy & The Sinners
21,15 Switzerland: Fabian Anderhub
21,40 Italy: Veronica Sbergia & Red Wine Serenaders
22,05 Romania: Soul Serenade
22,55 Denmark: Chris Grey & BlueSpand
23:00 Poland: Harpcore
23:20 Germany:Tommy Schneller Band
23,45 Sweden: Matti Norlin & Badge
00,05  End of competition
00,30  Announcement of winner
00,30-00,45 Performance of winner

01,00: Bus transfer to the 3 hotels for EBU members having ordered VIP arrangement

ACCOMODATION:

Knowing that most of you arrive usually on Thursday we have negotiated special rates and pre booked 145 rooms for the 3 nights of 7, 8 and 9 th.
The 3 hotels are 3 stars hotels downtown near the historical center, the railway station, the bus terminal from airport and at a walking distance from the place of the general assembly and open market.
It is your responsibility to book by email directly to the hotel (I recommend) or phone and check the cancellation policy. The special code to mention is "Toulouse blues 2013".
In the case of Ibis and Kyriad don't contact the central reservation of headquarters as they don't know the special rat
All rates include continental breakfast for 1, 2 or even 3 people in the room

- First choice:

Grand Hotel d’Orleans
70 € single and 80 € for twin or double
www.grand-hotel.Orleans.fr
contact@grand-hotel-Orleans.fr
72 rue d Orleans. 31.000 Toulouse 
Tel: +33 (0) 5 61 629847

- Second choice

Ibis Toulouse Centre Gare,
70 € single, 80 € for double and 90 for triple
commercial@hotel-toulouse-france.com
13, Boulevard de Bon Repos
31000 Toulouse
Tel: +33 (0) 5 61 62 44 78

- Third choice:

Kyriad
with breakfast 70 € single, 80 € double and 98 € triple.
Kyriad.toulouse.centre@shfrance.com
5-7 Boulevard de la Gare
31.000 Toulouse
Tel: +33 (0) 5 61 34 11 71

In our organization team, Lolie Cazorla in Toulouse (loli@bbox.fr)  is the local interface with the hotels.

Public transport (metro/underground):
Marengo SNCF station near Hotel d'Orleans and Hotel Ibis
Francois Verdier station, near Hotel Kyriad
Ramonville station at 1,18 km from Bikini

Suggestion: If you plan to arrive by plane, check from now for low rate, the offerings of Easyjet (Basel, Bristol, Brussels, Geneva, Lisbon, London, Madrid, Milano, Porto, Roma, Venetia, and in France Paris, Lille, Lyon, Nice).
Ryan Air also flights to Carcassonne (one hour by road to Toulouse) from Billund, Bournemouth, Brussels, Dublin, East Midlands, Eindhoven, Glasgow, Liverpool, London, Porto,On the English page of Toulouse airport you will find all cities connected
http://www.toulouse.aeroport.fr/en

EBU GENERAL MEETING:

It will be held in conjunction with the European Blues Challenge (EBC) on Saturday 9^th 2012 at

ESPACES VANEL.
1, Allée Jacques Chaban Delmas
31500 Toulouse
http://www.espacesvanel.com/

The Espaces Vanel stands in the heart of Toulouse.

On the rooftop of the José Cabanis Médiathèque, the Espaces Vanel holds a strategic position. A 1 000 m2 (10 760 sq ft) site of modular spaces overlooks the city and opens on an outdoor patio of 300 m2 (3 250 sq ft) offering a breathtaking view. It is a unique site in Toulouse to host all kinds of professional events: congresses, conventions, annual meetings, conferences, workshops, tradeshows, road shows, and galas. Its location is ideal to maximize the attendance to events.
Close to the central nerve of the city, the Espaces Vanel are trendy: contemporary architecture, glaring light shows with a urban feel, an ambiance fostering a climate of communication and exchanges.
Accessible by all public transportation, including a bike trail, the building stands on a 400 underground parking place. Spacious and bright with sunlight, the site offers limitless possibilities and configurations.

SCHEDULE:
09,30-10,30: Installation of stands of the Blues Market by EBU members having requested a stand.
10,00-10,30: Registration for EBU General Assembly
10,30-13,00: General Assembly
13,00-14,00: Lunch (included in Active Member VIP payment)
14,00-16,30; Blues Market exhibition and get-together event
16,30- 17,30 Dismantling of the Blues Market stands (by EBU members having a table).

PAYMENTS:
Le Bikini:
Tickets. Sales at:
Friday only: http://www.digitick.com/3eme-european-blues-challenge-concert-le-bikini-ramonville-08-mars-2013-css5-lebikini-pg101-ri1512954.html
Saturday only: http://www.digitick.com/3eme-european-blues-challenge-concert-le-bikini-ramonville-09-mars-2013-css5-lebikini-pg101-ri1512962.html
2 Days : http://www.digitick.com/3eme-european-blues-challenge-concert-le-bikini-ramonville-css5-lebikini-pg101-ri1512970
 

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PRESENTACION GRUPOS PARTICIPANTES EN EL EUROPEAN BLUES CHALLENGE (TOULOUSE 8/9 MARZO 2012)

Incluimos una breve presentación de los grupos participantes en el European Blues Challenge que se celebrará en la Sala Le Bikini de Toulouse el viernes 8 y sábado 9 de marzo de 2013, así como el orden de actuacion de los mismos.

FRIDAY MARCH 8^th. Le Bikini
20,00 Latvia (LV): GZT
20,25 Luxembourg (LU): Heavy Petrol & The Greyhounds
20,50 Austria (AT): The Bluesmopolitans
21,15 Bulgaria (BG): Delta Roosters
21,40 Norway (NO): Yngve And His Boogie Legs
22,05 United Kingdom (UK): BabaJack
22,30 Croatia (CRO): Sunnysiders
22,55 Spain (ES): Chino & The Big Bet
23,20 Slovakia (SK): Bonzo Radvanyi & Lubos Bena
23,45 Belgium (BE): Hideaway

SATURDAY MARCH 9^th. Le Bikini
20,00 Finland (FI): Honey B & T-Bones
20,25 France (FR): Shaggy Dogs
20,50 Netherlands (NL): Sugar Boy & The Sinners
21,15 Switzerland (CH): Fabian Anderhub
21,40 Italy (IT): Veronica Sbergia & Red Wine Serenaders
22,05 Romania (RO): Soul Serenade
22,55 Denmark (DK): Chris Grey & BlueSpand
23,00 Poland (PL): Harpcore
23,20 Germany (DE): Tommy Schneller Band
23,45 Sweden (SWE): Matti Norlin & Badge
00,05 End of competition
00,30 Announcement of winner
00,30-00,45 Performance of winner

Latvia (LV)
GZT
Throughout the years Gints Zilinskis has developed his own boogie-woogie / blues piano style that is both innovative and roots-oriented. Either as a leader of his own various projects or a sideman he is recognized as one of the most creative pianists on the Latvian blues scene.
For the last couple of years, Gints has focused primarily on playing solo or in his own Trio format. Recently he invited his long-time collaborators and Latvian blues veterans Artis Orubs (drums), Bruno Priekulis (bass) and Laimis Racenajs (vocals) to form a new combo GZT. The band is currently working on their first studio album.
www.youtube.com/GintsZilinskis

Luxembourg (LU)
Heavy Petrol & The Greyhounds
At the end of 2009, five old-time music players gathered to have fun with a few gigs. The result was so convincing to the point that they decided to form the band "Heavy Petrol & the Greyhounds”. Even today, the members of the group are the same: Mario "Woody" Brown on vocals and harmonica, Conny Troost on drums, Dan Kries on bass, Gigi Felten on guitar, and Dan Eiffener on guitar. These fellows do play blues-infused rock with a modern edge; they also cover songs from well-known artists such as Johnny Winter, Rory Gallagher, Joe Bonamassa, Calvin Russell, Mr. J. Hendrix, Danny Briant, Tadg Galleran, Muddy Waters, Freddie King and many others. With its broad repertoire, the group has participated in many concerts and festivals, such as the Blues Express, the Blues & Jazz Rally, and others.
www.heavypetrol.com

Austria (AT)
The Bluesmopolitans
The release of the debut album “Bluesmopolitans“ made a loud buzz in the Austrian music scene and of course especially in the Austrian blues scene. Presenting their new album as part of the Vienna Blues Spring Festival 2012 was just the beginning for the band, and as a result the Bluesmopolitans gave concerts in Austria and Germany. The guys keep working hard and play lots of live gigs.  A new single will be part of their journey to Toulouse (EBC).
Bluesmopolitans reach a high level of diversity in their own songs and they have a great hand in bringing in the right covers from blues greats with a modern spirit on stage. Although the band has a great respect for the roots of blues music, it seems that their natural appearance is bringing back a younger audience to their shows.
Singer Tommy Gravogl is a roots man with a very smooth and at the same time powerful voice. A young singer together with some elder routiniers of the Vienna blues scene make up a thrilling combination.
www.bluesmopolitans.at

Bulgaria (BG)
Delta Roosters
Rediscovering the authentic sounds of the old masters of the blues, Delta Roosters convey the sincerity and the feeling of the Delta blues music. The incredible harmonica of the Finnish maestro Eero Turkka, the gentle guitar of Peter Georgiev - Pesheto, the passionate voice of the lead vocalist Anton Serkedjiev and the beautiful sound of the dobro guitar of Mihail Shishkov recreate uniquely the Delta Blues atmosphere music nowadays.
Each of the musicians has his own background in different music projects and styles but the love and passion for the blues makes Delta Roosters a unique personal experience.
The group was set up in 2011 as an acoustic blues project and appeared on stage for the first time at the Sofia Blues Meeting, October 2011.  Since then Delta Roosters has had a regular presence on the Bulgarian blues scene.
www.deltaroosters.com

Norway (NO)
Yngve And His Boogie Legs
Yngve and his Boogie Legs is a Norwegian blues band consisting of five members aged 22 years and living in Oslo. The band consists of Bjørnar Ekse Brandseth on guitar and vocals, Lars Finborud on harmonica and guitar, Yngve Jordalen on bass, Morten Bessesen on percussion, and Anders Fretheim on drums. They began as a cover band in 2008 and have gradually started writing their own music inspired by artists like Muddy Waters and Ronnie Earl, T-bone Walker and The Rolling Stones. Still, this is no retro band. Few other bands are this determined to carry on the deep traditions of the genre while insisting to breathe new life into it and develop their own style and sound.
In the past two years, Yngve and his Boogie Legs have clearly positioned themselves in Norway as an outstanding live band, and they have succeeded in capturing the same energy and intensity on tape. They won the Union Blues Cup 2011at the annual Notodden Blues Festival. For this reason, the Norwegian Blues Union gave them the opportunity to tour Norway in 2012.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgwSnaKCM-I

United Kingdom (UK)
BabaJack
BabaJack is an acoustic blues/roots band that is fast becoming one of the most sought after bands on the roots, acoustic and blues festival circuits in the UK and they are moving into Europe. Their sound is ‘infused with blues, but not limited by it’ (ElectricGhost) and combines the powerful roots percussion and vocals of Becky Tate, the slide style and growling ‘winebox’ guitars and rack harp of Trevor Steger and they are joined by Marc Miletitch on double bass. And they groove!
Trevor and Becky are the songwriting core of BabaJack. They completely co-write all their material. Their sound is influenced by the early blues ethos of playing homemade instruments: the semi-acoustic ‘winebox’ guitars, the Becky’s cajon (box drum) and the stomp, were all made by Trevor. BabaJack has released three albums so far: “The Maker”  (2009), “Exercising Demons” (2010), and their latest “Rooster” in 2012. They are currently working on a 4th album, which is planned for release in 2013...
www.babajack.com

Croatia (CR)
Sunnysiders
Sunnysiders started as a solo-duo (Anthony Vrgoc, or Ro La, on vocals, guitar and percussion and Boris Hrepic, or Hrepa, on guitar, vocals, ukulele and harmonica) at the 2nd Croatian Blues Challenge in 2010.
After they won in the solo-duo category they played at the 27th International Blues Challenge in Memphis in February 2011. In Memphis, they made it to the semifinals.
In the summer of 2011, Sunnysiders recorded their first album with their original songs, titled “Licence to Blues”, when Goran Gubic (Hans) on electric guitar and Igor Paradis (Sparka) on cajon have joined the band. “Licence to Blues” was nominated for Porin (the Croatian Grammy) for the best blues album. They have played the opening acts to Johnny Winter, Eric Noden and Joe Filisko, and performed at a number of blues festivals.
www.sunnysiders.com

Spain (ES)
Chino & The Big Bet
Chino Hernán Senra is a vocalist and a guitarist like no other. His style on the slide guitar is absolutely unique. He goes from blues to swing and even jazz manouche, always with his own personal stamp. He is one of the main characters on the Barcelona Swing and Blues scene.
Chino & The Big Bet, complete with Rod Deville on double bass and Guillermo ”Giggs” Nother on drums, are one of the most active blues bands in Spain.
His new album "Six", is the first release of a trilogy... In this first edition, there are six original songs that truly reflect the essence of the group.
www.resophonic.es
www.bigbet.es

Slovakia (SK)
Bonzo Radvanyi & Lubos Bena
Peter “Bonzo“ Radványi – the veteran of the Slovak music scene, singer, resophonic guitar player and journalist started his music career in the sixties. He spent the next two decades as a professional musician playing with various dance bands across Europe. When he returned to his home town Trnava in the 90's he focused mainly on the blues music. Bonzo became the frontman of The Blues Mother-in-Law band, with which he did a lot of gigs and took part at various festivals in Slovakia and abroad. Bonzo was voted the “Bluesman of the Year“ in 1996 and together with The Blues Mother-in-Law he was awarded the “Annual Prize“ of the Slovak Blues Society for recording the first ever concert CD in the history of Slovak blues in 1998. On top of that, Bonzo was co-founder, Executive Director and dramatist of the International music festival Dobrofest - Trnava (1992-2008).  At present, he is the author and presenter of the regular weekly music sessions “Bluesnenie“ and “Big Beat“ on the Slovak radio station Devin. He is currently touring with another well-known Slovak bluesman Lubos Bena, who accompanies him on drums and rhythm guitar.
www.lubosbena.sk

Belgium (BE)
Hideaway
In 1986 four young men decided to form a blues band, and called it “Hideaway” (a title by Freddie King). These young men were Eric Vandekerckhove on bass and backing vocals, Jean Marie Herman on lead guitar, Johan Guidée on drums, and Ralph Bonte on lead vocals, rhythm and slide guitar. In the last 26 years they have moved from being mere local heroes to stipulating the blues all over Flanders. And that ain’t all, they have conquered the whole country and crossed borders to neighboring countries (France, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Spain) and even to Canada. Over the years, they have opened for and accompanied many American blues artists.
In 1998 they were joined by saxophone player Geeraard De Grootte, and in 2000 the band was completed with Hammond and keyboard player Patrick Cuyvers.
The band has released four CDs so far; three of these are studio albums and one is a live album. Their third CD is titled “Unable To label” proving that they cannot be placed in any single category -blues, gospel, country, jazz, soul-funk, roots, … you name it.
www.hideaway20.be 

Finland (FI)
Honey B & T-Bones
No run-of-the-mill grind, but a heady cocktail, where the best psychedelic elements from the1960’s San Francisco meet Mississippi blues in a garage, with serious intentions. The fat bass lines of Aija “Honey B” Puurtinen and Jaska Lukkarinen's funky, rich drumming build a house where Esa Kuloniemi’s fiery and earthy slide takes no prisoners. The cherry on the cake comes courtesy of Honey B’s singing. Think updated Memphis Minnie and you’re close. Blues is not for teenagers, it comes out of life experience.
After large-scale touring, often all over Europe and North America, T-Bones know the ropes. In the course of fourteen albums, their style has matured from rootsy blues through rocking R&B and psychedelic experimental rock to today’s kaleidoscopic & jazzy blues attitude that fills their current, excellent 30th Anniversary album, “Alive In Helsinki”.
www.hbtb.net

France (FR)
Shaggy Dogs
Their motto -"No more barriers between styles!!"- allows the Shaggy Dogs to be a different band, which consists of Jacker on guitar, Red on vocal and harmonica, Guillermo on drums and Toma on bass. Filled with blues, R&R, R&B, and 60's garage, their shows are based on energy and an exceptional communication with the audience.
With over 10 years on the road, hundreds of gigs including a memorable series in Tokyo, tons of encounters and good memories and four albums under their belt, the Shaggy Dogs still bark as wildly as ever. Recognized as one of Europe’s major figures today, everywhere they go it's a Blues & Roll Fiesta!
Their new album "Who Let the Shaggy Dogs Out?" has a rare and powerful vintage tone. A subtle mixture of pride and humility - two core values for Frenchy white rockers who play black music.
www.reverbnation.com/shaggydogs

Netherlands (NL)
Sugar Boy & The Sinners
Sugar Boy & The Sinners are rockin' and shakin' the blues! Representing the younger generation of blues bands from the Netherlands, the band consists of four energetic, young dogs joyfully playing their all-original songs with an old school R&B, R&R and 60's soul style.
Singer Sugar Boy Vielvoye switches with ease from his soulful vocals to steamy, blues harmonica solos. He is assisted by Ronnie Guérin's in-your-face guitar and the twin-engine, throbbing rhythm section of Vinnie Guérin on double bass and Frankie Duindam on drums.
This band creates a danceable, energetic, blues blast for a whole new generation of Blues Sinners.
www.sugarboyandthesinners.com

Switzerland (CH)
Fabian Anderhub
Fabian Anderhub emigrated with his family as a child from Switzerland to Canada. The guitarist and singer inherited both worlds: city life in Canada and quiet inspiration in Switzerland.
Had he not emigrated to Canada, Fabian Anderhub might perhaps never have discovered a passion for blues. His background allows his passion to melt into something new: an uncanny mixture of roots music and zeitgeist blues. He went back to Switzerland after training to be a farmer, and decided it was time to record his passion.
In 2010, his debut album ”Left Line“ was released, showing off pure blues rock – dusty, traditional licks played in a modern fashion; up-to-date tone and sound as opposed to nostalgia.
With his recent 2011 record ”It’s a Blues Thing“, he explores his ideas even further. As the title suggests, it’s his tribute to the raw and intense roots of his blues attitude, ranging mostly from mid-tempo songs to heartfelt ballads. Besides his own songs, Anderhub interprets blues standards in his own remarkable style. And the third album is coming.
www.anderhub-music.com

Italy
Veronica Sbergia & Red Wine Serenaders
“Old Stories for Modern Times” is the new album of Veronica Sbergia and Max De Bernardi, the irreplaceable souls of Red Wine Serenaders, an ensemble acclaimed by the national press as “the most beautiful European reality in terms of country blues, ragtime, hokum and jugband music”(The Buscadero). The album, entirely acoustic, was recorded in 2011 in mono and mixed on tape through an analog console.
You will be surprised to discover the many similarities between the past and the present. Voices, resophonic guitars, washboard, ukulele, mandolin, harmonica and bass will be the guiding stars on a journey through the atmosphere of the Vaudeville, the medicine show, the first brothels of the 1900, and cotton plantations. An irresistible mix of sounds so healthy! Veronica & The Red Wine Serenaders have performed in France, Switzerland, Hungary, Spain, England, Italy and the Caribbean.
www.redwineserenaders.it

Romania (RO)
Soul Serenade
Soul Serenade is a band with a young, fresh approach to blues, soul and gospel, always exploring new ideas and emotions through the purest form of music. The three musicians, Adelina Chivu, Andrei Rotariu and Andrei Codrut, have made their way through every scene in every club in their home town of Bucharest, not only by presenting a new take on what blues can sound like, but also by rejuvenating the local music scene. The acoustic blues trio offers a unique blend of slide guitar, vocals, mandolin, harmonica and tambourine that will carry you from the busy streets of Chicago to the dusty roads down south.
http://www.fandalism.com/soulserenade/

Denmark (DE)
Chris Grey & BlueSpand.
If you wonder what mixing traditional blues, funk, R&B, soul, humor, craziness, three great musicians, love and respect might sound like, you have to come to the next Chris Grey & The BlueSpand show! These three gentlemen are Chris Grey on guitar and vocals, Kasper Flufuluc on bass and  Lars Vegas on drums.
The three gents of Chris Grey & The BlueSpand share their love and joy for playing with music, when they invite you to their musical playground. They live to play, and the music makes them live.
http://www.bluespand.dk/bluespand.dk/Velkommen.html
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1FBB8344D0D9F1CE

Poland (PL)
Harpcore
Harpcore consists of Polish blues-rock premier league. Four top harmonica virtuosos – Tomek Kamiński, Michał Kielak, Bartek Łęczycki, and Łukasz Wiśniewski – are supported by two best Polish guitarists (according to Twój Blues magazine): Piotrek Grząślewicz and Jacek Jaguś, as well as an atomic rhythm section: Aleksander Sroka on bass guitar, and Adam Partyka on drums.
Harpcore's first album ”Harmonijkowy Atak” released in 2011, has already won the hearts of fans: they voted it the Best Blues Album of the Year 2011 in the surveys conducted by the most respectable Polish blues media.
Harpcore will definitely appeal to those who prefer new solutions in music to cliches. The album combines blues, rock, jazz, and funky into a real music dynamite; at concerts, the supergroup creates the atmosphere of total fun and excitement
https://www.facebook.com/HarmonijkowyAtak

Germany, DE
Tommy Schneller Band
With his fourth studio album “Smiling For A Reason”, singer/saxman Tommy Schneller assembled a band with a powerful horn section which could reproduce the CD faithfully. The group of veteran pros has now won the German Blues Challenge 2012; the German Blues Awards for 2010 and 2012, and the German Recording Critics Prize 2012 went to Tommy personally. The CD reached #14 on the American “Living Blues” chart. This is soulful blues, which owes as much to Memphis and Stax Records as it does to Chicago or Mississippi. DJs playing the recording in the USA and Canada have been amazed to learn that Tommy, whose voice they often compare to Dr. John’s, is German.
www.tommyschneller.de

Sweden (SWE)
Matti Norlin & Badge
Badge consists of three musicians from different backgrounds. Guitarist Matti Norlin, the winner of the Swedish national blues award in 2012, is one of the most interesting interpreters of the early blues. Matti has released four solo albums: “Pre War Blues” (1995), “Kitchen Sink Blues” (1998), “Slidin' Out” (2002) and “LIVE> Blues 3 Trappor Upp” (2010). He also has a background in Swedish folk music and plays several weird instruments. 
Versatile drummer Fredrik Haake was based in New York for a period, where he played drums in several acts. Matti and Fredrik formed Badge in 2002 and were joined by versatile bass player Hielm in 2005. The band has picked up elements from as many styles of music as humanly possible (punk, fusion, world, tango, folk, chamber music).
Firmly rooted in a blues tradition, but with a high-energy metal approach, they play acoustic guitar, upright bass and drums with so much attitude that should put most bands to shame. The energetic trio Badge has released two albums, the latest one is “Kill Another Fuzz” (2006), and another one is on the way.
Badge:
www.facebook.com/badgesweden
Matti Norlin:
www.mattinorlin.com

Mucha suerte a todos y que gane el mejor!!!

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CHINO & THE BIG BET EN EL III EUROPEAN BLUES CHALLENGE 2013

¡Ya tenemos banda representante de España en el European Blues Challenge 2013! CHINO & THE BIG BET

Las formaciones musicales que se presentaron como posibles candidatas han sido 17: COTTON GANG, BLUEDAYS, JULIE GURAVICH & VICTOR ANEIROS BAND, QUERALT ALBINYANA & TOTABLUES BAND, WAX & BOOGIE, BIG YUYU AND THE HOT NITE BAND, CHINO & THE BIG BET, LOLO ORTEGA, BELCEBLUES, COTTON ROOTS, THE WALKING STICK MAN, A CONTRABLUES, FÉLIX SLIM, 32-20, FEDE AGUADO Y SU BANDA, MALLÉN TRIO y HUCKLEBERRY FINN

De las cuales los miembros del Consejo de Asesores han valorado y han sido las más votadas:

1º CHINO & THE BIG BET
2º BIG YUYU AND THE HOT NITE BAND
3º A CONTRABLUES
4º LOLO ORTEGA

Así pues, ¡muchas gracias a todos los que han hecho posible esta selección y mucha suerte a los músicos que han salido elegidos para representar el Blues en España, CHINO & THE BIG BET así como a todos los participantes! Si os animáis a ir a Toulouse entre los días 8 y 9 de marzo de 2013 para aúparles y para disfrutar del European Blues Challenge 2013, podéis encontrar más información sobre como conseguir tickets, alojamiento... etc, en la web de la European Blues Union.

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Estatutos de la European Blues Union
(Resumen realizado por Big Mama según información del Sr. Jorden Wouters)

Gracias a la iniciativa de una serie de personas implicadas en el blues en diferentes países de Europa, surgió la idea de la creación de la European Blues Union, una asociación sin ánimo de lucro cuya finalidad es la promoción del blues a nivel europeo. A continuación se incluye un resumen de los estatutos de la asociación. Mas información en la web de la EBU www.bluesyou.com

- Conveniencia de establecer un marco legal que dote de entidad y rigor a la EBU.

- Naturaleza de la EBU: ser una asociación sin ánimo de lucro que promueva el Blues europeo en todo el mundo, en particular en Europa, cooperando entre festivales, promotoras, entidades, discográficas, artistas, medios  especializados, expertos en la materia,  impulsando la difusión del Blues a todos los niveles, apoyando proyectos educativos para las escuelas, intercambiando ideas o experiencias, consiguiendo el soporte de las autoridades, creando premios o eventos relacionados con el blues, captando nuevos miembros en la EBU, etc

- Miembros. Pueden ser de tres tipos: Activos, Asociados y Honorarios.

MIEMBROS ACTIVOS: Tendrán derecho a voto en la Asamblea General y suscribirán los estatutos. Pagarán una cuota anual que se fijará en la Asamblea General y que no podrá superar los 500 euros, según fija la ley belga. Podrán acceder a ser miembro activo las asociaciones registradas, las empresas legalmente constituidas o los individuos que tengan algo que ver con el Blues & Roots. Si un miembro activo no paga la cuota en el término de un año dejará de serlo. Los votos serán de 1 miembro = 1 voto.

MIEMBROS ASOCIADOS: No tendrán derecho a voto en la Asamblea General pero podrán asistir como oyentes. Pagarán una cuota anual inferior a la de los miembros activos que se fijará en la Asamblea General. Al igual que los miembros activos, serán afiliados a la EBU y podrán acceder y beneficiarse de las actividades de la EBU así como tener un espacio propio en la web www.bluesuyou.com, con blog individual para difundir su obra y/o actividad profesional.

MIEMBROS HONORÍFICOS: Serán designados por la EBU y no pagarán ninguna cuota. No tendrán derecho a voto en la Asamblea General y podrán asistir como oyentes. Podrán beneficiarse de las ventajas de ser de la EBU cómo si estuvieran afiliados.

- Requisitos para ser MIEMBRO ACTIVO.

a) Ser músico de blues (Blues & Roots) en el propio país o en el extranjero.

b) Ser organizador de un festival, promotor de conciertos, representante artístico, realizar un programa de radio y/o de televisión, una web, revista en papel o en soporte digital cuya actividad se base en el blues (Blues & Roots)

c) Ser aficionado al blues (Blues & Roots) y estar bien informado del ambiente musical de esta música en su propio país, o disponer de materiales o información sobre músicos, compositores, locales, radios, festivales, etc., de blues (Blues & Roots) en el propio país.

- Obligaciones administrativas de la EBU.

a) Disponer de un número fiscal (V.A.T.) en Bélgica

b) Llevar una contabilidad.

c) Dar cuenta anual en la Asamblea General del "financial rapport", detallando los ingresos y los gastos.

d) Pagar los impuestos pertinentes en Bélgica.

- Organigrama.

a) La Asamblea General de la EBU se celebrará una vez al año, pero se podrá convocar a petición del 20% de los miembros activos.

b) Se elegirán: Presidente/a, Tesorero/a y Secretario/a General de la EBU mediante votación en la Asamblea General anual.

c) Los elegidos como Presidente/a, Tesorero/a y Secretario/a General de la EBU podrán delegar poderes ejecutivos a un "board" o equipo de miembros activos también consensuados en la Asamblea General.

- Los Estatutos de la EBU se aprobaron en la Asamblea General Constitutiva que se celebró en Berlín entre los días 18 y 19 de marzo de 2011.