THE 34th RAUMA BLUES FESTIVAL
9-10th AUGUST 2019
Welcome to the 34th Rauma Blues Festival!
The festival kick-off takes place on Friday, the 9th of August with the famous club evenings at local cafés and restaurants.
Start your Friday tour at CAFÉ SALI and enjoy a very special and wonderful workshop called ‘The Blues According To John Primer’ featuring the living legend, John Primer (guitar, vocals and good stories) and Steve Bell (harmonica).
Your next destination is RESTAURANT BUENA VISTA, where you must check out Haavisto, Roots & Partanen play Elmore. This band really knows their stuff and takes you to a tribute trip to the world of Elmore James.
Finally, take a short walk to RAVINTOLA KALLIO where you can start some serious partying and enjoy the fantastic Friday evening closing act Ilkka Rantamäki $ The Bluesbrokers feat. Jukka Gustavson. The band will take the listeners to the clubs of foggy London on the musical wings for example of John Mayall and Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac.
The main event will be celebrated on Saturday, the 10th of August at THE TENT ARENA IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CITY OF RAUMA, just around the corner from the blues club Buena Vista, on the greens of the river banks. Once again the stage will be filled with top international and local root music artists and bands. An upbeat blues party spirit as well as more sentimental blues melodies are both guaranteed.
The feelgood festival’s main concert on Saturday features the powerhouse Shemekia Copeland (USA), the Chicago blues legend John Primer & The Real Deal Blues Band (USA), the unique master of melodic blues John Németh (USA), and a couple of Scandinavian blues bands that have toured the world already for decades, Trickbag (SWE/FIN) and Wentus Blues Band (FIN).
MAIN CONCERT ARTISTS AND BANDS IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE:
WENTUS BLUES BAND (FIN)
While most people associate the blues with the steamy bayous of Louisiana and the cotton fields of Mississippi, lovers of the devil´s music may be surprised to hear that there is also a thriving scene in Scandinavia. At the heart of this Nordic blues explosion are the WENTUS BLUES BAND, who hail from Kokkola in central Finland.
While the pinestudded wilderness of their homeland is about as far as you can get from the jukejoints of the Deep South, there´s no doubting their musical credentials. Established in 1986, the band have acquired a reputation as the hardest working in Scandinavia and play around 150 gigs a year. The Wentus Blues Band
has toured in 17 different countries,
released 10 albums, done several TV-
shows, headlined festivals and toured with many great bluesmen. Expect explosive blues and frantic rhythm and blues, played with laid back stylishness!
TRICKBAG (SWE/FIN)
With 25 years of touring, 7 albums,
several awards and nominations under their belt, TRICKBAG are in high demand not only as headliners but also as one of the best backing bands for touring US artists in Europe. Just recently, Trickbag reached the proud milestone of being the only International act to perform twice at the prestigious Doheny Blues Festival in California – in front of 20.000 people each time! Anyone who´s witnessed Trickbag´s charismatic frontman Tommy Moberg and double bass player Lars Näsman whip their audience into a frenzy knows that this is about as good as it gets when it comes to live blues music. Long-time partners in the blues, both Tommy and Lars have won and been nominated for multiple blues music awards in their home country of Sweden.
The band also prominently features
British harp sensation Steve “West” Weston and the multi-talented Tomi Leino on guitar. Steve Weston’s tone is extra-ordinary, as is his taste and style, and within his chosen field – old style Chicago / West Coast harp playing – he’s right up there with anyone in the world today. A long-
time veteran of the European blues circuit, Tomi Leino hails from Finland and is quickly building a world-wide reputation as one of the best guitar players out here. On keys is the veteran Fredrik Von Werder, with his deep knowledge of Chicago blues piano. Together with one of Sweden´s top Blues Drummers Marcus Andersson, Trickbag are a world-class blues outfit!
JOHN PRIMER & THE REAL DEAL BLUES BAND (USA)
Two-time Grammy nominated artist and American blues legend JOHN PRIMER was the bandleader and guitarist for Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon and Magic Slim & The Teardrops. Having played or recorded with a who’s who of blues greats including Junior Wells, Gary Clark Jr., Derek Trucks, Johnny Winter, The Rolling Stones and
Buddy Guy to name a few, John Primer’s personal accolades, including a Lifetime Achievement Award, reflect his countless contributions to the history of Chicago blues.
The depth of history and tradition that runs in Primer’s blood from decades of master blues classes he took from all the Blues Godfathers builds his music catalog and unique style. John Primer is still at the top of his game. With his strong traditionalist blues phrasing, seasoned rhythm and blues vocals and lightning-fast slide guitar techniques, few artists can match him and none have his vast, real deal, blues history. There are very few blues fans, critics or musicians who will deny the fact that John Primer is the real deal. You can’t paint the blues without the Primer!
JOHN NEMETH (USA)
Grammy- and BMA nominee JOHN NÉMETH continues to be one of the hottest stars in the musical firmament, touring nationally and internationally with his Memphis band, taking the world by storm.
This talented singer and harpist had already established himself among the very top ranks of blues musicians and modern soul singers when he decided to break the mold with his new record, Feelin’ Freaky. Németh fearlessly crushes all barriers of style and genre with an album of original songs that defies all the usual pigeonholes. Drawing from his strong influences in blues and R&B, as well as contemporary sounds in hip hop and rock & roll, Németh creates music that is personal as well as universal, and owes its origin to no one but John Németh.
Németh’s songs are groove and melody-driven, laced with thoughtful lyrics and nuanced humor, and cover themes from social issues of gun violence and class values to the pure hedonistic joy of dancing, sexuality and marijuana. He creates his songs from melodies and phrases he draws from the sounds of life, from early-morning Memphis songbirds to the din of the city.
SHEMEKIA COPELAND (USA)
SHEMEKIA COPELAND is an award-winning R&B/Americana singer considered one of the great blues voices of our time. Born in Harlem, New York City and daughter of Texas blues guitarist and singer Johnny Copeland, young Copeland first performed at the Cotton Club when she was 9. At 16, her father took her on tour as his opening act, establishing her name on the blues circuit. In 1998, she landed a recording contract with Alligator Records, and released her first album, Turn the Heat Up! Other albums followed: Wicked, Talking to Strangers, and The Soul Truth. At the 2011 Chicago Blues Festival, she was presented with Koko Taylor’s crown and officially honored as the new ‘Queen of the Blues.’ Her album, Outskirts of Love peaked at number 6 on the Billboard Top Blues Album and her latest eighth album, America’s Child on Alligator Records won two Blues Music Awards in 2019: Contemporary Blues Album and Album of the Year.
This Powerhouse Lady never holds back. Her instantly recognizable voice – capable of being sultry, assertive and roaring – delivers every song with unparalleled honesty and passion. Her wide-open vision of contemporary Americana roots and soul music showcases the evolution of a passionate artist with an up-to-the-minute musical and lyrical approach.
FRIDAY 9TH AUGUST
THE BLUES ACCORDING TO JOHN PRIMER (USA)
CAFÉ SALI – 7 PM – Free Entrance
Kuninkaankatu 22, Rauma
HAAVISTO, ROOTS & PARTANEN play ELMORE (FIN/EST)
RESTAURANT BUENA VISTA – 8.30 PM
Free Entrance
Kanalinranta 5, Rauma
ILKKA RANTAMÄKI $ THE BLUESBROKERS feat. JUKKA GUSTAVSON
RESTAURANT KALLIO – 10.30 PM
Entrance Fee 10 €
Kalliokatu 25, Rauma
SATURDAY 10TH AUGUST
4.00 PM – DOORS OPEN
5.00 PM – CONCERT
0.30 AM – CURFEW
RAUMA BLUES TENT ARENA
Parpansali, Kanavakatu, Rauma. Age limit 18.
The Parpansali field is located on the street of Kanavakatu, around the corner from the blues club Buena Vista, on the beginning of the street in the
centre of the city
SATURDAY MAIN CONCERT
TICKETS AVAILABLE
Online at: lippu.fi
In Rauma: Hotel Kalliohovi, Hotel Raumanlinna, Restaurant Buena Vista
In Pori: Hotel Bepop
SATURDAY MAIN CONCERT TICKET PRICES
In advance 55 €, at the door 60 €
SATURDAY MAIN CONCERT VIP
Rauma Blues VIP 2019 theme:
Blues Meets Hollywood
VIP ticket 150 € includes: festival ticket, welcome cocktail, Blues Meets Hollywood Buffet, ½ bottle of wine and night meal. All this you can enjoy at your own table.
Inquiries and reservations:
sales@hovisales.fi
+358 10 229 5210T
