| Contact: admin (a) blues-finland.com © 2008 Blues-Finland.com |
| Robillard and McClinton Go Lakeside 11 April 2008 The American core at Finland's major blues festival in June is completed by Mississippi's Big Jack Johnson. Dutchman Julian Sas and Finland's blues lady Erja Lyytinen provide some European power. Finland's biggest blues event, the Lakeside Blues Festival, has announced the line-up for next June's main concert. The "Puistoblues" will feature Americans Duke Robillard, Delbert McClinton and Big Jack Johnson as well as Europeans Julian Sas from Holland, and Erja Lyytinen from the host country. The Mayor of the host city Jarvenpaa, Mr Erkki Kukkonen, was present as the festival programme was announced in Helsinki. "The festival is very important to us", he said. "The city's music is not only about symphony; we need the beat of the blues as well." Jarvenpaa was the home of world-famous composer Jean Sibelius (1865 - 1957). |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Mr Kukkonen again stressed the amazing know-how and enthusiasm of the organisers, who work purely on voluntary basis. "How are they able to build up a huge festival like this, year after year", he wondered. "It is always amazing to us, too", responded festival chief Jouni Hyytiainen. With the help of outside volunteers and a number of commercial partners, the Lakeside Festival is arranged by a local jazz/blues association. Singer/guitarist Duke Robillard, who formed Roomful of Blues in Rhode Island in 1967, has also played with The Fabulous Thunderbirds. In addition, he has had a successful career as a solo artist and as the leader of his own band, The Pleasure Kings. Four-time W.C. Handy Award winner has been nominated for the prize this year, too. McClinton has not won any Handys yet, but he has three Grammies under his belt. The Texan, who stars in vocals and harmonica, will play at the Lakeside with a large line-up. Big Jack Johnson played in Finland in 2006, and all those who saw him then are ready to welcome him back. The former oil truck driver has kept the blues alive by writing his own songs, often about burning questions like AIDS and drug problems. He combines the best of delta and modern blues; his acoustic album "Memphis Barbecue Sessions" (2002) won him a Handy. Julian Sas is a guitarist in the blues-rock tradition. Jimi Hendrix being his initiator, he now idolises traditional names like Elmore James and Freddy King, and rockers like Alvin Lee and Rory Gallagher. Erja Lyytinen, again, has been touring around Europe and North America since signing a recording contract with Ruf Records. A new one is in the oven, too: the Lakeside will be the release party for her new album "Grip of the Blues". With the main concert on Saturday, 28 June, the five-day festival will feature over 50 different acts in free outdoor concerts and at the city's different clubs and bars. The other major festival, western Finland's Rauma Blues (11-12 July), is yet to unveil its headliner. Nevertheless, it is already clear that the main event will include The Mannish Boys, Doyle Bramhall, and Buckwheat Zydeco. The Imatra Big Band Festival will see concerts by the Robert Cray Band and the Campbell Brothers on 3 July. In eastern Finland, the Savonsolmu Beach & Blues Party (Pieksämäki, 4-5 July) features England's Big Joe Louis and Papa George, together with a string of top names from Finland. Guitarist Charles Burton plays at the Kaavi Blues on 7 June. Briton Otis Grand hits the northern city of Oulu on 8 August. All in all, the Finnish blues summer (June – August) will host more than twenty blues events of all shapes and sizes. Summer's blues(-related) festivals in Finland, links to English pages: Lakeside Blues Festival – Puistoblues (25-29 June) Imatra Big Band Festival (27 June – 4 July) Rauma Blues (11-12 July) Kaavi Blues (6-7 June) Kalottjazz & Blues (26-29 June) |
 |
| Duke Robillard © Stony Plain Records |