Friday, 04.08

“Castro is one of the brightest stars in the blues-soul genre. Voracious blues energy and ultimate soul power…impassioned vocals and pure inventiveness in his stellar guitar solos.” – Blues Music Magazine

“Soul-baring, roadhouse-meets-church, Memphis guitar licks…gritty voice…Southern colors and rootsy textures.” – Washington Post

Billboard says the band plays “irresistible contemporary blues-rock” with “street-level grit and soul.”

The staggering number of shows the band has performed together is well over 6000, including 3 seasons as the house band for HBO productions “Comedy Showcase”, two summer-long tours with BB King and Buddy Guy, 40 music cruises (including 33 consecutive sold-out Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruises), and many of the largest music festivals worldwide. The band’s collaborations have included John Lee Hooker, Carlos Santana, Bob Weir, Gregg Allman, Dr. John, Willie Nelson, Jeff Beck, Joe Bonamassa, Elvin Bishop, Charlie Musselwhite, Magic Dick of The J. Geils Band, Taj Mahal and Los Lobos.

Castro started the group after he and McDonald met in the Warner Brothers recording act the Dynatones in 1990; then in 1992, the two got together to officially form The Tommy Castro Band. With attention to the boundaries of American roots music, the group began developing their signature raw and driven sound. Castro immediately gained the attention of the Bay Area Music Scene, winning several local music awards before embarking on a relenting worldwide foray.

The band’s lineup has changed over its 3-decade span, as has its name, adding “The Painkillers” to the billing after a long-time fan pronounced the band’s music as her “painkiller.” The moniker inspired Tommy, and he immediately penned the song that became the title track of the Painkiller Album and eventually the band’s new name. McDonald, along with drummer Bowen Brown and keyboardist Michael Emerson, in the current lineup, have now been playing together for seven years. They have coalesced into one of the telepathically tightest units Castro has ever assembled, making them one of the most in-demand live roots music acts performing today.

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Saturday, 05.08

Chris Grey & The BlueSpand have seriously broken into the consciousness of music lovers with a taste for good GROOVY funk’n’soul.

Their latest release “Funk The Mall” from September 2022 is funky, groovy, and filled with energy with a couple of soulful ballads in between.
You might have come across some of their viral videos on Facebook or YouTube – “Grab’em by the Elbow” with over a million views, and “Mammas Mammalaid” which reached 1 million views in just 10 days!

The success has brought the trio far around Europe, as far as North Macedonia and southern France. Chris Grey & The BlueSpand always show their love and passion when playing their music live in front of an audience.

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Saturday, 05.08

The multi-talented Mihkel Raud is well known as a successful journalist, writer, and even former politician, but above all, he is a musician – an outstanding guitarist, singer, and songwriter.
Mihkel has played in numerous popular Estonian bands such as Golem, Metallist, Singer Vinger, Mr. Lawrence, Lenna, etc., and currently acts mainly as the frontman of his own band.
In a word – Mihkel Raud is a notorious figure, there is probably no Estonian who does not know him.

But it’s probably a little-known fact that his numerous activities and interests include also being a die-hard ZZ Top fan. This hidden side will now be revealed at Augustibluus with a special project consisting exclusively of ZZ Top’s music. Mihkel Raud will take Augustibluus’ visitors from Haapsalu to Texas and create a real-time machine – in addition to ZZ Top’s best-known hits, there will sound some early gems, some of which are almost the same as Raud himself.

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Friday, 04.08 / 

The Goosebumps Bros. is a trio of Italian musicians, very active and well-known on the international blues scene, especially as steady members of Big Daddy Wilson’s band.
Their sound comes from the Blues – in its widest meaning – and it is composed of a mix of genres, dictated by many musical influences, such as classic soul, funk, and vintage rock.
They bring a full-energy performance: their live shows prove the genuine love for the authentic spirit of the legendary jam bands of the past. They all sing and the vocal harmonies establish their style in a unique way. Over the years, each one of them had the opportunity to be on stage and to record with several great artists, renowned in the music business, including Eric Bibb, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Hans Theessink, David Grissom, Kirk Fletcher, Matt Schofield, Vanessa Collier, Kai Strauss, Eb Davis, Terence Trent D’Arby, Zucchero, just to name a few.

Cesare Nolli – guitar, vocals
Paolo Legramandi – bass, vocals
Nik Taccori – drums, vocals

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Friday, 04.08

Compromise Blue is one of the oldest, and maybe even the oldest, continuously active Eastern Europe blues band.
Compromise Blue was born in 1988 in the worker’s canteen of a Soviet plastic factory, where young musicians – Raul Ukareda, Ain Kalme, Hannes Pikkat, and Eri Kask used to go to jam. Spontaneous performances at underground youth parties followed. The name of the band had to be invented in a hurry when the first “big” gig was offered in the summer of 1988 at Elva Rock festival.

Compromise Blue’s current charismatic singer, Emil Rutiku, who is celebrating his 60th anniversary this year, joined the band in 1989. Under Emil’s leadership, the band’s sound became more upbeat, and in less than a year, Compromise Blues became the most sought-after band in the country. Emil is also known as an energetic TV host and MC, actor, and activist, but above all, he is a musician. A rough-voiced and extremely charismatic showman, he has been compared to Tom Waits, Howlin’ Wolf, Omar Dykes, and even James Brown.

Today, Compromise Blue has grown into a 9-member band, whose integral component and trade mark is a 4-member horn section.

Compromise Blue has traveled the world and performed on big stages with many blues legends such as The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Gene Taylor, Rufus Thomas, Omar Kent Dykes, and likes.

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Friday, 04.08 / 

Everywhere Krissy Matthews goes he leaves the crowd in awe. His honest, dynamic and explosive stage show with his extremely tight band leaves ripples in every venue. Nobody sounds like Krissy, which in todays world is becoming harder and harder to be identified with your own sound. 

Krissy Matthews Band has performed hundreds of shows across the world sharing the stage with artists such as Joe Bonamassa, Gregg Allmann, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Beth Hart and Joe Satriani.

Krissy signed to legendary German label Ruf Records last year and released his critically acclaimed record Pizza Man Blues.

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Friday, 04.08 / 

Roy Hytower, born in Coffeeville, Alabama, started as a guitar player opening shows for visiting blues and rhythm’n’blues performers like Nappy Brown, Fats Domino, Ray Charles, James Brown, and likes.  

In the early 60s, Hytower moved to Chicago and became a regular visitor at the Pepper’s Lounge, where he got a chance to play and jam with Junior Wells and Howlin’ Wolf. When Mighty Joe Young , the Otis Rush Band’s guitar player, was leaving the band, he introduced Hytower to Otis. Hytower played three years with Otis all over Chicago. After Otis Rush he shortly played with Johnny Drummer and backed up many other bluesmen, also beginning to front his own band. In 1988 Hytower made his debut solo album called ”Root Doctor. 

During his career, Hytower has also acted in several musicals and also got some smaller roles in films like ”The Babe”, ”Poltergeist III” and ”Novocaine” with Kevin Bacon. 

In the ’90s, Hytower changed his name to Doktu Rhute Muuzic. 

Highway is an experienced Helsinki-based blues and roots band that has also backed many other visiting American musicians during their tours to Finland.

Good Rockin’ Kempas – vocals, harmonica
Jonne Kulluvaara – guitar
Jan-Olof Strandberg – bassKöpi Tolvanen – drums

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Saturday, 05.08

Ornament (1973-1975) was a legendary band of even more legendary Estonian singer, the late great Gunnar Graps. Ornament is considered by many to be the best that Graps ever did. 

Ornament Tribute project started in 2017 at Gunnar Graps’ annual memorial concert. The reason was simple  – Ornament’s great music started to sink into oblivion and it seemed to be necessary to introduce it to the new generations. 

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Saturday, 05.08

Saverio Maccne is a Blues & Rock guitarist, singer, and songwriter, from the metropolis of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Maccne has a one of kind strong rooty sound, that combines raw liberty and dynamic power with the preciseness of his virtuoso guitar skills.

The uniqueness of Maccne´s music is based on his wide and long experience in many different music genres, and his skill to combine them in an original and uncompromising way. In the core of his music, you´ll find the love for Blues and 60´s and 70´s Rock – Spiced up with some punctilious techniques of Jazz. Maccne´s music is a kind of intense electric Blues; it´s raw and unpolished, vibrating an original, almost primitive, fierce power – And yet it is perfectly balanced and precise; every note has to be absolutely clear, and every note has to reflect a piece of its composer’s soul.

Maccne has devoted himself to the guitar since a little boy. He gave his first gigs at the age of only fourteen side by side with professional musicians in the murky bars of the neighborhoods of Buenos Aires. At the age of sixteen, he started his studies in a conservatory – But after almost four years of studying, instead of the final exams, he was tempted by the call of the road and great adventures. And so it is that the man is mostly self-taught, his greatest masters being the wild streets of Buenos Aires, in particular, the bohemian artist´s neighborhood San Telmo.

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Saturday, 05.08

Margus Kappel is the legendary keyboard player for the most notorious Estonian bands Rock Hotel and Ruja, many call him the father of Estonian boogie-woogie. 

Tibu or Andu Kõiv is the next generation boogie-woogie virtuoso, the leader of Chick’n’Band, our very own Jerry Lee Lewis. 

Two of the most genuine piano virtuosos with a special program only at Augustibluus!

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Saturday, 05.08

Faarao Pirttikangas’ texts tell stories from forgotten traditions and myths, from snake oil dealers to faith healers, from sound alchemists to moonshine brain fry, and the occasional sauna habits. The music seamlessly arranges its fenno-balkan roots with afro-american elements. 

Faarao has played stages ranging from fancy concert halls to skronky punk squats in Finland, Germany, Estonia, Latvia, Ukraine, Czech Rep, and Sweden, and won’t quit. 

An effortless combination of influences from Captain Beefheart to delta- & gospel blues, from fenno-american spirituals to barnyard stompin’ madness—a powerful blend of new traditionalism. 

Faarao Pirttikangas was nominated as the blues artist of the year in 2018 by the Finnish Blues Awards.

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Saturday, 05.08

Räpina Jack is like a fresh breeze in the Estonian cultural landscape. It’s a wonderful example of how two completely different artists can create a rock show that fits on any sized stage – from stadiums to living rooms. The roots of the music are in rock’n’roll, yet decorated with bits and pieces from genres ranging from folk and country-western to modern hip hop.

Räpina Jack is like a fresh breeze in the Estonian cultural landscape. It’s a wonderful example of how two completely different artists can create a rock show that fits on any sized stage – from stadiums to living rooms. The roots of their music are in rock’n’roll, yet decorated with bits and pieces from genres ranging from folk and country-western to modern hip hop.

Hain Hoppe a.k.a Hash is a fiery guitar hero, whose roots riffs, melodic solos, and a tongue-in-cheek cocky attitude on stage leave no person unbothered. Kill Kaare a.k.a KillBaba is an excellent wordsmith, whose clever and often comical lyrics open an urbanised yet deeply rooted world to the listener. The lyrics are often melodic, often rapped, and sometimes very contemporary but at the same time very mystical.

That, dear friends, is contemporary, modern rock’n’roll!!

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Saturday, 05.08

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Friday, 04.08 

Blues-rock group Crosswood was established in the early spring of 2014 by a group of musicians from southern Estonia (Tartu) who had previously played in many legendary Estonian bands such as Keel, Nahk & Poogen, ROSTA Aknad, and Suuk. All the members share a deep affection for the music of the ’60s and 70’s and therefore the band’s musical focus is firmly fixed on that period. Crosswood plays tunes by Freddie King, Peter Green & Fleetwood Mac, Mick Taylor, Atomic Rooster, Cream, Johnny Winter, etc. The current lineup includes Toomas Lunge (vocals), Riho Gross (guitar), Ivo Jääger (bass), Arvo Lepik (keyboards), and Ove Maidla (drums).

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Saturday, 05.08

Sullivan Unplugged is an Estonian acoustic rock band formed in 1990. The band enjoyed a significant following in the nineties and finally broke up in the early 2000s. In 2019, Sullivan Unplugged made a comeback and has been active ever since.

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Saturday, 05.08

The Muddy Husky Duo is an experienced and entertaining ambassador of the Country Blues from Finland. Their repertoire is mostly traditional songs, often looked at from a new perspective. The duo also plays their own originals, all this touched by a joyful passion for the blues. 

Muddy E. – guitar and lead vocals
Harry T. –  guitar and vocals

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Saturday, 05.08

Kaibald, named after Estonia’s small desert – Kaibald sands, explores the boundaries between blues, rock, western and country worlds. The unique desert guitar sound creates a cinematic atmosphere in their music, with a touch of dreamy 70s nuances. Singer Liisi’s distinct tone brings thoughtful lyrics to the audience, allowing each listener to create their own story in their mind.

Kaibald’s songs are born in a small sauna-house deep in the forests of Hiiumaa, where the only sounds interrupting the ultimate silence are the mooing of cows passing by. The band has performed on both smaller and larger stages, but in addition to performing, the band members also enjoy the thorough creative process of their songs and their collaboration with Estonia’s best mixer/masterer/recorder of 2021, Peeter Salmela.

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Saturday, 05.08

Von Dorpat about themselves: “Our “playground” is rhythm & blues, rock-tinged soul and of course a good dose of blues itself. We have done all this for more than a decade, always and still in Estonian. We, the younger generation have things to say with our music. We talk about people and their ambitions, and we are not afraid to face what deserves criticism in our world.”

Johannes Vedru – keyboards, vocals
Henri Lohk – guitar, vocals
Andres Nirk – guitar, background vocals
Erki Veikar – bass, background vocals
Kaarel Adamson – drums, background vocals

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Friday, 04.08

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.”

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Friday, 04.08

Randal Randoja is a blues troubadour from Tartu, Estonia. His creation comes from life and includes stories from his and his friends’ lives. Randal sings in Estonian and English of what his ear hears, his eyes witness, and the nation speaks about. He is also an active member of different bands, but performing as a solo artist along with his guitars and a foot drum is closest to his heart. For the past years, he has had many opportunities to perform as a solo musician in smaller and bigger concerts and festivals around Estonia.

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Saturday, 05.08 

Loose Grace is characterized by the elusive tonality of the lead guitar, thundering bass and unstoppable groove of the drums. A true mix of mid-90s alternative with blues rock roots. The music gets taken to another level by the instantly memorable male vocal, which speaks of the charms and vices of life. Rock N’ Roll. In 2022, Loose Grace released their debut album “BLONDE”.

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