This year’s festival again has a lot to offer when it comes to famous local and foreign performers and bands. Chantel McGregor, elected to be the best blues guitarist and singer of the year in Great Britain last year, will pay her first visit to Hungary, to show her amazing skills. Under the name of The Magic of Santana, Singer Alex Ligertwood and conga player Raul Rekow, two former Latin rock magicians reflect on the music of Carlos Santana with the help of German musicians. It means that only the spirit and music of Carlos Santana will be present on the stage, not himself personally!

The American Ford Blues Band has been one of the most important performers regarding white blues since the 1970ies. Out of the three Ford brothers, the guitarist Robben has been going on his own separate way for a long time now. Besides band leader and drummer Patrick, Mark will play the harmonica again in this band. Volker Striffler from Germany who replaced Robben Ford is also an excellent guitar player.

Julian Sas from the Netherlands introduced himself to the Hungarian public on the stages of the Gastroblues Festival exactly 10 years ago, with the public immediately becoming fond of the friendly, easy and skilled guitar player. Julian arrives with his own band. His performance will be accompanied by Cliff Moore, who is another favourite of the public.

The American Sean Carney won the best band award on the Memphis International Blues Challenge in 2007, and also received the Albert King award. They will play together with the Hungarian band T.Rogers on the Gastroblues Festival.

Little G. Weevil (Szűcs Gábor), who lives in the States now, won the category of the best solo/due performer at the International Blues Challenge last year, and was also the youngest nominee on the American Blues Music Award, in the acoustic blues performer category. Just like last year, he shall make his presence on several occasions on the 22. International Gastroblues Festival.

When it comes to the performance of Hungarian bands, the Deák Bill Blues Band, and Ferenczi György and the Rackajam need no special introduction. The latter group will perform jointly with the band of István Pál “Szalonna” (who was born at Visk in the Subcarpathian region, which is the twin town of Paks), at the local Evangelic Church.

The Soulbreakers with the history of three years, and consisting of talented musicians is another exceptional performer, and they have just introduced their new lead singer last year on the closing event of the Gastroblues Festival. The father of Écska Pleszkán is the internationally recognized jazz-pianist Frigyes Pleszkán, from whom she did not only receive her peculiar Christian name, but her talent and love for music as well.

Without presenting a comprehensive list, we are also glad to recommend András Petruska, who performed last year for the first time on the festival, and who has released a special album this year, with songs dedicated to the metro stations of the M4 line. The saxophone player Ferenc Muck, who performed on the very first festival, will play now with his family orchestra, with his triplets playing as well.

We have only selected a few performers to be introduced here, nevertheless there are many more to play on the stages at Paks, and you better already start preparing for the Sunday cooking contests! The meeting of wine lovers is being organized for one and a half decade will also take place. For the full festival program, visit www.gastroblues.hu.

As always, we welcome our dear visitors with good music, fine foods and quality wines.

Program:

04 July Friday
24:00 Little G. Weevil

05 July Saturday

24:00 Petruska András & Upor András

06 July Sunday

20:00 Overnighters
22:00 Big Muff feat. Varga János

Source: gastroblues.hu