Alain Dodji Apaloo has a rare gifted talent, which give his version of “the Blues” a special dimension.
Born and raised in Togo, Africa, he started to play music at a young age, and via school and college,
got the possibilities, which later brought him on many a long travel, ending up in Copenhagen, where
in 2005 he graduated from the Academy of Rhythmic Music.
He’s influenced by jazz, blues and world music, but mostly by his African cultural background, all of
which he has used extensively in several bands.
Last year he won the Danish version of the International Blues Challenge and went to Memphis
to compete in the annual main event in the solo - duo category.
Later this Friday Alain plays with his electric trio at Mojo - read more there.

Joe Louis Walker from San Francisco is one of the present day's greatest and
most modern singers and guitarists, who feels equally at home in many of the
different blues styles.

Walker has visited Denmark several times, but this is a first for the blues festival.

Don't miss this chance to experience one of the great guitarists and his
brilliant band, at Roedovre Centrum in the afternoon, and later at Biblioteket.

Read more under the concert later the same day at the Biblioteket.

The duo format is a demanding discipline, which never lets either participant off the
hook for very long - it's also an art form, in which simplicity is a keyword.

In this guitar-sax duo Paul Banks and his guitar is the lyrical and grooving engine,
while Jakob Dinesen and his tenor sax goes from filling to leading, from slender
translucency to raspy, growling, swinging powerplay - and it's a perfect fit.

With a series of albums and numerous international club and festival concerts under
his belt, and as the recipient of the blues festival's award in 2005, Thorbjorn Risager
has established a well deserved reputation as being one of the most successful acts
in Danish blues in recent years.

He has released 5 CDs since 2004, and the 7 piece band is almost ready with 12 new
songs for their # 6 album, just like #5, "Track Record", the producer is Lars Skjærbæk.

The opening track "Track Record", "Rock 'N' Roll Ride", recently won 3rd prize in the
Blues category of the prestigous International Songwriting Competition (ISC).

It'll be great to hear songs from the new CD, when Thorbjorn once again fills Mojo
on Friday night.

The blues festival's annual award "Danish Blues Artist of the Year” was established in 2002 and
is given to a Danish Blues artist in recognition of his or her outstanding musical and artistic
efforts for the blues genre. Established artists and new talents alike are taken into consideration.

The award is sponsored by the Festival, Amager Bio and Mojo.
We congratulate this year's award winner !
Find more about the Blues Award i the top left menu

After the Blues Award ceremony, another price winner enters the stage:
Johnny Max from Mississauga, Canada, and his superb band.
He recently won the blues category in the prestigious International Songwriting Competition (ISC).
(Our own Thorbjørn Risager received 3. price !)

Johnny Max (McAneney) is a superb singer and songwriter, as proved by his winning song,
"Daddy's little girl", from his most recent CD "It’s A Long Road".

The Johnny Max Band is a great, versatile band, covering almost all music styles - Stax, Volt,
Atlantic, Funk, New Orleans, Blues, Jazz and Southern Soul. A concert with the band is like a
history lesson in the American musical roots. All under masterful control of Johnny Max, who
knows the value of giving the crowd all, he has to give in his action-packed shows, with charm,
humour and a colourful, almost Tom Waits-like personality.

The band's first 3 CDs had a “clean cut” blues sound, while # 4, "A Lesson I’ve Learned", is
pointing towards “Southern Soul”, rather than conventional blues. This is even more obvious
on "It’s A Long Road", which is a colourful mixture of Rock’em & Sock’em Soul, Gumbo, R'n'B,
and a few straight ahead boogie and blues saongs as the musical backdrop for Johnny's very
personal text universe.

The band members all have fabulous CV’s, having played with great blues names like BB King,
Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, Jeff Healey, Joe Louis Walker, Koko Taylor, Fabulous Thunderbirds,
Colin James, Snooky Prior, Matt "Guitar" Murphy, Georgie Fame and others.
These guys know their business, and it will be great to make theie acquaintance at this festival's
award night in Huset.

www.johnnymaxband.com   www.myspace.com/thejohnnymaxband  

With numerous concerts and two critically acclaimed CDs, “Shades of Blue” and
”On a Mission from Muddy Waters”, this band set new standards for Danish blues
in the ’90es. The band members went their separate ways, but reassembled the
band a couple of years ago, to pick up where they left off.
Still fronted by James Loveless they are up and flying again, still carrying the torch,
still displaying joy and dedication, still ”on a mission for Muddy Waters”! They say it
all in the title of their latest CD, “Feels Like The First Time”.
Rooted in American gospel music, James Loveless sings with dedication and power,
and with a repertoire of SOB’s own songs and classics like “Hoochie Koochie Man”,
"Crosscut Saw” and “I’m Ready”, this is Chicago blues at it's best, and the goods are
delivered the with nerve and originality.

The two guitar equilibrists have known each other for many years, and have created a tight,
airy, almost telepathic interaction with each other.

Their repertoire spans from modern, electric funky urban blues to acoustic style Tex Mex.
The songs are a mix from Frimers own catalogue, supplemented with songs from the
classic blues repertoire, spiced up with a few good cock-and-bull stories.

Joe Louis Walker from San Francisco is an outstanding guitarist and vocalist with roots
in the gospel he practised as a ten year old with the gospel band ”The spiritual Corinthians”.

When he turned his attention to the blues music, he immediately got success with his first CD,
”Cold is the Night” from 1986. Since then, he has released more than 20 CDs, from guitar
and slide guitar based straight blues to R'n'B with horn section - almost all of them with his
characteristic funky touch.

In the 90'es, Walker got in touch with the Verve Records and released several high-profile
CDs, some produced by legendary Booker T guitarist Steve Cropper, some with people like
James Cotton, Brandford Marsalis and Tower of Power Horns as guest musicians.

In 1997 he managed to round up Buddy Guy, Otis Rush and other top blues guitarists for the
recording of the CD, "Great Guitars", which was a huge and well deserved success for him.

Walker feels at home in many styles within the blues, which can also be seen in his choice of
Duke Robillard as producer on the latest albums, a guitarist who himself moves freely between
jazz og blues.

Joe Louis Walker has played several times in Denmark. The first time was at the Musikcaféen
in the mid 80’ies, later at the Cirkusbygningen, and lately at festivals around the country.
Now the turn has come to Copenhagen Blues Festival.
Don't miss this chance to experience one of the great guitarists and his brilliant band,
at Roedovre Centrum in the afternoon, and later at Biblioteket.

The band originally started as Delta Blues & Boogie Band way
back in -68, and, to his day, is considered one of the founders
of the Danish blues scene.
In a new configuration in the eight'es as Delta Cross Band, the
band got huge success, playing all major festivals and clubs in
Northern Europe, and releasing several top selling albums.

After their comeback in 2008, launched at that year's blues festival,
the success has continued.
The band has remained almost the same as 40 years ago.
Still in front is singer, guitarist and piano player Troels Jensen
- the 'grand old man' of Danish Blues - flanked by his faithful
crew, who’s been with the band, on and off, since they started.
With the release of "Checkin' In" last year, Delta, now with harp
player Jorgen Lang as a fifth member, have explored new paths,
but still serves first class, hand played, blues music of the first order.

Rattlers have existed since the beginning of the 90ies. The band started out as a
clean cut blues band with a large number of club concerts and support jobs for
some big acts, like Walter Trout.
Since then, the style has changed, and today Rattlers is more rock'n'roll - but
you still get the great songs by ZZ Top, Hendrix, Billy Idol and Led Zeppelin.
Sweaty rock/blues with power.

L.P. Simonsen, one of Denmark's best and most original vocalists and guitarists,
is back at the festival with his roots'n'blues trio.

Based on Chicago-blues and other types of great roots-music, the trio performs
L.P.'s songs, mixed with interpretations of some good, old classic stuff.
Blues with soul, originality and power, that engolfs the room !
Blues at Blaagaard's !

Tutweiler consist of young, but experienced musicians from the Blues and
Surf-Rock scene of Copenhagen.
They play blues inspired by the American west coast, spiced up with some
kitch'y escalator jazz, obscure 50'es sould and - Cuban Mambo - and song.
lyrics revolving around day-to-day life as most people know it.

Tutweiler's unique musical cocktail is also obvious on the band's debut CD,
"Comin´In" from 2010, produced by the West coast blues legend James
Harman, who wrapped up the project with the words:
"Congratulation guys. Not only did you make a record - you made an album!"

When the Leslie echoes and a frail voice takes over, it’s like Juicy Blues, Shuffle Kings,
Captain Hoffers Show Band and Texas Twisters are all present in the room.
And it's not as strange, as it sounds: All these bands have been the musical
homes of the boys from Bluesoul for the past 20 years.

Bluesoul plays soulful blues and bluesy soul - and does it in a way, that will
slowly, but surely get the audience out of their chairs and onto the dance floor.
Come, party !

Alain Apaloo from Togo has lived in Denmark for the last 10 years.
While studying at the Academy of Rhythmic Music, he played with
several bands, until he assembled this, his favourite trio, with a
fabulous, swinging and original blues based repertoire.

On this particular festival night at Mojo, the trio will reach new
heights, and walls, floor and ceiling will bulge, when the special
guest of the evening, Esben Just of SkipperJustFrost, joins in
in the musical festivities.
Party in the Valley !

Earlier this Friday Alain plays a solo acoustic set at Roedovre - read more there.

La Fontaine has a very special treat this late Friday night.
A reunion between Janice Harrington and Kjeld Lauritsen,
from the good, old days, when Kjeld was playing with
Kenn Lending Blues Band, often backing Janice at
club and festivals gig around Europe.

Janice is a versatile blues-, jazz- and gospel singer,
and with Kjeld and his trio's musical width, this can
onbly be a fabulous jazz-blues evening.

Read more about Janice under her Thursday concert at Husets Café.