Poorboy Poul is a unique singer and lap-style guitarist.
With a love of traditional countryblues, Poorboy Poul
interprets this style’s songs with nerve and presence
- an outstanding young acoustic bluesman.

Shawn Pittman plays Texas blues, as it should be played, which is clearly heard on all of his 10 recordings.
Born and raised in Oklahoma, he started his musical education at the age of 8, piano at first, then guitar,
His guitar style, simple, but powerful, is inspired by musicians like Albert King, Jimmie Vaughan, Lightnin’ Hopkins and Muddy Waters.

At the age of 17, he moved to Texas to study music, and met Sam Myers, who became a great influence on Shawn’s musical career.
In 1996 Shawn released his first CD, “Blues From Dallas”, followed by “Something’s Gotta Give” in -98.
For a while he played rhythm guitar in Susan Tedeschi Band before moving to Austin, where he recorded his
third CD, “Full Circle” with Stevie Ray Vaughan’s band, Double Trouble.
On "Edge of the world" from 2011 he plays all instruments, except sax, which is played by the producer.

Reverend Palle Kongsgaard delivers a Sermon on the subject:
“Black Pearls - Women in the Blues"
The “Blues Service” is held in the cript of Grundtvig's Church.

Female vocalist like Ma Rainey and Bessie Smith were among the first blues artists to record in the 1920ies.
With their rough sound, they changed the blues and their songs gave women their own voice in relation to
sexuality, poverty, suppression and violent relationships. They were considered scandalous “Bad Women”,
but according to Angela Davis they were actually the first feminists from the working class, who had a
chance to speak their mind. They were later succeeded by other great female vocalist like Etta James
and Koko Taylor, and after their deaths, the new generation of female vocalists like Shemekia Copeland,
Nora Jean Bruso and Ruthie Foster.
The theme of the service is based on some of these songs, with stories about women from the bible.
How did these women’s experiences contribute to present day's discussions about equality, the sex
in a social context et cetera.


The servise, very approbiately, ends with a concert with Mamas Blues Joint under the leadership of
Lene Stroyer, who received the award "Danish Blues Artist of the year 2010".
The title of the newest CD from the band, “Blues In Many Colors”, is very telling for the band's music,
a grooving, swinging blend of blues, soul, funk, rock and country.
Lene is the band's main composer, writing catchy melodies and singing her songs with a soulful and
elegant vocal. Among Lene's great inspirations were Etta James, and knowing Lene, the band will
perform a set, that fits in perfectly with Palle's service.

Django Reinhardt (1010 - 1953) lived and played in Paris, and in spite of his handicap
with only to usable fingers on his left hand, he became the era’s biggest guitar virtuoso.
Apart from being the originator of the European music style “gypsy jazz”, he was deeply
fascinated by all the music coming from the USA.
Musically, his background was the gypsy folklore, which he mixed with American blues
and jazz. During his career, he recorded and composed a lot of blues tunes in both major
and minor, and developed his own musical universe on his guitar.
This Sunday afternoon the Danish band Rêve Bohème offers their interpretation of
"Django and the Blues" and the present day's gypsy jazz.

By tradition, the festival's closing event is the acoustic roots and blues jam at Mojo.
This time the jam is hosted by a duo, Crap Pot Pete, with Lazy Vester and Rasmus Dall

For the past 20 years Lazy Vester has played harmonica with a number of the best
acoustic blues interpreters in the country. Rasmus Dall is the singer and guitarist in
the folk/rock band One-Eyed Mule.

Since 2003, they have interpreted the American blues tradition in a trashy, direct
and energetic way, with lots of foot stomp, shout and rhythmic energy.