"I think the most important thing in life is to be happy. That does not only apply for the life as a musician. I would think this applies to life in general. I think that all “black” music is about to “have a good time”. It doesn’t matter if it is afrobeat, soul, samba, salsa, reggae, funk or blues. Most of them celebrate joy and happiness. I think this is quite different to European music or classical music."…

"The blues has always been a social commentary and will continue to be in the future. It’s always talked about the human condition and the life of the average person. This confirms we’re all just people struggling to survive."

Brandon Isaak: Walkin’ With The Blues

Brandon Isaak, the Whitehorse-born…

“I think music has a bigger impact, from my point of view, more commercially than culturally. For example, jazz, blues, tango, classical, and regional music enthusiasts are immensely small compared to the consumers of today's popular music. Art enriches human beings; that's its main mission.”

Max Hoeffner: The Art of the Blues…

Dave Specter: Blues … at Space!

Blues guitarist, bandleader and producer Dave Specter has earned an international reputation as one of the premier talents on the Chicago blues scene. Since 1985 Specter has performed regularly at top Chicago blues and jazz clubs in addition to festivals and concert halls throughout the USA. Since 1989 Dave has toured internationally with performances in Argentina,…

"Lafcadio Hearn’s legacy in terms of race and social consciousness is demonstrating the need for tolerance of people of different races, nations and religions. And not just to tolerate them, but to learn about them and get to know them as fellow human beings. He also displayed the importance of helping those in need."

Steve Kemme: Lafcadio Hearn's Open Mind…

"What I miss the most is real music record stores...real radio too. The whole industry today is pretty awful...everything is too overexposed and there is no myth or legend about bands anymore. Back in the day, the only way you could see the band was if they had a picture on the record or if you went to a show or saw them in a fan magazine or on a tv show like Ed Sullivan."

Mike Onesko: Musical Dreams…

"Some of the most important lessons I have learned are: Never quit because it's hard, you can never stop learning, this is a very brutal business, don't be afraid of NO's, you're going to hear plenty of them, nothing good comes without busting your tail, not all is always as it appears. There are so many lessons from music and life in general that are very important."

Kurt Allen: Blues Rock &…

"The blues is a gift that African Americans gave to American music. The blues was always there at the heart of everything, but it wasn’t expresses with such feeling."

Rusty Ends: Hillbilly Hoo Doo Blues

Rusty Ends is the real deal, a true link between the rock and blues of the 50’s and 60’s and the 21st century. Rusty learned his craft as a…

"The message is immediately accessible in heart and soul. So, I think the music that was being created that addressed these issues was had a huge impact on the thinking of that generation and deeply motivated activism and getting involved to go down and go on civil rights marches in the south and protest the Vietnam War and everything since."

Maria Muldaur:…

“The blues is a music that will never go away. It's of course the foundation for all popular music. It needs to both be respected and preserved while also being pushed forward by new artists and ideas. Music as a whole has seemed to change its role for current generations.”

Josh Smith: Real Blues, Real…