"The Blues as we know it came out of the cotton fields of the Deep South of the US. It was born out of a clash of cultures and gave the poor a voice. Suddenly, people who had previously been unheard now had a voice and were singing about everyday things, instead of only about God."

Nigel McTrustry: Blues In The Box

Brisbane-based musician Nigel…

"What is clear is the capacity of the music to lift people’s spirits and deliver a positive impact on morale and wellbeing."

Rebecca Downes: Blues Rock Kingdom

Birmingham-based Rebecca and her band are a ‘must see’ live act that often leaves newcomers simply blown away by the power of the performance. With her co-writer Steve Birkett alongside…

"The people that created this music did so to express themselves and escape from the daily struggles of their lives that were made unnecessarily harsh through no fault of their own. We have a responsibility to recognize the situations that created this music and to be respectful of those of lived through it."

Screamin' John and TD Lind: Big Blues Men…

"It’s (Blues) great and powerful music that moves people - with soulful feeling, honesty, true stories and emotion."

Dave Specter: Blues From The Inside Out

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…

"Music is a central cog in our socio-cultural identity from the individual to the global level. It helps us define ourselves and our humanity. It connects us with each other. I want it to keep doing that."

Wide Mouth Mason:

I Wanna Go With The Blues

Wide Mouth Mason is a soul power duo…

"Blues and especially jazz were pivotal in breaking down the color line and overcoming prejudice in this country. Rock played that role to a lesser degree, but it still was important in introducing white audiences to black musical forms."

David Dann: The King & His Blues Life

David Dann’s book “Guitar King: Michael Bloomfield's Life in the…

"I don't know if it's a state of mind but I do think it's more than a musical genre. There is a lot of passion and truth in the blues."

Pedro Villarejo: The Art of Music

Pedro Villarejo is an artist from Spain who has illustrated comics, children's books, poetry, posters and television series among other things. His artistic training is…

"Blues is a Feeling, it’s Music that describes how you FEEL. The Black Musicians discovers how to put these feelings into song. But today the genre and art form are for everyone to express how they FEEL. Keep it real and enjoy the audience will love and respect that."

Rob Paparozzi: Harmonica Master

New Jersey-based frontman, singer, &…

"African American music, Art and literature all tell the story of black people’s journey from then being taken from Africa, enslaved though present day. Black art and literature are an integral part of telling the American story in an honest way."

Wayne Escoffery: Rising Jazz Star

Downbeat Critics Poll Winner and Grammy Award winning tenor…

"Blues music as the voice of an oppressed and exploited people. Blues developed from the urge of the slaves to express their culture, heritage and mostly their emotions. The blues developed as a response to African Americans deeply traumatizing experience of slavery and the dehumanization."

Prakash Slim: Crawling In The Blues

Nepali blues musician…

"The Blues transcends the barriers of politics, race, culture because everyone, absolutely everyone has had some Blues at some time."

Mr. Downchild & Kasimira:

Blues Meets Girl

Mr. Downchild and Kasimira (Steev Inglish & Kasimira Vogel) met at a jam session when…

"I believe in American, European and African history of the twentieth century, it has been greatly influenced by black music and movements against racism and in favor of human rights and has gone in parallel with the growth and transformation of the blues from its origins, from cotton fields to industrialization in large cities such as Chicago, New York, LA where it evolved to reach all corners of the world by way of Rock or Rock & Roll like Chuck…

"Great blues songs inspire great interpretations (the blues ‘tradition’ again)"

Mick Pini: Painting The Truth of Blues

If you’re lucky enough to catch veteran British bluesman Mick Pini live you are guaranteed the real deal; no pedals, no effects, just a (rare) 54 Strat (stroked) played by a bluesmeister. Oh -…

“Eleftheria” (Freedom) has always been important to me, as it has been for Greeks, and for people in general. I realized that down deep everyone wants to be free of something; that the more personal a feeling is, the more universal it is. I wanted to express in sculpture a more philosophical idea. My love of philosophy also began with Greek philosophers."

Zenos…

"Blues Music has been an affirmation of racial indignities, political differences and social-cultural disparity since its inception. It's no different today. They exist and will continue unfortunately. Gratefully the craft is so much more than showing our disparity and deviance. The Blues is a happy and loving genre and I relish in the fact that the music will really set you free … Because the Blues Is the Truth."…

"I think music is the best way to make friends over all barriers... music can heal and you can connect with people you not can even talk to... I would say it´s the strongest power we have and can share..."

The Wentus Blues Band: Nordic Explosion

While most people associate the blues with the steamy bayous of Louisiana and the cotton fields of…

"Many blues artists (also in Germany) take a clear stance against what is happening everywhere in Europe and in the U.S. at the moment. Musicians from other countries and cultures enrich the scene enormously and quickly make friends. But that is not limited to blues, artists from all genres take a stand for cultural diversity, and that’s good."

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