“The blues is a music with a deep and powerful history, carrying the voices, stories, and emotions of generations. It reminds us where we come from and how people pushed through difficult times, turning their lived experiences into music.”

Harry Blues: I’ll Play The Blues For You

International bluesman Harry Blues (aka Harry Kalampakakis) has spent more than three decades taking the blues to stages across the world. Greece-born and based in the UK Harry Blues with over 2,600 live performances since 1992, he has built a reputation for soulful guitar work, honest songwriting, and the unmistakable presence of an artist who lives every note he plays. His sound carries the weight of tradition, sharpened by a lifetime of stories from the road. His latest release, Texas Girl (2025), marks a significant new chapter, bold, emotionally charged, and capturing Harry at his most expressive. The year before, he delivered the striking EP I’m in Trouble, featuring “Rain” (2024), a collaboration that underscores both his artistic range and his command of modern blues. These releases are part of a broader and long-standing discography, reflecting decades of growth, experimentation, and an unwavering dedication to the blues. Throughout his career, Harry Blues has joined forces with an impressive list of collaborators, including Vic Martin (Gary Moore), Tommy McCoy, Chandler Mogel, Blues Wire, Adrian Day, Lindsey Woods, Rain, The Chicago Blues Tribute Band, and many others, each adding something different to his evolving sound.

(Harry Blues / Photo by Clayton Photography)

Driven by authenticity and a lifelong devotion to the music, Harry Blues continues to push the blues forward, one performance, one song, and one story at a time. Harry Blues’ story is one of devotion, endurance, and an unshakable bond with the music that shaped him. From the early days of discovering the guitar to surviving life-changing accidents, his journey reflects the very essence of the blues, truth, courage, and transformation. Through thousands of performances, countless collaborations, and songs drawn from the deepest parts of his life, he continues to carry the tradition forward with heart and integrity. Rooted in history yet always evolving, Harry stays committed to honouring the past while adding his own voice to the future of the blues. His music, his experiences, and his unwavering passion remind us why the blues still matters. Because it speaks to the human story, and artists like Harry Blues keep that story alive.

Interview by Michael Limnios

What do you learn about yourself from the blues and what does the blues mean to you? 

I’m still learning, every single day. As the years go by, you change as a person. Experiences shape you, challenge you, break you, rebuild you, and turn you into who you are. For me, the blues has always been the place where I can hear my own heart. When I dive into the music and the lyrics, I realise that every note and every word can shift your perspective in a single moment.

Each time I play or listen to the blues, I discover something new about myself. Sometimes it brings out strength, sometimes vulnerability, sometimes memories I didn’t know were still there. The blues has a strange way of revealing parts of yourself you don’t usually face, the truth behind your emotions, the stories you carry, the things you thought you had forgotten.

It’s more than a genre. It’s a feeling, a sense. It’s comfort when I’m struggling and fuel when I’m inspired. It keeps me grounded, honest, and connected to who I really am. The blues has been a major part of my life, and I don’t think I would be the same person without it.

How do you describe your sound and songbook? Where does your creative drive come from?

In ’92, when I started playing during my mid-teenage years, blues and rock music wrapped themselves around my heart. I began exploring guitarists like B.B. King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Muddy Waters, Luther Allison, Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana, Gary Moore, and acoustic legends like Robert Johnson, Son House and Charlie Patton. I started writing songs right away. My sound is a mix of everything I love. Heart, mind, and soul blended into one. It has evolved with time, growing more mature from day one until now. My creativity comes from real facts and thoughts in my mind, or sometimes both together. That’s where the truth of my music lives.

“One of the biggest lessons is understanding that music is more than notes and technique. It’s honesty, discipline, and connection. It’s learning to stay true to yourself no matter what’s happening around you. And above all, it’s realising that the blues will always be there, guiding you, teaching you, and reminding you why you started in the first place.” (Harry Blues / Photo by Dave Markwell)

Why do you think that the European Blues Scene continues to generate such a devoted following?

Europe has always had a deep appreciation for music, from Classical to modern styles. Blues, being the foundation of modern music, naturally found a strong and lasting home here. Generations keep passing it down, keeping it alive and relevant. There are so many talented European artists who take the blues to a different level, each adding their own voice to the tradition. I suppose I’m one of the many carrying it forward, and that carries a huge weight and responsibility.

What do you miss most nowadays from the blues of the past? What are your hopes and fears for the future of?

I truly miss the fathers of the blues, the artists who endured so much to bring the music to where it is today. It wasn’t just talent; it was passion, struggle, survival, and hard work. They played from the heart because that was the only truth they had. We’re lucky to have the recordings we do, keeping their stories, emotions, and voices alive for all of us to learn from.

As for hopes and fears: I don’t really rely on the word “hope.” I think about the future and set my goals instead. Fear is part of life; it can even become part of the story you’re telling. It doesn’t stop you, it just reminds you what matters.

There’s so much talent and determination out there today. The blues keeps moving because people keep feeling, living, and sharing their stories. Music, like stories, is passed from generation to generation. When you tell a story, you’re already creating a blues song.

“Europe has always had a deep appreciation for music, from Classical to modern styles. Blues, being the foundation of modern music, naturally found a strong and lasting home here. Generations keep passing it down, keeping it alive and relevant. There are so many talented European artists who take the blues to a different level, each adding their own voice to the tradition. I suppose I’m one of the many carrying it forward, and that carries a huge weight and responsibility.” (Harry Blues / Photo by  Allen S Pyrah)

What moment changed your life the most? What’s been the highlights in your life and career so far?

I have some moments that definitely changed my life. One of them was realising how much work it takes to truly grow as a musician. I understood early on that I had to practice hard, so I built an 8–10 hour daily practice schedule. I’m self-taught, and that discipline shaped everything that came after. Gary Moore’s Still Got the Blues hit me hard in the early ’90s, the guitar tone, the instrumentation, the lyrics. It clicked with me, and I started observing music differently. Years later, I had the chance to meet Vic Martin, Gary Moore’s keyboardist. When he told me he was interested in my music, I knew something special was coming, and just like that, we started recording.

Recording with bluesman Tommy McCoy was another important turning point, a great experience with a musician I admire and enjoy working with. Collaborating with him added a meaningful chapter to my journey. I’ve also been fortunate to receive advice and encouragement from Shirley King, the daughter of the legendary B.B. King, who supported what I was doing and pushed me to keep moving forward. Playing with Blues Wire, one of the best blues bands in Europe, both meeting them and performing with them in concerts, was a huge honour and a powerful musical experience.

In 2024, performing in Australia for the first time was unforgettable. The people, the atmosphere, the way the audience connected with the music, it felt like a whole new chapter opening up. Traveling so far from home and still feeling that deep connection reminded me how universal the blues truly is. The energy of the crowds, the landscapes, and the warmth I received made those shows some of the most meaningful performances of my life.

Another moment that changed my life was the two serious accidents I went through. In one of them, a car hit me and I ended up in the hospital, where they had to perform CPR on me twice in the same day. I broke almost everything on my body, but I got through it. As for the other accident, I still don’t talk about it. I have several disabilities now, but they never stopped me from playing the guitar. With a walking frame or a walking stick, I always have the guitar by my side, helping me, guiding me, and making me stronger.

And then there are the moments nobody sees, the darkest points, when you fight your way out step by step alone. When you finally start breathing again and look back, you realise how much those moments changed you. And when your mind clears and you pick up your guitar to write a song, you know that moment transformed your life. You turned it into music. You turned it into the blues. And of course, my latest album Texas Girl is my pride and joy. The musicians, the vocalists, the instrumentation, the studio, the sound engineer, everything clicked perfectly.

“The blues also teaches responsibility. When you play or write a blues song, you’re stepping into a tradition created by people who lived through some of the hardest moments in history. You need to respect that, honour it, and keep it alive in your own way.” (Harry Blues / Photo by Clayton Photography)

What are some of the most important lessons you have learned from your experience in the music paths?

There are countless lessons. The moment you touch the strings, you begin exploring, and the journey never really stops. I chose to live life in music, from music, and through music, and the blues is the biggest part of who I am.

It’s not always easy. There are obstacles, jealousy, and people who try to undermine your work. But every challenge makes you stronger and teaches you to stand your ground. At the same time, there’s the beautiful side of the journey: meeting performers like Elias Zaikos, Tommy McCoy, Vic Martin, and Shirley King, people who believe in you, support you, and inspire you to keep going.

One of the biggest lessons is understanding that music is more than notes and technique. It’s honesty, discipline, and connection. It’s learning to stay true to yourself no matter what’s happening around you. And above all, it’s realising that the blues will always be there, guiding you, teaching you, and reminding you why you started in the first place.

Why is it important to we preserve and spread the blues? What is the role of music/musician in today’s society?

The blues is a music with a deep and powerful history, carrying the voices, stories, and emotions of generations. It reminds us where we come from and how people pushed through difficult times, turning their lived experiences into music. Preserving it matters because every generation carries these stories forward in its own way, and many people work tirelessly to pass the blues forward so it can continue to reach new hearts and minds. For me, the blues is truth, It’s honesty without filters, real emotion expressed through sound. It’s a way to speak when words aren’t enough, a way to heal, a way to connect. The blues is not just music; it’s a way of life, a feeling, a companion. It carries history, pain, joy, and freedom all at once.

The blues also teaches responsibility. When you play or write a blues song, you’re stepping into a tradition created by people who lived through some of the hardest moments in history. You need to respect that, honour it, and keep it alive in your own way. A blues musician’s role is to give voice to feelings like pain, joy, sorrow, courage, the small victories, and the heavy moments. Blues musicians keep the tradition alive while bringing their own experiences into it, making it clear that the blues lives far beyond its roots and continues to unfold every single day. And above all, the blues is human. It’s the sound of experience, and that’s why it continues to live, grow, and speak to people everywhere.

“I’m still learning, every single day. As the years go by, you change as a person. Experiences shape you, challenge you, break you, rebuild you, and turn you into who you are. For me, the blues has always been the place where I can hear my own heart. When I dive into the music and the lyrics, I realise that every note and every word can shift your perspective in a single moment.”

(Harry Blues / Photo by Martin David Porter-Mart's Arts Photography)

Are there any similarities between the Blues and the genres of local (Greek) folk music and traditional forms? 

There are definitely similarities, not so much musically, but lyrically and emotionally. Repeated lines in choruses, the microtonal bends you hear in both Blues and Greek traditional music, and the shared sense of emotional storytelling all create a strong connection between the two. Rhythmically, the two worlds differ: Blues leans into the shuffle and the straight groove, while Greek traditional music explores more complex time signatures like 9/4, 7/8, 5/8, 8/8, and more. In 8/8, in some cases, the rhythm can be felt or interpreted in patterns like 3+3+2, but that’s just one example. Emotionally, both genres come from the struggles and lived experiences of the people. Out of that pain and survival came the music we call traditional today.