“Music is a pillar of human development and culture on many levels. It is means to expression, comunication, enjoyment, identifaction and a connecting glue in societies. I would like to see societies and their people open, educated and sensitised for these aspects and the power of arts in general.”

The Bluescats: Blues Conversation …

“It is one of the great American art forms and I think the honesty in the music will always connect with people all around the world. The majority of American music is based in blues, whether it be jazz,R&B, soul, rock, etc… I think there will always be an appetite for the blues.”

Delta Generators:…

“I think it’s important to keep roots music alive because it’s real, handmade music. You can’t truly reproduce it with a computer—and it needs to be played live to capture its real feeling. We need every spark of human soul and emotion in todays world...”

Andi Unter: Lonesome Road Blues…

“I think it’s important to preserve Blues Music as it is one of the oldest and most influential styles of music. I don’t know of any other music that has such emotion and can really make you feel great. As a modern musician playing Blues Music I think it is very important to make it known where you got it from and pass it on.”

Darren Jack: Classy…

“The most important thing I've learned over the years is humility. To respect the "forefathers" of the music. Without them, even the ones I don't particularly like, we wouldn't have this music we love so dearly. As I've gotten older, I've also really embraced the role of mentor.”

Chris Thayer: Nu-Blues…

“I’m better at making music than explaining the power and legacy of roots music. I love the pure forms, I love amalgamated forms that have the pure forms in their DNA, but I don’t particularly like Genre labels. Music is music.”

Mark W. Winchester: They Got It All

Well-respected roots…

“The blues, its rhythms and structures, originated in Africa and crossed over to America. It is a universal language which everyone can feel if they listen closely.”

Steve Louw: Traces Of The Flood

Steve Louw (born 16 September 1955)…

“Music has been a part of my life as far as I can remember, so I guess it has influenced every view I have. It has taken me around the world, meeting people from many different cultures, all connecting through the music. Blues has always been there, the whole time. I think blues is sometimes misunderstood as a sad music, when it actually helps get over sadness.”…

“Poetry and music are the lifeblood of human beings, and a society without those is inhuman. I assume that poetry and music are examples of free expression, and in that respect are the canary in a coal mine. If they’re diminishing or being extinguished it’s a sign the country is filling with the lethal gases of authoritarianism.”

Steven Gray: Counterculture To…

“There are a few really amazing slide guitarists around now that have kept it going. Also, slide has that vocal quality to it like a human voice and I think that moves people. I try to capture emotion in my playing as opposed to shredding a lot of notes, and maybe that’s easier to listen to for some.”

Rick Vito: Slidemaster -…