Once again, Fred, a member of the “Blues for Youth” commission of the European Blues Union, chose to support young European musicians for an event that is particularly close to our hearts: a training workshop for accomplished musicians aiming for professional careers in the medium or long term. It’s worth remembering that artists like Kingfish, Matthias Lattin, Ben Levin, Harrell Davenport, and Alyssa Galvan have all taken part in the Pinetop Perkins Foundation Workshop which says a lot about the quality of its programs.
Three blues enthusiasts, Jadran, a Croatian pianist and singer, Kristoffer, a Norwegian drummer, and Branko, a Swedish harmonica player and singer, came together for an initiatory journey into the heart of the Mississippi Delta. This experience, supported by the European Blues Union and the Pinetop Perkins Foundation, was a musical and cultural quest, an immersion in the deep roots of the blues, that took them from Memphis to Clarksdale, passing through iconic places where history is still present among the walls and cotton fields.
In the Church
Their Blues For Youth itinerary began in Memphis, where Jadran discovered Stax Records, Graceland, the Civil Rights Museum and the Blues Hall of Fame, fully immersing himself in the legacy of a city that has shaped so many artists. A few days later, he and his traveling companions headed to Como, Avalon and Greenwood, paying tribute to Fred McDowell, Mississippi John Hurt and Robert Johnson, legends whose music transcends generations. Each stop uncovered new findings and meaningful encounters; every graveyard whispered a different story, though deep down they all shared something.
In Bentonia, they explored the town’s haunting blues sound with Jimmy “Duck” Holmes at the Blue Front Café before heading to Jackson and then Indianola, where the B.B. King Museum reminded them that blues is still very much a living force. Between fiery jams on Beale Street in Memphis, Blue Monday nights at Hal & Mal’s in Jackson, moving moments of gospel at Peace Baptist Church, and the vivid atmosphere of the Blue Front Café, they soaked up the spirit of the blues before reaching Clarksdale for the main event.
Live at Ground Zero
In Clarksdale, time seems suspended, yet the pulse of the blues is constantly felt. A city poised between apparent tranquility and a lively and non-stop music scene. Clubs pop up and fade, some are tied to tradition, while others are born from a newfound passion. The Ground Zero Blues Club remains a landmark, but other venues such as the Hambone Gallery and Red’s Lounge continue to cultivate the unpredictable magic of music.
At the heart of it all, Cat Head plays a vital role. It’s more than a store, it’s a bridge between the past and future of the blues. Through its vinyl records, books, posters, and welcoming atmosphere, Roger Stolle keeps the tradition alive while promoting today’s artists. Every visit is an immersion, a way of getting closer to the blues that lives in Clarksdale
The first three nights were electric. Teachers and students gathered for intense musical exchanges, both theoretical and practical, refining their musical techniques and sensibilities. Between serious study and pure magic, they experienced the spirit of the blues, something that is as lived as it is learned. As teachers there were artists of the caliber of Johnny Burgin, Brandon Miller and Doug MacLeod on guitar; Bob Stroger, Heather Crosse and Danielle Nicole on bass; Tony Braunagel, Ian Harper and Lee Williams on drums; Ben Levin at the piano; Bob Corritore on harmonica; and, last but not least, Candice Ivory on vocals.
With Jimmy Duck Holmes
The last night at Ground Zero Blues Club was the grand finale, a moment when the music rose and transcended all boundaries. The venue was packed, bathed in the glow of red and blue neon lights, every table and corner filled with music lovers ready for this sacred gathering. The atmosphere was electric, a mix of anticipation and thrill buzzing in the room even before the first notes were played.
The teachers kicked things off on stage and then the young musicians, excited by the atmosphere, gave it their all. Jadran launched into fluid piano runs, Kristoffer offered nuanced and inspired drumming, and Branko, deeply immersed in his groove, electrified the room with wild intensity. They were not alone, all the students came together for a show in which talent and passion merged in a shared moment. One solo after another, fierce musical exchanges and complicit looks told the story: this was not just a concert, it was a party.
Hal And Mal
The crowd, swept up in the fever, stomped, applauded, and surrendered to the rhythm. Some closed their eyes, overcome by music awakening something deep, an echo of blues history vibrating through this legendary place. As the final notes faded, a moment of suspended silence gave way to thunderous applause. The smiles on stage and in the audience said it all: this night would be remembered as an explosion of passion and authenticity.
More than just a musical initiation, this journey is like passing of the torch, a transmission across generations and cultures, carried by the love of blues. And that’s why, year after year, we can’t wait to come back
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