The 9th edition of Thrill Blues Festival took place 24 & 25 July in the beautiful small town of Trilj in Croatia. The heavy heatwave that have hit central Europe for weeks where gone, and the conditions for this “blues in the park” event where perfect.
Thrill Blues School
Friday started with masterclass workshops at the Thrill Blues School where artists like Tomi Novak (bass), Mihael Vlah (drums) & Marco Bartoccioni from Italy (lap-steel guitar) keept the sudents busy for five hours. This is one of the leading Blues Schools in Europe and thanks to Boris Hrepič Hrepa for keeping it at a very high level. The festival stage where located in the park by the river Cetina.
The Festival
Surrounded by pine threes this is a magic setting and the evening shows kicked off with the local band D’Bluz, before the duo Lima Wick & Stuttering Bob had a short nice set. Then we got a great hot show by the Sunnysiders, that really put fire on the audience. Then it was time for the headliner of the night, Robert Finley. And WOW, what a superb show the 72 year old soul blues shouter from Louisiana delivered. He held the very entusiastic audiense in his hands for 1,5 hour and he was in really good mood this evening. His doughter also made huge impress and showed that she is more than ready for her own solo carriere. Also credit to Roberts band, that where super tight and playd fantastic. The evening closed with the Wacky Professors.
Saturday came up with sun and blue sky, and the masterclasses keept on with new instructors. From Norway piano giant Tor Einar “Dr” Bekken where teaching piano and (samspill). Jolly Jumper held harmonica clinic and told the story about this small, but important instrument in the blues music. The workshops ended with the Slovenian guitarists Julian Erič and Igor Leonardi. The students where very entusiastic during both days and its great to see how strong (samhold) it is in the group.
The last night
The Saturday evening shows started with the band “Beg”, before the Thrill Blues School students entered the stage. They delivered a fantastic show and they got a great (mottagelse) from the audience. They not only play cover songs, but presented new original songs they have made, really good.
After the students, the announcment that the young Australian guitar star Taj Farrant lost his plane and had to cancell. Anyway, this diden’t seems to (senke stemningen). Then the Norwegian piano-harmonica duo of Dr Bekken & Jolly Jumper entered the stage and they had a hot high-energy set. The festival closed with the Italian ferrari Marco Bartoccioni. This lap steel/ guitarist and singer delivered a fantastic finale show. He and his band played so well that nobody missed the “headliner”. Also need to mention the sound crew that produced a very good sound both nights. We are looking forward to the 10th anniversary of Thrill Blues Festival next summer.
Comments are closed