Sugar Ray and The Bluetones (US)

Simply one of the absolute best bands of their kind, period!

These guys are so authentic, and so well playing, that you just feel moved by it.
Sugar Ray Norcia on the Mississippi saxophone and vocals. Both instruments are harnessed to perfection. The tone and buttered sharp edges of the vocals gets you right from the start.  

Michael "Mudcat" Ward on the floorbas and electric bass.
A legend with his own technique and sound.

Anthony Geraci on the piano. A 2016, 2017 Pinetop Perkins Piano Player of The Year nominee. 
One gets why...

"Monster Mike Welch on the guitar.
The 36 year old top East Coast blues guitar player with 25 years of experience. Playing alongside blues guitar heroes since he was 11.

Neil Gouvin on the drums.
One of the best, and has been together with Sugar Ray Norcia since Jr. High School. 

The Pocket Players (DK)

"Throw Your Dog A Bone" Release Concert

They describe it as Progressive Blues, and I can go for that but will also include unique and captivating.

Since I heard the "Acid Blue Horizon" album, and the concerts, I have been a big fan of this unique sounding blues quartet. Therefore I have been awaiting the next album with big anticipation.

Finally it is here, and me and my camera had the great pleasure of attending the gig in Bygningen Vejle 17/12-2016, where Te Pocket Players stopped by to present the new album "Throw Your Dog A Bone". 

Please take a tour through the photos via clicking the photos in this blog post or by clicking the collection button below.

I also produced 2 video clips of the show, which I included here to. Feel free to have a look at the SLPhoto.net YouTube channel via the button too.

Erja Lyytinen (FIN)

The Nordic Queen of Blues

Take a blues traditionalist, and mix this with an innovative graduate of the Music Academy, serve with skills and a garnish of Nordic beauty. What do you get? Singer / guitarist Erja Lyytinen, alias "The Finnish slide goddess" (The Blues Magazine).

Erja Lyytinen was 15 years old the first time she was in a recording studio, she has been a promising star in her home country and an integral part of the international blues scene. She has recorded nine studio albums in places as diverse as Helsinki, Memphis and Clarksdale, Mississippi, and received numerous awards and honors along the way.

Lyytinen feel equally at home in the traditional and the modern blues and has never been afraid to incorporate styles such as jazz, pop and soul. Even a motherhood has not slowed her: Her Elmore James tribute album from 2014, "The Sky Is Crying" - recorded shortly before she gave birth to twins - it has become internationally acclaimed as best and most bluesy album to date. "Erja has seemingly achieved the impossible by both sounding like Elmore when he played in the 1950s while adding her own unique flair and style of the 21st century,"  the Blues In Brittain wrote in a glowing review.

Text borrowed from www.crossroads-vejle.dk

DVL, Guy Forsyth feat. members of The Hoax (US / UK)

DVL – Paying Tribute To The Music of LESTER BUTLER & THE RED DEVILS

At the Blue Rock Festival in Tegelen, The Netherlands 1994, Los Angeles band The Red Devils with the charismatic singer / harmonica player Lester Butler, among the absolute headliners. Further down on the poster found the two up and coming young names; Guy Forsyth from Austin Texas and the English power unit The Hoax. Two bands who were both deeply inspired by just Lester Butler and The The Red Devils energetic, anarchistic and slightly punky approach to the blues.

In 1998, Lester Butler died from a 'speedball' overdose, and in the wake thereof, there has been established a series of tribute bands, which of you can still find some pieces playing in Holland. But with the intercontinental DVL project here, must be said to have created the most compelling tribute to date.

A project that sees the light in 2013, when at the festival in Tegelen, they again became the focal point. Here are both the Guy Forsyth and The Hoax namely again on the poster, and after a brief encounter backstage, where they share memories of their first appearance at the festival and their shared fascination with The Red Devils, they decide that Guy Forsyth must be on an encore with the Hoax. And the choice of song was The Red Devils 'Going To The Church' which they provide with an unprecedented energy and authority.

The reaction and interaction it created, both between band and audience, and between the musicians on stage, almost dictated a repetition at a time. And the repetition is happening now here in September, when they again return to the festival in Tegelen. But this time together as DVL, with Guy Forsyth in front and Jon Amor, Mark Barrett and Robin Davey from The Hoax. Together they deliver a DYNAMITE SHOW, consisting of merciless Red Devils classics, supplemented with numbers from Lester Butler's brief solo career.

Text by KingBee exBLUESive @ Bygningen Vejle.

Rick Vito (US)

B'Sharp has made a scoop by getting the Grammy nominated guitarist Rick Vito to Silkeborg. He has been active on the international music scene since the '70s. He has worked as a solo guitarist, songwriter, studio musician and as a member of among bands like, John Mayall, Bonnie Raitt, Bob Seger and Jackson Browne.

He is probably best known as the lead guitarist of the legendary Fleetwood Mac from 1987 to 1991. More recently, as guitarist in the Mick Fleetwood Blues Band.

Rick Vito won himself a fan this evening!

Push the collection button below to go to the photo collection from this great evening with Rick Vito.

Alan Haynes feat. Kasper "Lefty" Vegeberg

Alan Haynes has almost had Denmark as his second homeland the last fifteen years, and since 2011 he has even had a permanent Danish rhythm section consisting of Mads "Tiny" Andersen on drums and Henrik Poulsen on bass, that he uses throughout Europe.

Denmark has been the natural base from which he has toured over Europe once a year, and cared for his loyal fan base.

Alan Haynes is a true Texan guitar slinger that you really don't wan't to miss. I for one have become a "Hayniac" over the years, and would urge you all to go attend his concerts, whenever he is abroad.

Please go have a look at my photos from this amazing evening with Alan Haynes and the boys feat. Kasper "Lefty" Vegeberg @ Crossroads Vejle 2-4-2016

King Bee's Blues Guitar Hangout #2 2016

Another Killer Event by King Bee!

I feel blessed that I got invited to this unique event, which King Bee  arranged the second time this year.

If you like me, is into the Blues and photo "business", then you feel like you have died and gone to heaven, when you attend this kind of unique events. You get close to some very talented guys, and feel what it is all about. These guys all hold their own in various ways.

The guitar slingers this time where:

Alan Haynes (US)
Matt Bullard (UK)
Kasper "Lefty" Aude Vegeberg (DK)
Frederik Tygesen (DK)
Martin Skaastrup (DK)
Lasse Lauersen (DK)
Oscar Thorup Jønsson (DK)

The rock solid rythm section was:

Mathias Rindom (DK)
Jais Kurečko Eriksen (DK)

Feel free to have a look inside the photo collection, or have a look at the 4K slideshow on youtube, via the buttons below. The slideshow is accompanied with a sound recording from the event.

Hans Theessink and Knud Møller (NL / DK)

SOLD OUT Concert!

At last I got the time to finish this collection set from a great concert with Hans Theessink and Knud Møller.

The audience were entertained in every way and so was I. These two skilled guitar players know their stuff, and the great playing is topped off with a few stories from a well traveled Hans Theessink.

See the collection via the link button below...

Little Boogie Boy and CPH Slim Band (NL / DK)

Just done editing af few videos from this event. Go have a look if you fancy some fine blue notes :-)

Little Boogie Boy and CHP Slim Band (NL / DK)

At long last, I'm done with editing photos from this great concert @ Crossroads Vejle.

I have had a bit much too do these last 2-3 weeks, so my editing has been delayed quite a bit, I'm sorry for that.

Feel free to have a look at the complete gallery via the button below.

Kai Strauss And The Electric Blues All-Stars (DE)

Texas Blues style at its very best, with one of Europe's leading Blues guitarists.
Kai Strauss mastered this style to perfection that has made him known beyond Germany's borders. He has previously made positive impression in Denmark - on tour with the Texan guitarist Tony Vega - and before that with Memo Gonzalez & The Bluescasters .

With him Kai Strauss has an excellent Band - The Electric Blues Allstars . His last two CDs ' Electric Blues "and" I Go By Feel', has been praised by reviewers and it has also brought him some prices.

Kai Strauss - Guitar, Vocal

Alex Lex - Drums

Thomas Feldmann - Saxophone

Mo Fuhrhop - Keyboard

Kevin Duvernay - Bass

Laugesen All Stars Feat. Margrete Grarup

What a performance, and I mean from each and every band member!

This performance was a tribute to Birgitte Laugesen you could say. Birgitte was supposed to be on the stage this evening, but sadly she suddenly was taken from her loved ones.

In the spirit og Birgitte Laugesen, the band pushed on to find a replacement for their 2016 schedule, and I for one was thrilled to hear that Margrete Grarup was the one that took up the task.

All of the musicians in this band constellation, are among the very best i Danmark, and believe me when I say, that it showed in all and every way!   

The band:

Uffe Steen - Guitar

Palle Hjorth - Organ

Niels Mathiasen - Saxophone

Niels "Nello" Mogensen - Bass, vocal

Esben Bach - Drums, vocal

Margrete Grarup - Lead vocal

Please have a look at the photo collection and the videos by clicking the buttons below...

Esben Just Trio - Video (DK)

A few videos from this evening

I shoot a few videos from this groovy evening. Unfortunately the sound pressure level was right at the maximum of what my recorder and mics could handle.

I managed to recover the audio from 2 videos, and here they are (there is still a bit of distortion, I know).

Esben Just Trio (DK)

Groove, joy of playing and peace in the valley.

These are some of the keywords that describe this trio.

No matter how you look at it ,Esben Just has always been the guarantor of a swinging, uplifting and entertaining experience from the stage. Musical drive, engaging hooks and singalong as the hearts aglows.

And so it continues also in 2015. Niels Ratzer on drums and Ole Skipper on bass, nothing is impossible and everything achievable when the trio goes on stage to hit the beat and the crowd just where it does best. Namely, in the heart.

Esben has his own unique way of playing, and it is greatly influenced from the streets of New Orleans.

Esben was accompanied by Ole Skipper on bass. Esben has been playing with Ole for many years, in the trio SP, Just, Frost and later Skipper, Just, Frost.

On drums we were witness to a danish drummer legend, in the form of Niels Ratzer.  

As a special guest this evening, the audience was blessed with the presence of one of the best Danish female jazz vocal performers (in my opinion), Margrete Grarup. She and the band performed "Walk with me Lord" and "You are my sunshine".

I hope all the concert attendees felt the same joy and energy, that I did.

Peace in the valley to y'all...

Mike Andersen - Live 2015

Today I had the great pleasure of receiving a super deluxe Blues live album from one of the absolute best local Danish Blues musicians. 

The reason was that one of my photos was chosen for the cover. 

Mike Andersen - Live from the "Home Tour" 2015

Mike Andersen - Live 2015

I had the big pleasure of attending one of the tours concerts, where I shot a complete concert series. 

One of these pictures was chosen to be the back cover of this super album. I am very proud that this photo now has been printet on one of the best Danish blues releases this year. 

Back Cover photo by www.SLPhoto.net

IF you haven't attended one of Mike Andersen and band concerts in 2015, then please go ahead in 2016. I guarantee you, that you won't regret it. They deliver in bucket loads. Great songs from an über cool band, and Mike just serves it all with a feeling that just hits you deep inside. 

Kai Strauss - I Go By Feel

Inlay photo by www.SLPhoto.net / Søren Ladegaard

I'm so proud!

Kai Strauss has released an amazing new album "I Go By Feel".

Kai chose to use one of my concert photos as the big inlay foldout picture.

Of cause you get a good feeling when the artists like your work, but after listening to this great album for the last few weeks, I feel better than good, I feel proud of having my photo in an album that good. 

Congratulations with this amazing record Kai! 

I would recommend everybody to go buy this CD or at least listen to it on Spotify where it just appeared tonight (click button below).

Inlay

Inlay

Walter Trout (US)

1st. video ready.

This first video from the concert is an Instrumetal fra Walter wife Marie Trout, and is actually the last song played that evening. I hope you all like it at least half as much as I do.

It was shot handheld amongst alot of happy blues lovers, so there is a bit of shakin' goin' on :-)

Walter Trout (US)

Audio editing and mixing finally done...

At last I am done with editing and mixing my audio recordings from the fantastic Walter Trout concert last tuesday.

First outcome is an almost 2 hour (1.56.55) long slideshow with the entire concert as audio track.

Have a look and a listen by pressing the slideshow button below!

Stay tuned for upcoming videos from the concert...

Walter Trout (US)

Walter Trout is BACK....

I am so thrilled that I got invited to shot this concert. Walter Trout and his boy(s), impressed me soo much, and I believe this performance flew straight into my TOP 3 blues live shows!

Walter Trout showed us all, how great a blues man and guitar player he is. For my part, I also learned that he also masters a great vocal, and after listening to the songs from his new album "Battle Scars", I am taken by his songwriting skills. I know this album is very special, as Walter wrote it during his waiting for a liver transplant, where he at last cheated death. I will have to dive in to he's back catalog from here on.

The rest of the band, including his son Jon Trout, did an amazing job too.

Walter Trout - Guitar, Vocal

Samuel Avila - Keyboard, Vocal

Johnny Griparic - Bass, Vocal

Michael Leasure - Drums

Jon Trout - Guest on Guitar

Please go ahead and look at some of my pictures from this great concert, by clicking the Collection button below.

A few videos from the concert will be finished during the next few weeks, so stay tuned...

Memo Gonzalez and The Özdemirs

Finally I am ready with my photos from this power packed concert (a minor pc incident slowed me down).

What a performer Memo Gonzales is! He really delivered a punch with his Golf Coast Texas style blues.

The Özdemirs delivered the backing power to support Memo, and like always they did it very persuasive. You guys ROCK (Blues I mean). Næste gang Erkan :-)  

Thomas Feldmann must have a word here to, because WHERE did this guy learn to play the Saxophone like that. Holy molly this guy showed a few tricks.

Memo Gonzalez (USA)
 - Song / Bluesharp
Erkan Özdemir (D)
 - Bass guitar
Kenan Özdemir (D)
 - Blues guitar / kor
Levent Özdemir (D)
 - Drums / Choir
Thomas Feldmann (D)
 - Saxophone

Click the button below, and it will take you to the complete collection.