The Scottish Blues Weekend launches in Edinburgh

Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival have launched a new annual Winter Blues festival. Fans will now be able to enjoy events dedicated to the best of the Scottish Blues scene this month across multiple events.

Organisers plan to ask a leading blues musician to select a programme each year. This year, the task was given to Scottish champion of classic blues, Richard O’Donnell.

He’s chosen “the very best current and new generations of Scottish blues musicians in more traditional and authentic styles of blues music”.

The festival will also two of the very best international blues artists in the classic style: Øyvind Stølefjell and Big Jon Atkinson.

International guests will help kick off the weekend at a launch event at St Bride’s Community Centre on Friday 22 February 2019 at 7.30pm. The event will feature EJBF’s famous three band line-ups with The Blue Hyenas, Jed Potts Hillman Hunters ft. Øyvind Stølefjell, Al Brown & The Bluelighters ft. Big Jon Atkinson.

Tickets available here.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXJslNF1Kho?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1&w=696&h=392]

Jed Potts performing at last year’s festival.

The Saturday night (23) will feature a celebration of the best of the genre. A triple bill once again, music fans will be able to enjoy music by The Jensen Interceptors, Tim Elliot & Sandy Tweeddale, Allan Jones.

This event will have something for everyone, including early blues authenticity from Allan Jones, and more contemporary electric blues in the form of The Jenson Interceptors. The event begins at 20.30 at Teviot Row House.

Tickets available here.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoNnjI2AgnU?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1&w=696&h=392]

On Sunday 24 February 2019, fans more partial to piano-based blues will be able to enjoy performances by four brilliant blues pianists: Øyvind Stølefjell, Richard O’Donnell, Grant McTavish and Thomas Lucas.

The musicians will showcase how brilliant the genre can be on the humble piano, evoking memories of some of the greats such as Otis Spann and Sunnyland Slim. At St Bride’s Centre from 3.00pm.

Tickets available here.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FehkUHvYWM?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1&w=696&h=392]

The debut winter festival will conclude with a concert with The Big Jon Aitkinson Band, a young musician highly esteemed across the American Blues scene. Fans will be treated to everything from in the pocket Memphis/Sun covers to wild interpretations of raw post war Chicago gems.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VC5VRvG4PKo?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1&w=696&h=392]

The performance will take place at St Brides from 7.30pm.

Tickets available here.