The International Blues festival went annual this year in Lagodekhi, Kakheti region (eastern Georgian). Right next to the Lagodekhi Protected Areas, 16 concerts will be given during the festival featuring Blues stars from the US, UK, Germany, Israel, and Russia.
Blues is American subculture, born in the USA in Mississippi Delta more than 100 years ago and at the time mainly sung by African Americans.
Blues also has a long history in Georgia and the first generation of Georgian Bluesmen is in age already, having had a difficult time of it playing underground in the Soviet times of censorship.
The aim of the International Blues Festival in Georgia is the popularization of blues as a high-taste musical culture and to support Bluesmen both old and new to the craft, in the latter case also aiming to help develop their skills.
The blues festival offers a mixed program of jam sessions, opening stars and full-fledged participation of all age Bluesmen. During the festival, young Bluesmen are given the chance to perform together with world Blues stars and veteran Bluesmen.
The First International Festival was opened by Chicago school headliner Sharon Lewis, while other participants were Shanna Waterstone from France, Sobo band from Israel, Steve Morrison, Matt Taylor and Baron Goodlove from the UK,Wolf Mail from Canada and The King of Moscow Blues Gia Dzagnidze and the Modern Blues Band. All active Georgian Blues Bands participated in the festival.
This festival makes a nice change from ones usually set in Tbilisi or Batumi and there's no doubt it is a welcome boost to Lagodekhi town, an otherwise uninteresting dot on the map beside a wonderful nature reserve!
WHERE: 167 VASHLOVANI STR, LAGODEKHI, GEORGIA
SCHEDULE
14 JULY
JC SMITH, OLD ROAD BAND, SHOTA DZAGNIDZE
21 JULY
KENNY ,, BLUES BOSS ” WAYNE , IRAKLI KIKVADZE , PAUL COX
28 JULY
SOBO, MAMUKA CHIKHLADZE, BLUES FACTOR
04 AUGUST
BLUES COMPANY
11 AUGUST
SHANNA WATERSTOWN, MODERN BLUES BAND & GIA DZAGNIDZE
18 AUGUST
MODERN BLUES BAND & G. DZAGNIDZE, S. VORONOV