Kwadendamme Blues Festival 'Ride for the Roses' – Team On 31st August, in Goes, the cycling trip “Ride for the Roses” starts, which is a Dutch initiative in aid of the KWF Fight against Cancer. These funds will go towards research and financing in the fight for: less cancer, more chance of recovery and better quality of life for people with cancer and their nearest. Julia Visser and Kees Wielemaker, two figure-heads of the Kwadendamme Blues Festival want to do their bit by participating ... Read more

Mojo Buford's manager Doug McMinn reports that Mojo Buford has been hospitalized in Minneapolis, and has had to postpone a European tour that would have started today. "It is with a sad heart that I inform you that Mojo Buford had to be rushed to the hospital last night (May 12, 2008). He was in diabetic shock, and was having trouble breathing. It turns out that he is suffering from congestive heart failure, and that’s why he was having trouble breathing. Because of some new medicine he ... Read more

On 11th, 12th and 13th of July coming for the 28th time the international pop festival Bospop takes place. However this year there is a wider choice of blues music, and not with just somebody. First there is on Friday 11th the kick-off with Neil Young. On Saturday 12th Blues fans can eat their heart out with the young English Band Tantrum. Boys from around 20 years, that are renewing the blues scene in their homeland. (a more detailed article of this band will follow !) After that the turn is ... Read more

On Saturday 12th July, this year’s Maas & Noord Blues Cruise will be sailing out again. After the tremendous success of the past year, the organisors have decided to make the programme even more exciting. “After the huge success last year, I took on a challenge to make it even more fun and exciting. The boat that we are using for this, party ship the Tourmalijn, has got so many opportunities and it’s all come together nicely, I can say.” Thus programmer and man of the first hour ... Read more

Billy Branch has followed a very non-traditional path to the blues. Unlike many blues artists, he isn't from the South. Billy was born in Chicago in 1951 and was raised in Los Angeles. He returned to Chicago in the summer of '69 and graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in political science. It was during these years that he was introduced to the blues. His big break came in 1975 during a harmonica battle when he beat Chicago legend, Little Mac Simmons. After that, he began to ... Read more