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 of the Blues Cruise Leo de Zwart.

So there’s a hall, exclusively for “seated concerts”. Performing here are the singer-songwriter Michael de Jong, the Amsterdammer Bas de Haan who has been a regular guest at t Academica Big Rivers Festival, and the American pianist Gene Taylor. He was pianist of the famous American blues band Canned Heat and the Fabulous Thunderbirds. Then there will be 3 other halls in use on this beautiful boat. Performing in them are: the Hungarian top band Jambalaya. They play a very impressive lot of New Orleans music in the tradition of Dr. John. Little Roger & House Rockers are bringing top blues from England and Gina & Her Bluesband managed to touch the hearts of thousands of visitors at t Academica Big Rivers Festival with her impressive Janis Joplin act. Also she is booked for the Blues Cruise. Visitors can expect even more nostalgia from the Neil Young Mirror Band. In the next few days, two other bands will be added to the list.

The Blues Cruise is sinds last year a part of the annual Big Rivers Festival. Tickets are obtainable for 35 Euro from Velvet – Vriesestraat 110, Dordrecht, NL. Also at the website.

Translation by: Marleen Crook-Geebelen