This brings us to part 6 of Exploring Festival Blues. We will be looking ahead to the month of July. Compared to the previous months things will be a bit less busy, which is logical since many people are leaving the country for their holidays. For those staying at home, there is a chance to see some of the big names in the blues world. A summary...!

Friday and Saturday 4 & 5 July – Patersdreef Happening, Tielt – BE

First in line is the West-Flemish Tielt. A free festivalcoming up to the 17th edition. This year the organisers have gone to some lenghts to create a great line-up. Starting on Friday with Les Daniel (BE), Core Blues (BE) and Hook Herrera (US). Rockblues performer Rob Tognoni (AUS) will close off the first day with a blast. On Saturday will be appearing  the Kentucky Dare Devils (BE), Chilly Willy (BE), Bradley’s Circus (NL), Doug Jay & the Blues Jays feat. Sax Gordon (US) and Chris Jagger (the brother of...!), who will do the honours of bringing things to a climax. This free festival will take place during the Tieltse Feesten and has grown up to a regular event. The locals and the real enthousiasts love the blues/rock flavoured programme.

Saturday 5 July – Hook Rock, Diepenbeek – BE

On Saturday 5 July Diepenbeek will be hosting a party, the annual Hookrock Festival. The by now well known roots & blues festival will be taking place again. This year the organsation has succeeded again in making their visitors happy. Next to the excellent line-up with national and international artists, the inner visitor will be well taken care of. Previous festivals took place in the open air, this year a tent will be the venue. The line-up: Route 66 (BE), The Ghostriders feat. Deep Creek Luke (BE), The Rhythm Beats (BE), Simon Crashley & The Roadmasters (SE), Nico Wayne Toussaint (FR), and The Nimmo Brothers (UK). During the breaks: The Royal Rags (NL). Ringmaster: El Grande.

11/12 and 13 July – BRBF Peer – (festival tent), Peer – BE

The Belgium Rhythm & Blues Festival that takes place every year in Peer will be on 11, 12 and 13 July. Three days of blues and roots will be available, as usual there will be a stage for Belgian and Dutch talent, but of course we will be looking out for what the international blues world has to offer. Alvin Lee and Little Feat, will be headlining Saturday 12 July. On Sunday 13 July this will be  Solomon Burke and Jools Holland & His Rhythm & Blues Orchestra. Of course al lot more can be seen on this weel respected festival. On Bobtjes Blues Pages some earlier announcements were made, which can be read on First names on BRBF en BRBF Complete.

11/12 en 13 juli - North Sea Jazz Festival - (Ahoy) Rotterdam – NL

The well known North Sea Jazz Festival is coming up to the thirtythird edition. We announced earlier that blues legend Etta James would be appearing. Unfortunately she had to cancel all shows for the coming months due to mneumonia. That means she will not be appearing on the North Sea Jazz Festival. Nevertheless there is still enough to be seen on this festival.So much that giving a summary is an impossible task. From traditional New Orleans jazz, swing, bop and free jazz to fusion, avant-garde jazz and electronic jazz, almost every genre is represented on the North Sea Jazz Festival. And it doesn't stop with just jazz: blues, gospel, funk, soul lovers will enjoy themselves as well. An earlier announcement can be foound on Bluesday on North Sea Jazz.

11/12 en 13 juli - Bospop - (sportpark Boshoven) Weert – NL

On the same dates as Peer and Rotterdam, Dutch Weert will be the scene for Bospop. At the moment 26 acts have been confirmed to climb the stage in Weert in this second weekend in July. The line-up is quite impressive, to say the least! Bospop is really one of the nicest festival in the Netherlands. The programme is spread over three days and two stages. There is also a festival camp site, a night café (de Bosuil) and a cosy festival market. A wonderful weekend out, with a wide range of good performers. On the website all information about the artists can be found, about the camping possibilities and the festival's history. See also the earlier announcement “Bospop with many bluestoppers!”

18/19 en 20 juli - Big Rivers, Dordrecht – NL

Finally the moment is there. After months of hard work, negotiating and puzzling, the programmers of the Academica Big Rivers have gone public with next edition's programme. A total of over 100 acts have been contracted ranging from heavy blues to polka ska. Poets, soloists, bands, street theater and thanks to main sponsor Academica also some fantastic headliners. A selection out of the blues program: Speedball jr., Ugly Bugly Boys, Johnny Mastro & Mama's Boys, Left Hand Freddy, Magic Frankie, Candye Kane, Danny Bryant, Ruben Hoeke and Ten Years After. The Stratenplein will be available for three whole days to the Big Rivers 2008. This means that the organisation can use the main stage, big enough for some insane main events, for three days for the first time! It's the first time that the square is availble completely, in the past only a corner of the square was available for the stage. Also the American rhythm & bluesband Candy Kane will be performing together with some challenged individuals. This is an initiative bu the Sliedrecht United by Music.

Please do bear in mind that we don't receive all of the information by far. Bobtjes Blues Pages can not be held responsible for faults or misprints in the programmation and/or the cancellations of gigs. For a full list of all upcoming concerts and festivals in BE and NL, surf to: http://bluesagenda.web-log.nl or: http://www.blueskalender.nl or: http://www.bluesforum.be/forum/calendar.php or: http://www.bluesconcert.org/benelux

Translation by: Jean-Paul Harreman