# The Holland International Blues Festival 2024, 15 acts from home and abroad managed to charm the audience: Video, Photos

- Link: https://jazzblues.eu/2024/06/30/the-holland-international-blues-festival-2024-15-acts-from-home-and-abroad-managed-to-charm-the-audience-video-photos/
- Published: 2024-06-30T00:04:59+01:00
- Author: https://JazzBlues.EU

**The Holland International Blues Festival! Three days of bluesing while enjoying
great music, a snack and a drink and in good company with music friends. That is
the Holland International Blues Festival. Over three days, 15 acts from home and
abroad managed to charm the audience.**

Photography: Marco van Rooijen. View all photos in the photo album Holland International
Blues Festival 2024.

![](https://i0.wp.com/blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1TvJyYTEqhyTb-
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GROLLO calls itself ‘the only, and therefore the best, Cuby & The Blizzards tribute
band in the Netherlands’. Their shared love for music from the sixties and seventies
gave rise to the idea to start a tribute band. In terms of repertoire, the band 
sticks to the first ten Cuby years; from the album ‘Desolation’ to ‘Kid Blue’. The
audience appreciated their performance in Grolloo 100%!

British blues and soul singer KYLA BROX has already been described as ‘the best 
female blues vocalist of her generation’ and even ‘the British answer to Aretha 
Franklin’.

![](https://i0.wp.com/blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSyUasykbYKYTk8DcIdpylhnOmoaI0QDX_FHGRnvZg5l8rruIbP9fIZHj3KPedHYvcB4Q75NLeuktjvxvn0Bx6oaercohSfnquD_36AL6USkoLO8JkOplomDtCdk_0LdEYOx5PWvflkbPiw3uL1o-
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Brox won both the UK and Europe Blues Challenges and was named Best Female Singer
at the European Blues Awards in 2019. To date, she has released five studio albums.

![](https://i0.wp.com/blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivelp089dhMyORqGU9qCii7pFAEAtdUFmjaSMg1QPTw_ekRqC616J5_4NIt3unx-
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MELL VF, founded by music veterans Nico Brandsen (keyboards) and Ton Dijkman (drums)
with the young singer Melanie ‘Mell’ Jonk, is a favorite with radio DJs and audiences
alike and has released three albums to date. They were featured in TV programs such
as Linda’s Zomerweek and We Want More and Mell recently scored highly on her own
in Best Singers.

![](https://i0.wp.com/blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjseuSYyvlFcDzrMjt11DEkcKkShahUN_SeFaZETixXIzDTORkEIctl1nj3c11XLIUfOg-
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Due to illness, Brandsen had to leave the band and unfortunately passed away in 
January 2024. Fortunately, the band decided to continue with keyboardist Martin 
Scheppink. This year the band will be at many major festivals such as Pinkpop, Bospop,
Huntenpop and Zwarte Cross.

German blues singer and guitarist KAI STRAUSS has recorded seven albums to date.
The latest, ‘Night Shift’, was released towards the end of 2022. Straus received
several German Blues Awards and put himself on the map as a band leader but also
as a gifted sideman; he played with greats such as Jimmy Johnson, Mike Wheeler and
Lurrie Bell. He tours very successfully with his own band, The Electric Blues All-
stars.

![](https://i0.wp.com/blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip0DE1hBK2PZ8V_HWoCsUaXDUGSXDkP_EczH1aKEVsfXdLnlspY7Bb7h7Zt1sHJYh0Y2Uanm2hLqnL7iAMyWtkTckxZOCfeVZlo1dsjmM5Rpi68Czqt6Eq5YFl-
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20(1).jpg?w=640&ssl=1)

Hammond-driven power trio DEWOLFF has already released ten albums and three live
albums, won an Edison, recorded an album with Black Keys producer Mark Neill and
performed more than 1000 gigs in Europe, Australia, Indonesia and Russia.

With their 2023 album ‘Love, Death & In Between’ under their belt and their ‘XL’
band with bass, percussion, horns and backing vocals, they managed to blow Grolloo
away, just like they did in 2022.

![](https://i0.wp.com/blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTnDpUoGk0ka6DqnQXN8dlquPhUZK9jHp0i5zIIG74ob9jWms22X4lUxAFusKaUB-
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Last May, the band traveled to Muscle Shoals, Alabama (USA) to record their 10th
studio album with Grammy Award-winning producer Ben Tanner at two legendary studios:
FAME and Muscle Shoals Sound Studio. Heroes such as Wilson Pickett, Aretha Franklin,
Little Richard, the Stones, Leon Russell, the Black Keys and hundreds of other legendary
artists recorded world-famous albums in these studios. The album release party is
planned for December 7 at their own DeWolffest in TivoliVredenburg in Utrecht and
immediately afterwards the band will start a new European tour!

![](https://i0.wp.com/blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBQ3ZxeCkhKnXTqK7NeNE0lM8IceODURYoMGtK7hOctme3rmmHXqbobMGRlm93mQ1d6BMl-
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Thorbjørn Risager discovered the music of B.B. as a late teenager. King and Ray 
Charles and had been singing the blues for a long time when he was accepted at the
conservatory in Copenhagen.

In 2003 he formed Thorbjørn Risager Blue 7, which was renamed THORBJØRN RISAGER &
THE BLACK TORNADO in 2014. This popular Danish band is successfully touring Europe
and has a long list of albums to their name, with the latest being ‘Navigation Blues’
from 2022. And… the successor is now in the making!

![](https://i0.wp.com/blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgatPeJiS2J1L5PVQt29_-
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JJ GRAY & MOFRO were on the very first edition and now return with a brand new album,‘
Olustee’. It is their tenth album, and the first in no less than nine years.

The band comes from Jacksonville, Florida and is formed around singer and composer
JJ Grey. Mofro was the word he used to describe his music and sound when he was 
still working in a woodshop. It now stands for the passionate musicians he plays
with.

![](https://i0.wp.com/blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaPmMVleatSHjvBm6lNOU8JcagpgcI9CFG3X-
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w=640&ssl=1)

Canadian guitarist and singer-songwriter MATT ANDERSEN started his music career 
in 2002 and has worked and toured with quite a few big names, such as Bo Diddley,
Buddy Guy, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Marcus King and Beth Hart. He has also won a host
of prestigious awards, including several Maple Blues Awards and European Blues Awards
as Best Solo/Acoustic Act. His most recent album ‘The Big Bottle of Joy’ was released
in 2023. It is his tenth studio album and the successor to the acclaimed ‘House 
To House’ from 2022. At HIBF he performed with his band, also called The Big Bottle
of Joy.

Devon Allman is Gregg’s second son. But Devon is also known for its own bands, such
as Honeytribe and The Royal Southern Brotherhood. He came to Grolloo with THE DEVON
ALLMAN PROJECT, a six-piece band that has already toured through about twenty countries.
Last year he set a world record with 50 concerts in 50 different American states
in 49 days.

![](https://i0.wp.com/blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitEqiw7fKFupEoV21L12Tb2m-
z0pkpYHZESb3KJDAi5LW3UwymOQ6Aka-mWjO_GCRA4HZH9mgAp5i1fYIxPpILWjad8rCDvCen831gMF-
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BUDDY GUY’s performance was part of his ‘Damn Right Farewell Tour’. After a career
spanning more than five decades, the blues legend is calling it quits. The guitarist
is known as one of the hardest working artists in the music world, with 150 shows
a year and a new album every two years. His latest, ‘The Blues Don’t Lie’ from 2022,
featured Mavis Staples, Elvis Costello, James Taylor and Jason Isbell as vocalists.

Towards the end of the performance, Buddy asks three more guitarists on stage: Ally
Venable, Devon Allman and Leonardo Giuliani. Together they close Buddy’s set on 
fire!

![](https://i0.wp.com/blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhgJEl2-
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jpg?w=640&ssl=1)

Known for her dynamic live show, Texas singer-songwriter and guitarist ALLY VENABLE
started making music at an early age: she formed her first band at the age of thirteen
and released her first EP just a year later. She scored Buddy Guy and Joe Bonamassa
as guests on her latest album ‘Real Gone’ from 2023, after she already received 
help from her mentor Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Devon Allman on its predecessor ‘Heart
Of Fire’.

Ally gives a refreshing performance here with her excellent band. A flaming set 
of Texas blues, funk, rock and pop, cast in a very accessible sound. Excellent guitar
playing and Ally is also very strong vocally. She knows how to deliver perfect slow
blues, but her tribute to SRV is impressive. Great class, this young lady!

![](https://i0.wp.com/blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJSNmsuYYbq0vTPJKq8O4ru00HMseN8rMaeu9rH47veXxk7TJpTpwpAgW049txJXdWY8OeoSYtl66RmoptGkc9FiA9KPGHqQ65xGul96O63H_VcV-
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Singer, composer and guitarist JOE LOUIS WALKER first picked up a guitar when he
was eight and is now well into his seventies. As a teenager he already played with
many greats, such as John Lee Hooker, John Mayall, Muddy Waters and Jimi Hendrix.
His mantelpiece boasts six Blues Music Awards and he was inducted into the Blues
Hall of Fame. San Francisco-born ‘JLW’ released his most recent album ‘Weight Of
The World’ in 2023.

37 years ago, JLW first set foot on European and Dutch soil and he has loved coming
here ever since. After a somewhat faltering start to his performance, he suffers
from allergies and associated nasal discharge, he manages to regain his composure
not much later and then we hear a great blues set, as we are used to from him.

![](https://i0.wp.com/blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYCjHyQpGrmkAZm9KN87eLH4530AFZjCHKsq2n4NVCTSpprjyXFd3efMChRUBM4BY8ezRQNbvOrjx5gX_CJ0dMFdpjpR5mLOOitmqGW6ILZE4o5HHKeMPSzmIImMBXOpU2H7O4PijsVcE1r1VOob4zzcl3FPWfq3x2nId9Sxe4J140OQFJBTnO1TRaZo8/
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A leading role is certainly reserved for his excellent keyboardist, whose birthday
is today! The audience has now warmed up and is clapping enthusiastically in appreciation.
There is also a lot of dancing to the sounds of this bluesiest performance of the
day.

Blues rocker ERIC JOHANSON got his first guitar at the age of five, taught himself
to play and quickly became a great promise. He also developed a love for hard rock
and now uses blues as a springboard to a harder, broader sound. On his latest album‘
The Deep And The Dirty’ from 2023 he offers ‘everything from roadhouse roots rock
to dark, bluesy Americana’. The album debuted at number 1 on the Billboard Blues
Charts.

![](https://i0.wp.com/blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNsxap2m0MEXY9fukQR9A3YiLTREoYHXtcrNGPY5ywRm1cMqZdqaqJO0NH_hwCBDzk-
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Eric is backed up by the super tight German rhythm section drummer Christin Neddens
and bassist Tom Germann. Eric is a master in both heavy work and bluesy ballads.
His wonderful voice, reminiscent of Aynsley Lister, in combination with his subtle
guitar playing blows many people away.

The man from New Orleans, Louisiana also knows how to play a nice slide guitar! 
We get one guitar solo after another and it has to be said: every note is right,
not too much and not too little. In the fall, Johanson will be back in Europe with
RUF’s Blues Caravan.

![](https://i0.wp.com/blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNS_O-vZQE8fp1EMZgHmoovR1he50Tig3guJQmxsveVkpfGkJpKj_EvNFFQTvhF0iQ0Uf48nQX_DqMnIpjIXVnjtTG9IK7EI3LmDf-
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ROBBEN FORD taught himself to play guitar after hearing the two guitarists of The
Paul Butterfield Blues Band. Although he embraced many different genres, the blues
remains the core of his guitar playing. Ford received five Grammy nominations and
was named one of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of the 20th Century” by Musician magazine.

His latest album, ‘Night In The City, was released last December. Robben plays with
his British band for the first time tonight and we recognize none other than the
British Jonny Henderson on keyboards/bass, drum icon Ian Thomas behind the kit and
Paul Booth on sax. All of them are accomplished musicians who know how to take Robben’s
fantastic playing to even greater heights.

![](https://i0.wp.com/blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCGhyIkXsWMBaIatv9OBlh4UQDSfk8xCLuNs2A6NSZT3Ncrovq_Hch0IUrPO6zek1qVqMRwqvrCXsO6NsrPya-
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Robben’s guitar playing is particularly passionate tonight and his performance is
incredibly swinging and funky. His performance of Jealous Guy is surprising! During
the entire performance, his good friend Warren Haynes is visibly enjoying himself
in the wings. How beautiful!

It is not the first time for WARREN HAYNES to play in Grolloo; in 2017 he was already
there with Gov’t Mule. Since he first picked up a guitar at the age of 11, he hasn’t
let it go. Haynes released three albums and collaborated with a wide variety of 
artists: he was recently a guest on Dolly Parton’s last album ‘Rockstar’.

![](https://i0.wp.com/blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSUwMJbWn8rhFgvVGeYlH94JnqQ0O-
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Warren starts his concert as always with “How you’re doin’?” His newly formed band
features John Medeski on keys, Terence Higgins (drums), Kevin Scott on bass guitar
and Greg Osby on saxophone, and they rocked Grolloo with a steaming set of original
songs and a nice selection of Warren’s favorite songs, chosen from his extensive
career. Man In Motion, Thorazine Shuffle, Hattiesburg Shuffle, Invisible and Banks
Of The Deep End, to name just a few. Each song is played in a long, drawn-out manner.
Here is a jam band in all its glory!

After this European tour, the band continues their tour in America with Warren’s‘
Now Is The Time Tour’, which includes performances with well-known symphonic orchestras.
This seventh edition of HIBF Grolloo ends with the final notes of Soulshine encore
at 11:45 PM. It was raining heavily outside the tent, but inside the sun was shining.
The organization hopes to see everyone again on June 20 and 21, 2025.

![](https://i0.wp.com/blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKo32kP6yCHZFP9xRV5HCtOGBFcLVadJihvGAC8NzhwLPJ72_EubJc6pmV0L0bGiEdqMfHkeLv-
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