The fifth European Blues Challenge was announced last Wednesday at the Brussels Tourist Information Centre (BIP) located rue Royale. The European Blues Union will take place in Brussels at the Ancienne Belgique concert hall on March 13 and 14. It will be organized by the Brussels Blues Society in collaboration with Brussels-Capital Region. The European Blues Union organized European Blues Challenges in Berlin in 2011 and 2012, in Toulouse in 2013 and in the European Capital of Culture, Riga, in 2014.
Ten countries will play on the Friday, the other ten on the Saturday, immediately followed by the announcement of the winner of the Best European Blues Artist title. The 20 contestants, either groups or solo artists, are the winners of a national selection process in their respective countries which, in itself will provide them with openings to perform at several major European festivals.
Opening night on March 12, 2015 is the opportunity for Brussels to showcase some of the best Blues and Roots music talent. At the Ancienne Belgique concert hall, attendees will be able to see previous Belgian representatives perform, including Howlin' Bill, the winner of the first challenge in Berlin, as well as Hideaway, and Fred and the Healers who intend to celebrate their twentieth anniversary with a show created especially for the occasion. There will also be several other performances near La Bourse, later in the evening.
(Source: Belga)
