Born in Tallinn, Estonia in 1976, Roots' international breakthrough came with the alt.blues trio Bullfrog Brown in 2005. Upon the group's demise in 2010, Roots went solo, collaborating with artists like Eric "Red Mouth" Gebhardt (USA), Dave Arcari (UK), Black River Bluesman (FIN), Steve Lury (UK), and Ismo Haavisto (FIN) and leading bands such as Andres Roots Roundabout, Roots & Terep, and Sawmill Roots Orchestra.
The first and only time a blues album has claimed the #1 spot in the Baltics came in 2016 when Roots' "Roots Music" LP topped the official Estonian album chart, earning him a Golden Disc award. In 2017, Roots won the 1st Estonian Blues Challenge with the Tammepõld, Roots & Kadakas trio and went on to represent Estonia at the European Blues Challenge in Norway.
Appearing regularly in French and British blues airplay charts, Roots received a "Bluesman of the Year" award from the UK-based Severn FM's The Blues Hour programme in 2018 just as he started focussing on the solo guitar work that fills his more recent albums. A 2024 Ross Muir/Fabrications HQ review of a Scottish gig reads: "You could be forgiven for thinking your ears or eyes deceive you, given it sounds like either there are two musicians/guitars involved, or he has six fingers on each hand..."
Endorsements: G7th Capos, ZT Amplifiers.
List of countries performed in: USA, UK, France, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic.
Festival appearances since 2010: Upton Blues Festival (UK); Birmingham Jazz & Blues Festival (UK); Shetland Blues Festival (UK); Deep Blues Festival (Mississippi, USA); King Biscuit Blues Festival (Arkansas, USA); Le Blues Autour du Zinc (FRA); European Blues Challenge (NO); Suwalki Blues (PL); Rauma Blues (FIN); Stompin’ At The Savoy (FIN); Lahti Grand Blues (FIN); Hamina Mosna Blues (FIN); Kymi Kantri (FIN); Hotelli Tallukka Blues Party (FIN); Bluesia Karjaan asemalla (FIN); Bluemood Saimaa (FIN); Ruska Blues (FIN); Saimaa Blues (FIN); Martin Markkinat (FIN); Navetta Blues (FIN); Tammerblues (FIN); Louisiana Cajun Party (FIN); Floating Cockroach (FIN); Savonsolmu Winter Blues Party (FIN); Kaavi Blues (FIN); Leppävirta Blues Picnic (FIN); Sigulda Blues (LV); Sundays Blues Festival (LV); Fontaine Festival (LV); Baltic Blues (LV); Sõru Jazz (EST); Sügisjazz (EST); IDeeJazz (EST); Jazzkaar (EST); FiESTa XXX (EST); Viru Folk (EST); Urissaare Kantri (EST); Ulila Rock (EST); Tallinn Music Week (EST); Pärnu Kitarrifestival (EST); Mailaul (EST); Intsikurmu Music Festival (EST); 7 Linna Muusika (EST); Pandivere Music Festival (EST); Tartuff Film Festival (EST); Prima Vista Literature Festival (EST); 20/20 Film Festival (EST); Guitar Jamboree (EST); Pärnu Bluusipäevad (EST); Ugriblues (EST); Augustibluus (EST); UnderGround Blues (EST); Baltic-Nordic Harmonica (EST); Moosekants (EST); Porkuni Bluus (EST); Munarock (EST); Loodusfestival (EST); Vanalinna Päevad (EST); Karlova Päevad (EST); Emajõe Bluus (EST); Linna Pea Rock (EST).