Ireland/England Tour This Week

The Ireland/England tour starts this week - here's the updated tour poster (with the London/Kingston date added). And don't forget to check out the cover interview in Blues in the South and the track on RnR Magazine's covermount CD...!

 

RnR Magazine's Covermount CD

Out next week, the UK's RnR Magazine's July/August issue will arrive with a live Andres Roots track on the UnHeard covermount CD. Order yours HERE!

RnR Magazine Review

In the May/June issue of RnR Magazine, Morgan Hogarth reviews Andres Roots' "Royal Spa Blues - Live from Temperance" CD, writing: "In addition to self-penned gems such as 'Jook Jones' and 'Tango Walk' he covers Hendrix with 'The Wind Cries Mary', The Beatles on 'Come Together' and traditional blues on the excellent 'Station Blues Medley'. But while his interpretations of such tracks are creatively arranged and well worthy of inclusion, the real highlights of the setlist are his original numbers, particularly '4am Hot Dog', 'Legacy Blues' and 'The Wagon Swing'."

Album Reviews!

The first reviews for "Royal Spa Blues - Live from Temperance" are in! 

From Bosnia & Herzegovina, Dragutin Matošević writes in the Barikada.com webzine: "Andres has once again offered us a superb musical pleasure. Nothing else could be expected from a true artist." 

From Kentucky, USA, John Sacksteder continues in the Blues Blast Magazine: "For those of you that like the instrumental work of Leo Kottke or John Fahey, this is an album for you. Andres certainly is adept with his instrument and frequently powers it to sound like there is more than one guitar playing. The Beatles song certainly demonstrates that wall of sound approach to the guitar." 

And from Estonia, Joosep Sang concludes in the Muusika monthly: "The atmosphere on the album is warm and immediate, the distance between the stage and the audience feels almost non-existent, and the communication and the exchange of energy between the performer and the listeners palpable."

Order your copy HERE!

   

Album & UK Tour

The "Royal Spa Blues - Live from Temperance" CD is now available from Bandcamp and assorted Estonian record stores. And what follows next is this:

 

Album Release & Highway Blues Interview

The official album launch at the University of Tartu Library Music Department was a success - the release date is February 25th, so on Tuesday, the CD should become available at a variety of record stores in Estonia, as well as on the Andres Roots Bandcamp page. 

On February 26th, Andres will be chatting to Al Lundy, live on his Highway Blues show on Nebraska's KZUM 89.3 FM - click HERE to tune in online!

IBBA Presenters' Album Pick for February!

The UK Independent Blues Broadcasters Association has selected Andres Roots' upcoming "Royal Spa Blues - Live from Temperance" album as one of the 'IBBA Presenters' Album Picks of the Month' for February 2025, along with albums by Trevor Babajack Steger and Ben Tyzack - check it out HERE!

Thank you very much! :)

Live from Temperance!

Recorded on July 22, 2024 at Temperance in Royal Leamington Spa, England, the acoustic live album "Royal Spa Blues" will arrive on CD on February 25, 2025 in time for the next UK tour! Recorded by Adrian Gains, mastered by Asko-Romé Altsoo, cover photo & design by Siret Roots - watch this space for updates!

"Deep Purple Re-imagined by Black Ace"

Reviewing "Solo Pieces" for the October issue of Blues in Britain magazine, Norman Darwen writes: "As good as ever... completely solo - though you might not believe me about that... reminded me of Deep Purple as re-imagined by Texas slide guitar bluesman Black Ace... if it's good enough for God, it's gotta be good enough for us mere mortals." 

Check out the magazine HERE - and hear the album HERE!

"Solo Pieces" Reviewed in Pipeline Magazine

Norman Darwen reviews July's "Solo Pieces" compilation in the autumn 2024 issue of Pipeline Instrumental Review: ""A fine introduction to the man's music... Usually very interesting, often very innovative and always very much worth a listen."

There are a few CD copies of "Solo Pieces" still available via Bandcamp - just click HERE!

And don't forget this year's remaining gigs in Finland - in October and November:

10.10 LiveLava @ Eikan Pub, Järvenpää
11.10 Cask Room, Tampere
12.10 Pub Albert & Pub Eduard, Kotka

15.11 Armo, Tampere
16.11 Joutsen Blues @ Oluthuone Joutsen, Hyvinkää
17.11 Villa Hakasalmi, Helsinki

 

 

The CD's Are Here!

The 2016-2024 collection of guitar-only tracks, titled "Solo Pieces", is now here.

Available at gigs!!!

 

 

Solo Pieces Tour & CD!

On July 11th, Andres Roots’ “Solo Pieces” tour will kick off at the Pirita Bluus Festival in Tallinn, Estonia and continue with gigs in Finland, England and Germany, including two shows at the 40th anniversary edition of the Birmingham Jazz & Blues Festival and a set at the Upton Blues Festival that has once again been voted “Blues Based Festival of the Year” in the 2024 UK Blues Awards. For the duration of the tour, the Estonian guitarist’s 14-track compilation “Solo Pieces” will only be available at gigs, going online in August.

The tour schedule is as follows:

July 11 ESTONIA Pirita Bluus Festival, Tallinn
July 12 FINLAND Kulttuurikellari, Savonlinna (+ Jantso Jokelin)
July 13 FINLAND Roihuvuoren Rio, Helsinki (+ Jantso Jokelin)
July 14 FINLAND Villa Hakasalmi, Helsinki (14:00)
July 20 UK Birmingham Jazz & Blues Festival/Fair Deal Music (13:30)
July 20 UK Birmingham Jazz & Blues Festival/The Wellington (20:00)
July 21 UK Upton Blues Festival/Acoustic Roots Stage (15:00)
July 22 UK Temperance, Leamington Spa
July 24 GERMANY ARTliners, Berlin
July 25 GERMANY Revolte Bar, Berlin
July 26 GERMANY Die alte Garage, Potsdam
July 27 GERMANY Madame Claude, Berlin (+ Pan Salmenhaara)
July 28 GERMANY SonntagsMusikCafé Alte Kita, Berlin (16:00)

And here's the CD tracklist:

1. Cruisin' with the Rev - previously unavailable on CD
2. Django (alt. take) - previously unreleased
3. Lockdown Special - from “Tartu Lockdown”
4. Jook Jones - from “Breakfast in September”
5. Sunstroke - from “Vol. 12”
6. Hawk's Out with His Axe - from “Vol. 12”
7. Fretless Wonder - from “Tartu Lockdown”
8. The Sheik of Hawaii (live) - from “Mississippi to Loch Lomond”
9. Blues for Halvo (stereo) - previously available in mono, on “Mono”
10. Starbuck Theme - from “Vol. 12”
11. So It Is, Subhuti - from “Vol. 12”
12. 4 AM Hot Dog - from “Breakfast in September”
13. Sherwood - from “Vol. 12”
14. Legacy Blues (live) - from “Mississippi to Loch Lomond”

All tunes written & performed by Andres Roots. Recorded 2016-2024 by Jaan Tamm, Andres Roots, Asko-Romé Altsoo & Dave Arcari. Mixed & mastered by Asko-Romé Altsoo. Photo by Jüri Vlassov II. Design by Siret Roots. 

Blues in Britain & Blues Blast Magazine Reviews

The June issue of Blues in Britain magazine contains Norman Darwen's review of "Vol. 12". Calling Andres Roots "Estonia's finest, and one of the prime acoustic blues instrumental players", Mr. Darwen singles out the "expected excellent slide playing" on "Birdsong Thing" and the "delicate and attractive kora-like playing" heard on "Dromedary" - while "the closing "Sherwood" sounds like it could evolve into a classic rock item".

Meanwhile in America's Blues Blast Magazine, John Mitchell concludes that "there is no doubt that Andres Roots is a fine picker and those who enjoy acoustic guitar playing will be sure to find music here that suits their tastes." You can find the latter review in its entirety HERE.

And More Reviews!

"Let yourself be immersed in the world of acoustic slide guitar blues, a world that Andres Roots masters like no other," writes Eric Schuurmans in Belgium's Rootstime - read the whole thing (in Dutch) HERE!

And over in Bosnia & Herzegovina, Dragutin Matošević declares that "Andres Roots is innovative, interesting and unique" - "with great experience and enviable guitar playing technique". This Barikada review is in English and can be found in its entirety HERE!

German Tour This Week

With the new album available on Bandcamp, streaming on Fairmus and hitting the stores this Friday, next up are shows in Berlin, starting with a semi-private affair at the Estonian Embassy tomorrow and followed by Zimmer 16 on Thursday, ARTliners on Friday and Transformator Frohnau with the great Finnish ragtime guitarist Pan Salmenhaara on Saturday. Friday's show will be streamed live, and there seems to be a good chance Saturday's will be broadcast, too, in some form or other, so watch this space!

New Album Pre-Listening Party

Want to hear all of "Vol. 12" before it is released? Now you can - just click HERE to head over to Blues-Finland.com and push play!

The digital album will be released via Bandcamp and Fairmus on Friday, March 3rd, the CD will reach Estonian record stores a week later - on March 10th. To pre-order the CD and have it mailed out on March 3rd, e-mail your order direct to Roots Art Records via roots.ar.oy(at)gmail.com.

Photo by Matti Karhula.

New CD Pre-Order!

The new CD pre-order is finally here - "Vol. 12" ships out as soon as it arrives from the factory, March 3rd at the latest! It's Andres Roots' 1st full-length CD since 2020's "Tartu Lockdown" and his 1st studio album since 2018's "Breakfast in September", featuring 14 solo numbers recorded 2019-2022 - tracklist below. The pre-order price of 18 euros includes shipping, so just e-mail your order (indicating your name & address & whether you want the CD signed) to roots.art.oy(at)gmail.com!
 
1. So It Is, Subhuti
2. Sunstroke
3. Starbuck Theme
4. Dromedary
5. Birdsong Thing
6. Hawk's Out with His Axe   
7. Picnic at Dockery's
8. Bye Bye Berry
9. Blues on Green
10. Years Past Midnight
11. Waiting Around
12. Western of the Month  
13. Yuletide Blues
14. Sherwood

Some Gift Ideas for the Holiday Season

It is true that there's a new album coming in March, but until it arrives, here are some CD's you can get *this* Christmas - just e-mail Roots Art Records direct via roots.art.oy(at)gmail.com and let us know what you'd like: best prices guaranteed! :)

 

September Sale!

That's right: the price of all Andres Roots CDs is 7 euros plus shipping for the entire month of September! Only on Bandcamp: just click HERE and place your order! :)

"Afternoon" Reviewed in Poland

Last fall's "Afternoon" EP was reviewed in the spring edition of Poland's Twoj Blues magazine. Robert Lenert writes: "The acoustic guitar has no secrets in the hands of this musician. Andres is a full-fledged virtuoso... Although the songs are instrumental, there is no question of them being boring or monotonous." He also notes that "despite the "roots" tone of the music itself, its production is very clear and contemporary" - dziękuję bardzo! :) 

You can buy the EP HERE and subscribe to the magazine HERE!