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'."

Blues in Britain Reviews

In the May issue of Blues in Britain, Norman Darwen reviews the "Royal Spa Blues - Live from Temperance" CD - and Nicholas John reports on this year's Temperance show with Dave Arcari, from that very album's launch tour.

"The Estonian king of (mainly) acoustic blues instrumentals Andres Roots has re-established his following since Covid as a regular and welcome visitor to these shores," writes Darwen about the 2024 recording. 

"Fifteen songs, all instrumentals, all solo and acoustic, and all well worth a listen. They vary from the lovely blues of ‘Springtime Blues’ and ‘Station Blues Medley’ and the sprightly ‘4 A.M. Hot Dog’ (nice bass string snapping) to the self-explanatorily titled ‘Tango Walk’, the “confusing” ‘Django’ and excellent covers of Jimi Hendrix’s ‘The Wind Cries Mary’ and, to finish off, The Beatles’ Come Together’, whilst ‘Spanish Run’ sounds like a vintage rock guitar instrumental from the early ‘60s – maybe."

"Restrained subtlety is Roots’ stock in trade," suggests John, having witnessed the more recent set at the same venue. "Andres has a dry wit to accompany his dexterous playing and this approach to gentle storytelling enhanced his fine set of instrumentals, his guitar weaving through tangos, swing and folk blues."

#2 in British Charts!

The new album "Royal Spa Blues - Live from Temperance" is officially #2 in the Independent Blues Broadcasters Association's February airplay chart in the UK!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And #17 in the Collectif des Radios Blues francophones February airplay chart in France!

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 - Video!

This summer's Temperance gig was also filmed, so here's two tracks from the upcoming "Royal Spa Blues" live album: "Tango Walk" and "Springtime Blues"!

Upton Bluesfest Gallery in Blues in Britain

The latest issue of Blues in Britain magazine comes with a look back on summer festivals in the UK - and their Upton Blues Festival gallery below features a lovely image of Andres Roots from the festival's Acoustic Roots Stage in St Peter & St Paul's Church, by Chris Roberts. Cheers!

UK Airplay Chart

The "Solo Pieces" compilation is #28 in the IBBA most played album Top 40 for July 2024 in the UK - thank you very much! :)

The remaining copies of the "Solo Pieces" compilation CD are available from Bandcamp: just click HERE!

Gigs in England & Germany

The "Solo Pieces" tour continues this Saturday with two shows at the Birmingham Jazz & Blues Festival, the Upton Blues Festival on Sunday afternoon, and a Monday night concert at the Temperance in Leamington Spa. Then on to Berlin and Potsdam in Germany - check out the dates below and links and details HERE! 

Meanwhile, here is a live clip from Andres Roots' last UK visit - filmed live at The Tolbooth in Stirling, Scotland on May 15th, 2024 by Dave Arcari, with audio mastering by Asko-Romé Altsoo.

 

Scottish Tour This Week!

And here we go - read all about it in the Music News Scotland GIG GUIDE!

Dave Arcari and Andres Roots will be appearing in Glasgow, Stirling, Irvine, Kirkcaldy and Banchory (near Aberdeen) as follows: 

• Tues 14 May (5.30pm) - Scottish Music Centre, Glasgow – Making connections: Dave Arcari/Andres Roots – International touring panel session followed by live sets from us both

 

• Wed 15 May – Tolbooth Stirling – Dave Arcari wsg Andres Roots: Stirling

 

• Thur 16 May – Harbour Arts Centre, Irvine – Dave Arcari wsg Andres Roots: Irvine HAC

 

• Fri 17 May – The Kings Kirkcaldy – Dave Arcari wsg Andres Roots: Kirkcaldy

 

• Sat 18 May – Glassel Hall, Banchory – Dave Arcari wsg Andres Roots: parkinsons UK fundraiser at Glassel Hall

Livestream Tonight!!!

TODAY, May 6th at 8 p.m. UK time/22:00 Estonian time, Andres Roots will be joining Dave Arcari for a livestream, webcast via Dave's official Facebook page to talk about their next week's Scottish tour and play a few songs each. 

Photo by Alistair Mulhearn, from a 2019 concert at the Milton of Buchanan Memorial Hall.

Scottish Tour Next Month

Five years after Andres Roots' last visit to Scotland - which yielded half of the now out-of-print live album "Mississippi to Loch Lomond" - he will return for five double-header shows with the legendary Dave Arcari. The first one at the Scottish Music Centre in Glasgow includes a panel on Building International Connections, the last one at Glassel Hall in Banchory near Aberdeen is a fundraiser for Parkinsons UK. Here's the full list with ticket links:

May 14 - Scottish Music Centre, Glasgow

May 15 - The Tolbooth, Stirling - TICKETS!

May 16 - Harbour Arts Centre, Irvine - TICKETS!

May 17 - Kings Theatre, Kirkcaldy - TICKETS!

May 18 - Glassel Hall, Banchory - TICKETS!

Looking Back on 2023

2023 saw the release of the first Andres Roots album since 2020 and "Vol. 12" has now received more praise from critics than any Roots Art release in ages - here's a few select quotes:

"It’s almost as if muddy waters were flowing into the Gulf of Riga. Musicians of this sort run counter to all expectations, and upset various purists." - Ted Gioia, The Honest Broker, USA

"Mixing blues of every origin... energetic and poetic, that we never grow tired of listening to." - Christophe Mourot, Soul Bag, France

"Roots has a great sense of blues as it fits in today's world." - Bman's Blues Report, USA

"If you still harbour doubts about the instrumental attraction of one man and his guitar in a, say, concert situation, you have no reason to. For Andres wields magic that many others lack." - Pete Hoppula, Blues News, Finland

"Let yourself be immersed in the world of acoustic slide guitar blues, a world that Andres Roots masters like no other." - Eric Schuurmans, Rootstime, Belgium

"Estonia's finest, and one of the prime acoustic blues instrumental players." - Norman Darwen, Blues in Britain, UK

Work also continued on the upcoming album with Red Mouth and Jantso Jokelin, with two more tracks released digitally: "Retirement Blues" and a new reading of the instrumental "Django". A note to vinyl lovers: the 2014 Estonian tribute to Hurriganes compilation that features a version of Ten Years After's "Hear Me Calling" by Andres Roots, Raul Terep and Mikk Tammepõld has now been re-released on vinyl!

A return to form was also evident on the gig front, with 64 concerts in 53 venues in 29 towns and villages in 5 countries: 28 in Estonia, 24 in Finland, 4 in Latvia, 4 in Germany and 4 in the UK. Live collaborations included sets and/or jams with Jantso Jokelin (FI), Ismo Haavisto & Matias Partanen (FI), Pan Salmenhaara & Herbert Quelle (FI/DE), Sir Douglas Groovers (FI), The Rhythmbreakers & Curtis Brazis (FI/US), Louie Fontaine & John DC Washington (DK/US/LV), and Pat Fulgoni (UK).

On other occasions, Andres Roots shared billing with Ahmed Ag Kaedy (Mali), Etuk Ubong & the Etuk Philosophy (Nigeria), Banjolectric (US), Faarao Pirttikangas & Nubialaiset (FI), Black River Bluesman & Bad Mood Hudson (FI), Tomi Puukko (FI), Otto Mikkola (FI), Steve Augarde (UK), and many others - including Lifetime Beat Poet Laureate Ron Whitehead (US).

In January 2024, Andres Roots will be returning to Latvia, in April to Germany, in May to Scotland, and - if not before! - in July to Finland. A few summer festival bookings in Estonia ought to be revealed soon enough, too :)

As always, a big thank you to everybody who attended gigs, put on gigs, wrote about gigs, took photos or filmed gigs, bought records, played records, wrote about records, made records, broke records - and to everyone that's been kind. Thank you, and Happy New Year!  

UK Tour Clips

Last week's UK tour was a blast - there'll be more, but here are the first three video clips: one from Didsbury Baptist Church in Manchester (filmed by Katrin Hiietam), one from Leeds Blues Club at the Cross Keys in Leeds (filmed by Merlin Parind), and one from Sunday Blues Train/Huddersfield Blues Club at Marsden Mechanics in Marsden (filmed by Pat Fulgoni).   

 

UK Tour Poster - Updated!

Top 20 in Britain

The "Afternoon" EP was the 15th most-played album on British blues radio in December - check out the Independent Blues Broadcasters Association Top 40 below!

 

 

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year, everyone! 

And there's some good news to start it off, too: "Tartu Lockdown" is #17 on the Blues in the South/Wednesday's Even Worse best blues albums list for 2020! Check out the UK webzine HERE.

Tonight: Livestream with Dave Arcari!

8 p.m. UK time, 10 p.m. Estonian/Finnish time you can watch the second episode of Dave Arcari's Blues'n'2s live on his Facebook artist page - with special guest Andres Roots! Just click HERE and tune in!

Meanwhile, HERE's the segment of national broadcasting's evening news - Aktuaalne Kaamera - from last night that focusses on Saturday's Wild West event in Palivere, featuring footage of both the play and the concert. 

Number 9 in the French Airplay Chart

"Mississippi to Loch Lomond" has reached #9 in the Collectif des Radios Blues Francophones most-played blues albums chart for France, Belgium, Quebec and Africa, moving up from the 12th place it held in April. Merci beaucoup!

French Airplay Chart!

Le Collectif des Radios Blues that unites blues radio presenters in France, Belgium, Quebec and Africa have just published their monthly airplay chart and "Mississippi to Loch Lomond" is at #12 - see the TOP 20 for April HERE!

Back in March, "Mississippi to Loch Lomond" was #16 in the UK's Independent Blues Broadcasters Association's airplay chart.

Klassikaraadio Interview

Andres Roots was interviewed by Joosep Sang on today's Delta programme on national broadcasting's classical music station Klassikaraadio. Click HERE to hear them discuss the "House Arrest" EP's and the "Mississippi to Loch Lomond" live album, as well as the freshly recorded soundtrack for the 1914 silent film "The Bear Hunt in Pärnu County".