Keys and Chords Review

The Belgian webzine Keys and Chords has given "Tartu Lockdown" 4.5 stars out of 5! 

Philip Verhaege writes (thanks to Rod 'The Jook' Jones for the translation!): "The thirteen instrumental tunes are skilfully played by Andres. Working through like a guitarslinger, he squeezes his Delta Blues out of a three-string fretless Hobo 63 cigar box, or a one-string diddley bow, through his Lunchbox & Ampeg BA-112 amplifers. That's all it takes to make a cool album." 

Check out the whole thing HERE!

"Lindberg Boogie" Live Footage

Here's live footage from yesterday's concert on the balcony of Tartu Public Library - the track opens the "Tartu Lockdown" album, released yesterday.

"Tartu Lockdown" Goes to Rapla

Andres Roots will be appearing at the Rapla Blues Club at BAAS on September 24th, performing material from this spring's "Mississippi to Loch Lomond" CD as well as the upcoming "Tartu Lockdown" album. Click HERE for the Facebook event!

 

Album Launch from the Balcony!

"Tartu Lockdown" is released on September 4th, and the launch show will be played that same Friday 6 p.m. from the balcony of Tartu Public Library downtown: a free show with ample social distancing :) Click HERE for the Facebook event!

Photos: Summer Gigs Around Estonia 2

Urissaare Kantri, Univere, August 14 - photo: Siim Neerut.

Urissaare Kantri, Univere, August 14 - photo: Siim Neerut.

Linnujämm, Loodusfestival, Botaanikaaed, Tartu - photo: Siret Roots.

Pre-order "Tartu Lockdown" now!

On September 4th, the home recordings made by Andres Roots during this year's COVID spring will be issued as a CD album titled "Tartu Lockdown". You can order your signed copy for just 15.90 - shipping included! - if you place your order in August by e-mailing roots.art.oy(at)gmail.com with your shipping address and preferred method of payment - Roots Art Records accepts both bank transfers and PayPal.

The liner notes for the CD were written by the international blues journalist Norman Darwen, who currently contributes to magazines such as Blues & Rhythm, Blues in Britain, Blues Matters, RnR and Blues in the South in the UK, Bluesnews in Norway and Twoj Blues in Poland. Since the 1980's, he has provided sleevenotes for a long list of blues releases from Elmore James and Howlin' Wolf to Otis Grand and Buddy Guy.

"One positive of the whole COVID-19 pandemic is the music on this CD," writes Darwen. "Like some of the best blues, these are responses to a specific situation that also transcend it. This is totally enjoyable, thoughtful and thought-provoking music, however and whenever you’re listening to it."

For more details, click HERE!

Photos: Summer Gigs Around Estonia

Kuur, Otepää, August 1 - photo: Kuur.

Pärnu Bluusipäevad, Pärnu Jahtklubi, July 30 - photo: Raul Reidma.

Suur Katusekontsert, SEE Teater, Haapsalu, July 25 - photo: Siret Roots.

Moosekants, Nostalgiakeskus, Kadrina, July 18 - photo: Ain Liiva.

Kultuuriklubi Salong, Tartu, July 17 - photo: Siret Roots.

Aasa Riksi Õueblues, Palivere, July 11 - photo: Malle-Liisa Raigla.

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!

"House Arrest 3" Available Now!

The third and most probably the last installment in the lockdown home recordings series, "House Arrest 3", is now available on Bandcamp: to listen and/or purchase, just click HERE!

New Track!

The "House Arrest 3" EP arrives next week with more home recordings - here's one track from it, played on a 3-string fretless Hobo 63 cigar-box guitar, with the signal split between ZT Lunchbox & Ampeg BA-112 amps and mastered by Asko-Romé Altsoo at White Room.

Genklubi Livestream!

Genialistide Klubi in Tartu will launch their official livestream series on Friday, May 8 at 6 p.m. (GMT +2). The first long distance concert will feature live performances by Arno Tamm, Roomet Jakapi, Macajey and Andres Roots, and you can join the official Facebook event HERE!  

New EP Online!

"House Arrest 2" is now available via Bandcamp - 5 previously unreleased instrumental tracks recorded at home over the Easter weekend!

Don't go bananas - buy the EP!

Lockdown Interview!

The Tartu 2024 photo & video project "Spring 2020" features interviews with cultural figures of Tartu & Southern Estonia on how the global pandemic has influenced their life. With video by Hendrik Kuusk (Televant) & photos by Kiur Kaasik, the opening episode presents yours truly in his bedroom window, with his Hobo 63 cigar box guitar & ZT Amplifiers Lunchbox amp.

IBBA Chart & Blues Again Review

Released March 6, "Mississippi to Loch Lomond" is #16 in Independent Blues Broadcasters Association's most played albums chart for March in the UK - and reviewed in the current issue of the Blues Again! webzine in France!

"Fretless Wonder" on YouTube

The "House Arrest" EP version of "Fretless Wonder" is now also available on YouTube:

House Arrest EP!

A new EP of home recordings released today - download HERE! "House Arrest" features four tunes recorded last week and played on a 3-string fretless Hobo 63 cigar-box guitar, with the signal split between ZT Lunchbox & Ampeg BA-112 amps. Mastered by Asko-Romé Altsoo, cover photo & design by Siret Roots.

New Album

The new live CD "Mississippi to Loch Lomond" will arrive in stores this Friday, March 6th and you can already order it from the CD Market and Lasering online stores. The first review is in - by Theo Volk, from the Netherlands and in Dutch, but with a little help from Google Translate, you can read it HERE!

The radio premiere was on Jeff Eaton's Blues Friday show on WXPR in Wisconsin on February 28 - click HERE for the programme and HERE for the playlist. In the UK, Richard Dunning's Blues on the Radio was the first to air a track from the album - click HERE to listen.

The album tour kicks off next week - Friday the 13th at Kultuuriklubi Salong in Tartu, Estonia, with very special guest Ismo Haavisto!

Concerts in Finland

With the new live album arriving in March and a cover story in the current issue of Finland's Blues News, there'll be quite a few concerts coming up in Finland this spring - here are the ones already confirmed:

20.03 - Mendocino, Helsinki 
21.03 - Ravintola Carlos, Lappeenranta 
08.04 - Vltava, Helsinki with Ismo Haavisto 
09.04 - Pub Pikkupässi, Karkkila with Ismo Haavisto 
10.04 - Long Friday Blues @ Ace Cafe, Lahti with Ismo Haavisto 
16.05 - Mosna Blues Festival, Hamina 
17.05 - Vihreä Talo, Riihimäki
18.05 - Sampolan kirjasto, Tampere - slide guitar workshop 
19.05 - Kahvila Siiri, Lempäälä with Jykä Ahola
20.05 - Pikku Hanhi, Lahti with Ismo Haavisto 
21.05 - Bar Dom, Mikkeli with Partanen, Tulppo, Uusiheimo feat. Mimmu
22.05 - Pub 23, Kouvola
23.05 - private, Tuusula

March Gigs!

With the "Mississippi to Loch Lomond" live album arriving on March 6, there will naturally album launch shows coming as well - continuing through May, but starting with:

March 13 - Kultuuriklubi Salong, Tartu, Estonia -
with special guest Ismo Haavisto
March 14 - Nostalgiakeskus "Kadrina", Kadrina, Estonia -
with special guest Ismo Haavisto
March 19 - Texas Honky Tonk & Cantina, Tallinn, Estonia
March 21 - Ravintola Carlos, Lappeenranta, Finland  
March 26 - Kultuuriklubi BAAS, Rapla, Estonia

Watch this space for more dates TBA! 

Happy New Year

Happy New Year, everybody!!!

Here's some news to kick it off: there's a new live album coming in March - recorded in 2019 at the Deep Blues Festival in Clarksdale, Mississippi, at the Endla Jazz Club in Pärnu, Estonia and at Memorial Hall in Milton of Buchanan, Scotland. Cover photo by Jeff Eaton, design by Siret Roots, full tracklist below.

1. In the Dark (Cat Head, Clarksdale, MS, USA, 19.10.19)
2. Build Me a Statue (Ground Zero, Clarksdale, MS, USA, 18.10.19)
3. Bullfrog Medley (Ground Zero, Clarksdale, MS, USA, 18.10.19)
4. Snake Girl Blues (Ground Zero, Clarksdale, MS, USA, 18.10.19)
5. Meow Meow (Ground Zero, Clarksdale, MS, USA, 18.10.19)
6. Legacy Blues (Ground Zero, Clarksdale, MS, USA, 18.10.19)
7. Right Across the Hill (Endla Jazzklubi, Pärnu, Estonia, 4.10.19)
8. Waltzin' Blue (Endla Jazzklubi, Pärnu, Estonia, 4.10.19)
9. Birdsong Thing (Endla Jazzklubi, Pärnu, Estonia, 4.10.19)
10. 4 AM Hot Dog (Buchanan Memorial Hall, Scotland, 2.3.19)
11. Jook Jones (Buchanan Memorial Hall, Scotland, 2.3.19)
12. Spanish Run (Buchanan Memorial Hall, Scotland, 2.3.19)
13. Station Blues Medley (Buchanan Memorial Hall, Scotland, 2.3.19)
14. The Sheik of Hawaii (Buchanan Memorial Hall, Scotland, 2.3.19)
15. Wagon Swing (Buchanan Memorial Hall, Scotland, 2.3.19)