"Django" - Live from Temperance!

Here's "Django", live from Temperance: combined footage from the 2024 and 2025 shows, with audio from the first one - as it appears on both the 2025 CD "Royal Spa Blues" and the upcoming 10" vinyl "LIVE". Recorded and filmed by Adrian Gains, mixed, masterred and video edited by Asko-Romé Altsoo.

The LP launch gig is in Tallinn on Monday, March 23rd at Esmaspäeva Jazz - TICKETS HERE! Andres Roots will be back at Temperance in Royal Leamington Spa on Monday, July 20th - RESERVE YOUR SPOT HERE! 

Other confirmed shows on the July UK tour include the Eesti Kodu Estonian Club in Bradford on July 18th, The Garibaldi in Northampton on July 19th (matinee!), the NUR Restaurant and Lounge in Hastings on July 24th, The Royal Oak in Tunbridge Wells on July 25th, and The Station Arms in Southminster with Sofie Reed (USA/SWE).

New Track, Old Tricks!

The day before Christmas, Andres Roots had the chance to try out the new Fender Highway Parlor in the studio with a medley of old tricks - reaching all the way back to Bullfrog Brown's 2006 "Uncooked" EP. 

Check out the resulting track below: 

RnR July Covermount

Here's a closer look at the RnR Magazine's July/August covermount CD that arrived just ahead of this summer's concerts in Ireland and England and features "Tango Walk/Springtime Blues" off the "Royal Spa Blues" album - live footage below! 

"A masterclass in fluid acoustic blues and roots music," it says in the magazine. 

  

More Reviews!

More reviews are coming in - and when it comes to "Vol. 12", "Led Zeppelin" and "Hawaiian style" still appear to be the keywords :)

In the May edition of the UK's Blues in the South, Ged Wilson calls Andres "a first class acoustic guitar player" and says the music is "reminiscent of the late Davy Graham... Bordering on Led Zeppelin 3 territory", with "a nice Hawaiian slide guitar style." Check out the full review (and why not subscribe to the monthly?) HERE. 

Over at Keys and Chords in Belgium, Philip Verhaege states that "Acoustic slide guitar as in the heyday of Delta Blues is the main focus here. And Andres really has it in his fingers." Read on (in Dutch!) HERE.

And last, we have the review that was actually published first, way back in March - in the Estonian weekly Nelli Teataja, Ülo Külm writes: "He grabs you from the suitably rousing opener "So It Is, Subhuti" and maintains an evenly professional level until the end."

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

"Get Me Back" Remixed in NYC

New York DJ Mike Pearl has completely remixed and reimagined one of the more traditional acoustic blues pieces off Andres Roots' 2016 album "Winter", reinventing it as an electronic "progressive house" number twice the length of the original but still featuring James Dalton singing the Roots-penned lyrics. Be sure to also check out the Nice & Wise, Invinta and Mekhanik remixes below!

Pre-Order Acoustic EP Now!

The 10-day pre-order campaign for the upcoming Andres Roots EP "Afternoon" just started and lasts until November 25th - the CD's ship out on the 26th at the latest, the official release date is December 3rd, and the EUR12.90 pre-order price includes shipping worldwide. Check it out HERE!

The CD EP includes six acoustic instrumentals recorded on October 19th, 2021 by Jaan Tamm and mastered by Asko-Romé Altsoo at White Room in Tartu, Estonia. The cover painting was created by Siret Roots, who also designed the sleeve and took the photo on the back. You can listen to the opening number "Years Past Midnight" below.

    

"Tartu Lockdown" Released!

The "Tartu Lockdown" CD is out today and available in most record stores in Estonia - such as World Clinic, Lasering, Rahva Raamat, Apollo, etc. It won't be on Spotify, though - for digital downloads and merch, go to Bandcamp!

The official launch shows are as follows - starting from today: 4.9 Linnaraamatukogu, Tartu; 9.9 - Terminal Records & Bar, Tallinn; 11.9 - Alibi, Pärnu; 24.9 - Rapla Bluusiklubi @ Kultuuriklubi BAAS, Rapla.

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!

"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 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!

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.

Album Teaser

Here's a first look at the "Mississippi to Loch Lomond" CD:

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)

"Loch Lomond Blues" Review!

Norman Darwen reviews the "Loch Lomond Blues" live EP in the December issue of Blues in Britain: "He opens with the beautiful (and beautifully recorded) slightly ragtime flavoured number '4am Hot Dog', following it up with a bass string snapping slide guitar number 'Jook Jones', with just the slightest trace of Mississippi John Hurt in the picking - nice! 'Spanish Run' has a more modern sound, and it is easy to imagine this as a blues-rock band workout. 'Station Blues Medley' is slow and tough, drawing from Mississippi Fred McDowell and Robert Johnson. In contrast, 'The Sheik of Hawaii' is a marked change of approach, more of a virtuoso piece and boasting different but excellent slide playing, whilst the closing 'Wagon Swing' is richly melodic." While the limited edition CD EP is already sold out, you can still hear it on Spotify!

Meanwhile, The Blues and Roots Music Blog has reviewed James Dalton's "Tartu Jämm" live EP with Andres Roots on guitar and Les Wilson on percussion, calling it "a set that is impressive and appreciated by the live audience." Read the story HERE!

Free Live EP with James Dalton & Les Wilson

Released today as a free download via James Dalton's bandcamp page, "Tartu Jämm" features the jam at the Sügisjazz festival concert at Genialistide Klubi from September 19th, 2019 with James Dalton (USA) on vocals, acoustic guitar and harmonica, Andres Roots on electric guitar and Les Wilson (UK) on percussion. Click HERE to listen and download! Concert photos below by Siim Neerut.

Breakfast in September - Order Now!

"Breakfast in September" was released in November 2018 to rave reviews, and as it's now finally September, we just thought we'd remind you that you can still order a hard-copy CD from Lasering (ships internationally!) and/or hear it on Spotify! :)

Waiting Around Tour Dates & Finland Pics

The Waiting Around EP tour kicks off on Tuesday, August 13th at Von Krahl in Tallinn, followed by the Tartuff film festival in the Tartu Town Hall Square on Saturday, August 17th. The 7" vinyl will hit the stores and Spotify on Friday, August 16th. Here are the tour dates (with more TBC for September):

Waiting Around in Tallinn - August 13
Waiting Around in Tartu - August 17
Waiting Around in Kadrina - August 24
Waiting Around in Viljandi - September 5
Waiting Around in Pärnu - October 4
Waiting Around in Rakvere - October 5

In addition, there's a Sügisjazz show with the New Jersey artist James Dalton coming in September at Genklubi in Tartu - check out the Concerts page for full schedule.

Meanwhile, the Tampere-Rauma-Lahti tour with Ismo Haavisto and Matias Partanen last week was truly a blast. Here's some photos, with photo credits as follows: (1) Paapan Kapakka in Tampere by Marko Aho, (2) & (3) Rauma Blues festival by Carita Pakula @ Rauma Blues ry, (4) Verstas in Lahti by Keijo Seppälä:

 

New 45 Next Week!

On August 16th, Andres Roots will release his 7" 45 RPM solo EP "Waiting Around" – the first 7" record pressed at the Vinyl Plant in Tartu, Estonia. The on-location manufacturing of vinyl records in Tartu, Estonia was launched by Vinyl Plant in 2016 with Roots' compilation LP "Roots Music" – the first vinyl record ever made in Estonia, it went to number 1 in the Estonian album charts upon release and earned Roots a Golden Disc award. 

Unlike the 2016 LP, the four tracks on "Waiting Around" were cut expressly for the 45 and are all instrumental solo performances. The recordings were made on June 7th by Jaan Tamm, who back in the day recorded all but one of the albums by Roots' internationally acclaimed alt.blues trio Bullfrog Brown, and mastered by Asko-Romé Altsoo, who has been working with Roots since 2009. The EP cover was designed by Siret Roots, with front cover photo by Priit Põder from a March show at the Record Fair in Tallinn, Estonia and back cover photo by Leif Laaksonen from a February gig at the venue currently known as Mendocino in Helsinki, Finland. 

By chance, the first person to hear the 45 was the Finnish-born Tartu author Mika Keränen, who in his in-depth online review writes: "There is somebody sitting in the corner of a bar and playing guitar. You don't hear it when you have a CD. When you have the vinyl, you hear it and you feel it. This is why I like vinyl. It is next to live gigs."

The EP launch tour will start with solo shows at Von Krahl inTallinn on August 13th and at the Tartuff Love Film Festival in Tartu on August 17th, with concerts in Viljandi, Pärnu and Rakvere already confirmed for September and October and more dates TBA. Before then, Andres Roots will be joining Ismo Haavisto and Matias Partanen for three trio shows in Finland: at Paapan Kapakka in Tampere on August 8th, at the Rauma Blues Festival on August 9th and at Verstas in Lahti on August 10th.

To preview the new EP on YouTube, click HERE!

EP Release & Tour Dates

"Waiting Around", Andres Roots' 4-track 7" 45 RPM vinyl EP, will hit the stores on August 16th, launched with solo shows at Von Krahl in Tallinn on August 13th and at the Tartu Love Film Festival Tartuff on August 17th.

The EP tour will continue through early October, with concerts at Mulks in Viljandi on September 5th and at the Endla Jazz Club in Pärnu on October 4th confirmed and more dates TBA.

"Waiting Around" is the first 7" record manufactured at the Vinyl Plant in Tartu and thus also the first 45 ever made in Estonia. Andres Roots' 12" LP "Roots Music" was the first vinyl record ever manufactured in Estonia, topping the R2 Estonian album charts in 2016 and earning a Golden Disc award. Released in November 2018, Roots' latest solo album "Breakfast in September" made the top 10 in the most played albums charts for both British and French blues radio shows and landed him on the cover of Blues In Britain magazine in March.

This week, Andres Roots will play solo sets at the Pärnu Bluusipäevad Festival in Pärnu (24.7), at the SEE Theatre in Haapsalu (26.7) and at the Wild West Day in Palivere (27.7).