In the British Library Sound Archive!

Among the Roots & Fusion live sessions to be preserved in the British Library Sound Archive is one recorded September 28, 2012 at the Quarry Bank Mill & Styal Estate in England by the Roots/Eessalu/Terep line-up of Andres Roots Roundabout - featuring the numbers "Rick Stuart's Blues", "Shades", "Room Service", "Build Me A Statue", "The Other Rhumba" & "Wagon Swing". It really is an honour!

Meanwhile, the new Sawmill Roots Orchestra album has reached #18 in the British Independent Blues Broadcasters' Association's airplay chart for March:

Cashbox Review & Bosnian Profile

Cashbox Magazine Canada has published a wonderful review of "Live In Lerwick" - Iain Patience writes: "Estonian guitarist Roots clearly enjoys his role with some mighty fine acoustic and electric slide fretwork shining through... This is a very good, sound album with a fine range of material, varied in texture and tempo and featuring rock-solid guitar and Harp work throughout. A recommended release."

At the same time, Dragutin Matosevic over in Bosnia & Herzegovina has compiled a detailed profile on Andres Roots Roundabout the band for Barikada.com - check it out here!

And yes, "Chicken Man" is still on the Eesti Top7 chart - dropped from #2 to #4, but still hanging in there. Should you feel so inclined, you can vote for the tune here! :)

"Chicken Man" Video, "Three!" Review

Asko-Romé Altsoo has completed the video for Roots & Terep's "Chicken Man", filmed in Tartu on December 30th, 2014, and rumour has it the clip might receive its TV premiere before the week is through ;)



Meanwhile, MWE3.COM in Florida has published the following piece in their Record Label Spotlight section: "Instrumental rock guitar fans will be in for a treat with Three! from Andres Roots Roundabout. The all instrumental album features a stellar mix of blues rock and even funk and Western Swing sounds. Guitarist Andres Roots is joined by his band mates Martin Eessalu (guitar) and Raul Terep (drums). Some of these tracks are so cool and funky (check out “Moby Duck”) that you can almost picture them in a Ren & Stimpy cartoon. Roots himself is adept in various blues and rock guitar mediums including electric guitar and slide guitar. It has been noted that Three! is very much centered in the blues genre, and while it has a definite bluesy edge to it, there’s plenty here for all fans of electric guitar instrumental styles to enjoy. What’s equally amazing is just how cool the country of Estonia is becoming, especially for fans of instrumental guitar music. From heavy metal to jazz-rock fusion and now with the bluesy, funky sound of Andres Roots hitting foreign shores, the country of Estonia is quickly becoming a vital zone for major instrumental guitar talent."

Lerwick CD Tracklist + Pipeline Review!

Recorded over two nights at the Mareel last September at the 10th Shetland Blues Festival, Steve Lury & Andres Roots "Live In Lerwick" with Peeter Piik & Paul Archibald will be released on CD in November 2014. The tracklist is confirmed as follows, with a total running time of just under 50 minutes:

1. Tomorrow Night (Junior Wells)
2. Born Blind (Sonny Boy Williamson II)
3. Rambler's Blues (Tampa Red)
4. Build Me A Statue (Andres Roots)
5. Take A Little Walk With Me (Robert Lockwood Jr.)
6. Driftin' Blues (Charles Brown)
7. Walkin' Blues (Robert Johnson)
8. Gone To Main Street (Muddy Waters)
9. You Can't Lose What You Ain't Never Had (Muddy Waters)
10. What's The Matter With The Mill (Memphis Minnie)

In other news, Blues-Finland.com discusses the upcoming Hurriganes tribute compilation here and a lengthy "Trad.alt.blues" segment of the Music In The Mail show which originally aired on Free Radio Santa Cruz on Sept. 12th can now be streamed below (starts 01:12:12).

Music in the Mail Sep 12 14 by Kipli on Mixcloud

And there's more: the UK's rock instrumental magazine Pipeline has published a wonderful review of last year's "Three!" album by Andres Roots Roundabout. Alan Taylor writes: "This is a blues album at heart and as such it is the best instrumental blues album that I have ever had the pleasure of hearing. With plenty of tasty slide guitar work on both electric and acoustic guitars, it mixes bluesy rock tracks with swinging lighter numbers that provide variety and contrast - and at an average length of just over three minutes none of them outstays their welcome either...Most enjoyable and highly recommended."

Meanwhile, in the Sept. 16th issue of Virumaa Teataja, Inna Grünfeldt describes Roots & Terep's recent recent library gig in Rakvere as follows: "The music flooded every nook and cranny of the building, even the walls were vibrating. The duo had promised to play as quietly as possible, but luckily, things were far from piano pianissimo. When after an hour the duo asked which of two very different tunes the audience would like to hear as the last piece of the concert, the answer was unanimous: "Both!""

Finally, a reminder of next week's Muddy Waters tribute gigs in Finland: the band consists of Ismo Haavisto, Andres Roots, Peeter Piik, and Matias Partanen, and the shows are: Sept. 25th - Vihreä Talo, Riihimäki; Sept. 26th - Old Cock, Lappeenranta; Sept. 27th - Ruskablues Festival, Koli. See you there!

 

"Stick With You" Story @ Redmouthmusic.com

"Stick With You" was a track recorded with Eric "Red Mouth" Gebhardt that appeared on the 2010 Andres Roots album "Roundabout" and later on "Lutsuvad Kivid", a compilation of music by Estonian poets and writers. Check out Andres' full account of the matter @ redmouthmusic.com! ;)

Tartu Jazz Club Pics & Back To The 50's

Last Thursday's gig at the Tartu Jazz Club was a lot of fun - below are a few great shots by Kalev Ints; to see the full gallery, please visit the club's FaceBook page! This Thursday, May 15th, Roots & Terep will appear at the Back To The 50's ball in Kehra - so put your cat clothes on, and so forth ;)

Bluusikunst @ Tartu Jazz Club

On May 8th, Andres Roots Roundabout will appear at the Tartu Jazz Club - the first part of the concert featuring Andres Roots & Raul Terep as heard on "Trad.alt.blues", the second half introducing the full Roundabout line-up with Peeter Piik on bass. Not a gig to miss, especially since there are no more Tartu shows scheduled before September!

Rapla Pics & Tallinn This *Friday*!

IMPORTANT: Roots & Terep's Buffalo Bar & Grill show in Tallinn has just been rescheduled to Friday, April 18th - that's this Friday!!! Free entry, music starts 9 p.m. 

Below are some of the great pics Siim Andrespok took last weekend at Linna Pea Rock in Rapla.

Rapla Tonight!

Roundabout are in Rapla tonight, "opening" for Riho Sibul at the Linna Pea Rock festival. Meanwhile, don't forget - Roots & Terep's duo album is only available as a free download until May the 8th!

It's A Live!

Roots & Terep in Liverpool. Photo by Martin Eessalu.

Yes, the free download was activated at midnight: you can get your own free mp3 copy of the live album "Trad.alt.blues" by following this link. Enjoy!

P.S. You may also want to go and 'like' this Facebook page - that's where the chance to win a free and signed CD version of the album will be announced later today ;) 

Frequently Asked Questions About the New Album

1. Why is "Trad.alt.blues" not a Roundabout album?

Because it's just Andres Roots & Raul Terep playing on it.

2. Andres and Raul - are you guys Spanish?

No, we're Estonian. And yes, those are our real names.

3. Why did you decide to perform and record as a duo?

We didn't, really - it's just that the line-up of Andres Roots Roundabout changed over Christmas, with bassist Peeter Piik replacing guitarist Martin Eessalu as the third member of the group; and then Peeter ended up in hospital right before we were due to go on the road with Finland's Devil Box. Martin would have helped us out but he was on the road with MOduo, and thus we had two options: do the shows as a duo, or cancel. We hate to cancel.

When Antti Alanko of Devil Box told us he was going to tape their performances and asked if we'd like him to record our shows as well, we said yes: we'd only had time for one quick rehearsal and had been wondering what it all sounds like. The idea to make an album out of it only occurred when we heard the tapes back and went "Hmm..."

4. Why does it sound like a field recording?

Because that's what it is, essentially, and that's part of the reason we like it so much - we had been thinking about putting out something rougher and not studio-produced for quite some time, and this was the perfect opportunity. It's a one-track stereo recording made from the audience, so there wasn't even anything to mix. Field recordings are cool!

5. Was there an octaver used to enhance the bass frequencies?

No, Andres has never used an octaver. He does favour the open G tuning on his guitar, which goes pretty low, and for the duo shows, the guitar signal was split between a bass amp and a guitar amp. But it's still just guitar and drums you hear throughout "Trad.alt.blues".

6. If there's no bass, why is there a bass solo on "Legacy Blues"?

Because there are no limits to our arrogance and temptation is a terrible thing...?

7. Why is it called "Trad.alt.blues" - and which is it then?

Both, and possibly neither - quite a bit of it *is* blues, though. The title was in fact suggested by Steve Lury long before these recordings were made - we had been discussing the fact that in Estonia, our music is always pictured as "very traditional", whereas abroad it's usually labelled as "alternative".

8. Why is there a waltz on the album?

There was a tango on the last one, wasn't there? But really, what would you do when you get a request for "House of the Rising Sun" and you really don't like taking requests?

9. Are you going to continue as a duo or a trio and how is Peeter?

Peeter is fine and we'll be appearing as a trio on April 12th at the Linna Pea Rock festival in Rapla and on May 8th at the Tartu Jazz Club. But we'll also be continuing as Roots & Terep - the next duo show is in Tallinn on April 19th at the Buffalo Bar & Grill.

10. Are you planning to release "Trad.alt.blues" as a regular CD album?

Not at present. The free download will be available from April 6th to May 8th; if there's still a lot of interest beyond that, we may consider it. 

Trad.alt.blues Is Coming :)

Indeed: the free download live bootleg will be released via this very website on April 6th and contain the following tracks: Bullfrog Medley, Moby Duck, Greengrass Stomp, Wagon Swing, Pärnu Hambone, Build Me A Statue, Django, Legacy Blues, Funky Rooster, and Tartu Hambone.



In addition to the free download, there will also be a chance to win CD copies of the album, signed by the band. Details of the competition will be revealed on the Andres' Facebook page on April 6th, winners announced and CD's shipped out on May 9th. 



The live album "Trad.alt.blues" by Andres Roots & Raul Terep will remain available as a free download until May 8th, when Roots, Terep & bassist Peeter Piik appear live at the Tartu Jazz Club as Andres Roots Roundabout. 

Rapla Poster

Live Album & Linna Pea Rock

An "official bootleg" of the recent Andres Roots & Raul Terep duo gigs will be released as a free download on April 6th and will remain available through May 8th. Provisionally titled "Trad.alt.blues", the live album will contain audience recordings made by Antti Alanko on Feb. 20th at Rokibaar Underground in Tartu and on Feb. 21st at the Blue Icicle Festival in Pärnu, including new material, traditional themes, and several Bullfrog Brown and Roundabout numbers.

Roots & Terep @ Solaris, Tallinn. Photo: Haldjapere

"We weren't meant to do those gigs as a duo and we were certainly not planning to make a record, but since the shows were good, Antti taped them, and I'd been thinking about putting out a lo-fi "field recording" type of release for quite some time, this seemed like the perfect opportunity," says Roots. "The title was suggested by Steve Lury and I think it fits the album well: what trad.blues and alt.blues fans share is the belief that everything should be done live and preferably in one take, and that's what this is - it's not even a multitrack recording, so the take is the take and the mix is the mix!"

On March 15th, Roots & Terep played a duo show at Solaris in Tallinn at the Haldjapere fashion show, then joined bassist Peeter Piik for Roundabout's appearance at Pubi Juudas in Tõrva. Roundabout will be back for the Linna Pea Rock festival in Rapla on April 12th; the event's proceeds will go towards the construction of a local recording studio.

Gigs & Film Première!

On Saturday, March 15th, Andres Roots & Raul Terep will be playing two short duo sets at Solaris in Tallinn - the first set is to provide music for a kids' fashion show. The Haldjapere event starts at noon.

At midnight - still Saturday - Roundabout will celebrate the return of bassist Peeter Piik with a longer and heavier set at Pubi Juudas in Tõrva. Also appearing: Sibyl Vane. Special offer: come to both shows and get a free CD! :)

And then on Tuesday, March 18th, 4 p.m., the award-winning filmmaker Peeter Simm's new documentary "Eesti Tennis 100" - celebrating 100 years of Estonian tennis - will première in Tartu, at the Estonian Sports Museum. The soundtrack features "Spider Jam" by Andres Roots Roundabout (Ahti Bachblum - organ, Raul Terep - drums, Andres Roots - guitar) and "Narva Road Breakdown" by Bullfrog Brown (Steve Lury - harmonica, Peeter Piik - bass, Andres Roots - guitar). 

Review: "Found the Magic Button"

In the current issue of KesKus monthly, DJ Pickney Tiger calls "Thee!" an "album that rocks, is full of drive and busting with groove. Somehow Andres has found the magic button, a press of which turns his music into relevant, enjoyable world class blues. If I didn't know the players to be Estonian, I would never believe it - so authentic and natural are all their moves, the slide guitar, the ramming riffs and the storming drums." 6/6, which in KesKus' terms stands for "a classic". Cheers! :)

Juudas Poster

Tõrva Show Moved To March 15th!

We have just been informed that Pubi Juudas has changed the date of Roundabout's upcoming Tõrva show with Sibyl Vane to March 15th. Which means there'll be one show in Tallinn at noon and another one in Tõrva (right across the country!) at midnight - and the band are now offering a free CD to any members of the audience who attend both gigs :)

Review: "An Excellent Example Of How It Should Be Done"

"If you like Earl Hooker, Tampa Red, Elmore James, Muddy Waters or the Rolling Stones, you will not want to miss this excellent album...Andres has managed to reconcile the diametric opposites of these quality musicians," writes the Croatian critic and blues DJ Mladen "Mike" Loncar in Soundguardian.com. "Traditional blues with a modern and modernist approach..."Three!" is an excellent example of how it should be done."

Thank you, Mike!

Tonight @ Volga!!!

Terep & Roots @ Blue Icicle last night. Pic by Üllar Kallau.

Tonight will be a very special night at the Volga in Tartu: first, you'll get to hear the fabulous MOduo, who'll be joined by Roundabout's Raul Terep on drums for a few numbers. Then, you'll get to witness the highly irregular duo set that Andres and Raul have perfected over the past two nights, playing with Finland's Devil Box at Underground and at the Blue Icicle Festival in Pärnu. And then - wait for it - Martin Eessalu of MOduo will join us for one last run-through of the "Three!" album material. One night only, no excuses - free entry for all!