Looking Back on 2024

2024 saw 59 live performances by Andres Roots: 20 concerts in Estonia, 18 in Finland, 9 in the UK, 9 in Germany, and 3 in Latvia. In addition to his solo sets, Roots jammed with Dave Arcari (UK), Ron Whitehead & Jinn Bug (USA), Dik Banovich (USA/France), Jantso Jokelin (Finland), Ismo Haavisto (Finland), Old Wood'n Joe (Finland), and The Rhythmbreakers (Finland), sharing stages with Pan Salmenhaara (Finland/Germany), Banjolectric (USA/France), Blues Bizarre (Finland), Kalle Tikas (Estonia), Bad Ass Horse (Finland), and many others.

Festival appearances included the 40th Birmingham Jazz & Blues Festival and the award-winning Upton Blues Festival in the UK, Mosna Blues Festival and Joutsen Blues Festival in Finland, as well as Pirita Blues Festival, Prima Vista Literature Festival and the similarly poetry-based Tõge and Fööniksi Festivals in Estonia. 

The CD compilation "Solo Pieces" was released to coincide with the international summer tour, and in autumn, a reworking of Hurriganes' "In the Nude" - itself a remake of Glenn Miller's "In the Mood" - appeared on the "Estonian Tribute to Hurriganes: Roadrunner" CD/LP. Additionally, Roots' July concert at Temperance in Royal Leamington Spa in the UK was recorded by Adrian Gains and will appear in the popular "Live from Temperance" series on February 25th, 2025 as "Royal Spa Blues" - but more on that next year. 

A big thank you to all of you for your continued support - and Happy 2025, everybody!

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Concert photos by Margaret McDonald, Siret Roots, Matti Suuronen.

"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

 

 

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!

German Tour Pics

Here are some pics from the German leg of the tour: ARTliners and Revolte Bar in Berlin, Die alte Garage in Potsdam, and Madame Claude and SonntagsMusikCafé Alte Kita in Berlin again. Photos by Siret Roots and Pan Salmenhaara. 

UK Tour Pics

The July shows in the UK and Germany were a blast - here are some pics from the UK leg of the tour: the Birmingham Jazz & Blues Festival gigs at Fair Deal Music and at The Wellington, the Upton Blues Festival Acoustic Roots Stage, and Temperance in Leamington Spa. Photos by Siret Roots, Alison Ashcroft-Gent, and Christine Moore. 

More pics coming soon - and don't forget: the remaining copies of the "Solo Pieces" compilation CD are now 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.