16th MOSTAR BLUES & ROCK FESTIVAL
July 19th – 20th, 2018
TAfter several years of implementing the festival in a smaller venue, 16th Mostar Blues & Rock Festival had a great comeback to the big stage of SC Kantarevac in the heart of Mostar.
Larger venue provides space for bigger production (stage, lights, video screens and special effects) resulting in visually impressive setting with high productional standards.
Following extensive productional and organizational preparations, the festival's curtain was raised by Henrik Freischlader Band. Featuring a very experienced and "solid" rhythm section, this guitar virtuoso has shown why he is considered one of the best European guitarists.
Next on stage was the headliner and the star of the 16th MBRF - Lucky Peterson with his band The Organization. This American blues master, owner of a large number of anthology albums, offered a great show playing a range from modern blues of the American North to the lyrical delta standards, switching between his keyboards and guitar. The concert was joined by Tamara Tramell, a longtime accompanist on the stage.
Final concert of the evening was played by legendary Croatian band Goran Bare i Majke. They presented their newest album “Nuspojave” that is already widely considered the album of the year. They opened the concert with the popular single of this album “Ljubav krvari” followed by the full presentation of the album that critics described as an album that “one needs to know how to listen”. Audience was not deprived of their older repertoire either, and had sang along their great hits such as “Teške boje”, “Mršavi pas” and others.
One of the goals of the Mostar Blues & Rock Festival is to introduce new comers and give them the opportunity to share the stage with great names of the blues & rock music scene. Festival continues its cooperation with Mostar Rock School and the second night of the festival program was opened by the young band from this school. The youngest festival participants performed with confidence and have shown skillful music playing.
Day earlier, these young musicians had the opportunity to see how the members of the American group Lucky Peterson & The Organization prepare for their performance and gain knowledge through on-set workshop and their soundcheck (use of equipment such as amplifiers and techniques of their additional amplification, amplification of a drum set, the setting and use of monitoring systems and all kinds of stage microphones).
Next on stage was Zona B from Belgrade. This experienced band fronted by Pera Joe on harmonica (mouth harp) played an excellent blues and rock repertoire with interesting arrangements and high-quality performance.
Todd Sharpville Band is a trio and this formation always captures the attention of experienced listeners as it is the most demanding band formation. Already after the first song it was clear that audience will witness excellent performance. The brilliant sound of Todd's guitar and the frenetic accompaniment of his band simply did not leave anyone indifferent. It was a real presentation of modern British blues / rock.
The band to close the festival’s curtain was Električni orgazam. This band has been present on stage for 30 years already, and at the 16th MBRF they presented their 12th and the most recent album “Gdje smo sad?”. They brought back memories by playing their greatest hits by the end of the concert.
16th Mostar Blues & Rock Festival has presented seven bands and two album promotions.
We would like to thank all the partners and supporters of 16th Mostar Blues & Rock Festival, especially the US Embassy in BiH, City of Mostar and Federal Ministry of Culture and Sports.
Mostar Blues & Rock Festival Organizing team
