17th Mostar Blues & Rock Festival
Pavarotti Music Centre, 20.7. – 21.7.'19
After several months of negotiations and preparation, the 17th edition of the Festival turned out to be very well conceived and had excellent program dynamics.
Festival’s curtain was lifted by Keegan McInroe, Texan, a traveler with a guitar. He reminded attendees of the blues roots and the sound that originated in the Mississippi Valley, but also the evolution of acoustic expression on the American scene.
It has long been the aim of the Festival to present young authors and groups. This time the Festival presented the band MoRS Rumors, a group of young musicians coming from Mostar Rock School.
They have shown great satisfaction while playing, sounded very striking despite the very demanding repertoire they have chosen to present.
Tomislav Goluban is well established name on the blues scene. With his band he offered great concert presenting songs from their various albums. Special atmosphere and original blues sound were achieved through song arrangements cleverly woven by sound of Tomislav’s harmonica.
Already after few beats, audience started dancing when Paulo Mendonca, a Swedish guitar virtuoso, stepped on stage, thus easily justifying his role as headliner. Although they are a music trio on stage, their sound was rich and sharp, at times touching hard rock expression mixed with funky rhythm.
Second day of the Festival was opened by Dr. Project Point Blank. After 17 years, these Belgrade’s doyens of blues have once again stepped on Mostar Blues & Rock Festival’s stage. Their repertoire was composed of their memorable songs and compositions from their new album.
Slovenian band Prismojeni Profesorji Bluesa is probably the biggest revelation of the Festival. Even though relatively young band, their performance turned out to be very mature leaving nobody indifferent. With their repertoire inspired by Jimi Hendrix, as well as styling from that period of time, they took the role of the band to pay the tribute to the 50th anniversary of the Woodstock Festival, the most significant event in modern pop-rock culture.
Doyle Bramhall II, an American musician who has recorded so many albums that it is hard to list them all, current guitarist Eric Clapton Bend closed this year's Festival. This left-handed virtuoso, with his band, presented his vision of music playing in a special, artistic way, and justified the title as one of the innovators of new approach in guitar playing world.
Besides their amazing performance, Doyle Bramhall with band members held the masterclass for young musicians.
Finally, we can say that 17th Mostar Blues & Rock Festival successfully reached its goals by having qualitative program, was produced with high technical standards and was well visited.
We would like to thank all the partners and supporters of 17th Mostar Blues & Rock Festival, especially the US Embassy in BiH, City of Mostar and Pavarotti Music Center.
Mostar Blues & Rock Festival Organizing team
