  
While Finland is well known for music, it's mainly rock and heavy metal bands that seem to come from Finland - over the last few years I've probably heard a few dozen bands of those genres from Finland, but this is the first time I've come across a Blues artist from Finland. I've been impressed by the standard of Finnish bands and musicians, and Erja Lyytinen certainly lives up to those high standards.
This album is on CD and DVD and was recorded at the 100 club in London in October 2014. The songs here include a mixture of her own original songs and songs from Elmore James.
Erja Lyytinen plays guitar and sings and is backed by a rhythm guitarist, bassist and drummer. The show gives her plenty of time to showcase both her talents - she's got a lovely voice and for much of the time that is the focus of attention, but at other times - during instrumental sections or a guitar solo for example, she really gets to show off just how good she is on guitar. While her playing is excellent throughout the whole album, I particularly love the slide guitar work in "The sky is crying".
After watching the DVD and listening to the CD a lot over the last week or so, I'm definitely planning to try and get to one of her live shows when she returns for a UK tour in October. It's an excellent album and one that makes me want to check out her studio albums too.
It's a great release that I'd definitely recommend for Blues fans, and the fact you get a CD and DVD of the concert for the same price you'd normally pay for a CD makes it excellent value too.
Track listing:
1. It's a blessing
2. Let it shine
3. Person to person
4. Hand in hand
5. Grip of the blues
6. Change of season
7. Everything's fine
8. Hold on together
9. The sky is crying
10. It hurts me too
11. Dust my broom
See Erja live at the following UK Blues Festivals in June 2015 and on her UK tour in October:
LINTON FESTIVAL
Friday 19th June 2015
www.lintonfestival.com
DURHAM BLUES FESTIVAL
Saturday 20th June 2015
www.durhambluesfestival.co.uk
CLEETHORPES BLUES FESTIVAL
Sunday 21st June 2015
www.cleethorpesbluesfestival.co.uk
DARLINGTON, DARLINGTON BLUES CLUB
Friday 2nd October 2015
Box Office: 01325 363135
Book Online: www.darlington-r-n-b-club.co.uk
The Forum Music Centre, Borough Road, Darlington, Co. Durham, DL1 1SG
www.darlington-r-n-b-club.co.uk
SHEFFIELD, THE GREYSTONES
Saturday 3rd October 2015
Greystones Road, Sheffield S11 7BS
www.mygreystones.co.uk
BARNES, BULL'S HEAD
Monday 5th October 2015
Box Office: 0208 761 9078
Book Online: www.feenstra.co.uk
373 Lonsdale Road, Barnes, London SW13 9PY
www.feenstra.co.uk
WOLVERHAMPTON, ROBIN 2
Wednesday 7th October 2015
Box Office: 01902 401211
Book Online: www.therobin.co.uk
20-28 Mount Pleasant, Bilston, West Midlands WV14 7LJ
www.therobin.co.uk
EDINBURGH, VOODOO ROOMS
Thursday 8th October 2015
Box Office: 0131 556 7060
Book Online: www.ticketweb.co.uk
19a West Register Street, Edinburgh EH2 2AA
www.thevoodoorooms.com
KEIGHLEY, KEIGHLEY BLUES CLUB
Friday 9th October 2015
Box Office: 01535 600310
Book Online: www.keighleybluesclub.net
Hall Of Fame Bar, Royd Ings Avenue, Keighley, BD21 3RF
www.keighleybluesclub.net
OXFORD, HAVEN MUSIC CLUB
Monday 12th October 2015
Box Office: 01865 244516
Book Online: www.wegottickets
Bullingdon, 162 Cowley Road, Oxford, OX4 1UE
www.havenclub.co.uk
EVESHAM, IRON ROAD
Wednesday 14th October 2015
Box Office: 07831338277
Book Online: www.wegottickets
The Railway Hotel, 140 High Street, WR114EJ
www.theironroad.sqwiz.co.uk
CHISLEHURST, BEAVERWOOD CLUB
Thursday 15th October 2015
Box Office: 0208 761 9078
Book Online: www.feenstra.co.uk
Chislehurst, Kent BR7 6HF
www.feenstra.co.uk
SUTTON, BOOM BOOM CLUB
Friday 16th October 2015
Box Office: 0208 761 9078
Book Online: www.feenstra.co.uk
Sutton, Surrey SM1 2EY
www.feenstra.co.uk
CHESTER, CHESTER BLUES FESTIVAL
Saturday 17th October 2015
Box Office: 01472 349222
Book Online: www.chesterbluesfestival.co.uk
1 Station Road, Chester, Cheshire West and Chester CH1 3DR
www.chesterbluesfestival.co.uk
FROME, FROME BLUES FESTIVAL
Sunday 18th October 2015
Box Office: 01472 349222
Book Online: www.fromebluesfestival.co.uk
Market Yard, Frome, Somerset BA11 1BE
www.fromebluesfestival.co.uk |
