The story of BluesShack begins in a cosy local pub, on the corner of a small street, hidden just outside the city centre of Utrecht. In this little cafe, run by volunteers, a group of people come together every third Thursday of the month, to celebrate the blues in dance and music.
On this tiny stage is where the members of BluesShack met in 2018 and the band slowly started to take on its current form. Since then the blues dance evenings have led to more gigs, international attention and shows on blues(dance)festivals, and to the recording of some fine blues albums.
The band first gained recognition with their live recorded album “Live in Moskou” in 2019, which was recorded at Studio Moskou in Utrecht, Netherlands. The second one `Hold On Tight` was recorded during the lockdown period in 2020 and 2021. This album quickly gained traction, with the title track reaching Top 10 on a UK independent blues chart for 14 weeks. The album also received much acclaim in the US, with radio stations across the country playing their music (such as Radio Muscle Shoals).
The third BluesShack album, recorded and mixed in early spring, will be released in the summer of 2023. This new album “Ten To Five” features three new original songs written by the band members, as well as collaborations with the great musicians Chad Strentz from the United Kingdom and Franck L. Goldwasser, aka Paris Slim, from the United States and France.
A BluesShack gig will transport you right back to the old Blues and Jazz Clubs. And to music by Etta James, Willy Dixon and T-Bone Walker, among others. Get enchanted by the jazzy-soul sound of the lead vocalist Loes Jongerling and enjoy the tasteful playing of the band (blues harp, piano/Hammond, guitar, bass and drums).
The band is set on keeping the music spontaneous, pure and fun. All of the band members bring a different kind of style and energy to the stage and that will guarantee a dynamic night out!
The band will pick you right up for some up-tempo swing with ‘My Babe’ or ‘Juke’ lead by a mean harmonica played by Simon Bullock. They will bring you back down with some Delta Blues classics where Ies Wiechers leads with vivid solos on songs like ‘Hoochie Coochie’. The rhythm is in the experienced steady hands of Marcel Poeze on drums. Christian Johanson keeps it cool and funky behind the keys, and we can always count on a groovy bass by Mich Buschman.
Every now and then we get accompanied by Ton Beukelman (Hammond), Wouter van Breugel (Drums) and Jeroen Bresser (Bass). All the mentioned musicians joined the latest album, ‘Hold On Tight’!
Founders Ies Wiechers and Simon Bullock are set to keep the music spontaneous, pure and fun. The band never rehearses a show in advance. All the band members bring a different kind of style and energy to the stage, and that will guarantee a dynamic night out.
