the artists

Thursday June 15

SIERRE BLUES KIDS / Switzerland

17:30 - MAIN STAGE

SIERRE BLUES KIDS is the result of a project started 11 years ago through the schools of Sierre to present, through singing, the Blues culture, the roots of American music, the values of tolerance to the next generation. It brings together in the form of a choir, students who have responded to the desire to sing Blues, under the expert guidance of Thierry Epiney. It is to them that the honour of opening this 14th edition will fall.

AWEK / France

18:20 - MAIN STAGE

AWEK. It’s above all 28 exciting years around a project that was supposed to last only a few months !
This strange name is the proof since it comes from nowhere, or rather from a laughing party during a well-watered meal in the summer of 94…

A HUEC” in Occitan, means “all the way”, without restraint, without concession, such was our motto from the first meeting. It still is today !

Power trio for 10 years and quartet for 18 years, the group has quietly forged a reputation to naturally impose itself as a sure value of the Blues scene.

Winner Vertical Radio Contest / Switzerland

19:40 - STAGE 2

Winner of the Vertical Radio contest “Gagne ta scène au Sierre Blues 2023

TIWAYO / France

20:45 - MAIN STAGE

Without knowing anything about Tiwayo, one could imagine him with an extraordinary family tree: the secret son of Nina Simone and Marvin Gaye and a kissing cousin of the Black Keys or Terence Trent D’Arby. Infused by the classic scope of 60’s and 70’s blues, gospel, soul, rock and reggae, Tiwayo’s voice has been forged by sleepless nights spent singing in subways ’til sunrise and spending hard time on the road in the USA and Europe. Lauded even prior to this, his first album, he has played shows with Curtis Harding, Cody Chesnutt, Patrice and most recently with Norah Jones and Marcus Miller.

In 2017, he provoked fate by contacting the producer that seemed to him to be the ideal choice for his first album. This was Mark Neill (2011 Grammy Awards winner) who was immediately fascinated. Two month later, Tiwayo was stepping off a jet in Atlanta en-route to Neill’s 16-track Soil of the South Studio in the south of the United States.

CHRISTOPHE MAE / France

22:30 - MAIN STAGE

Christophe Maé is a French singer who has been playing the role of Monsieur in the hit musical “Le Roi Soleil” from 2005 to 2007. He is known for songs such as ‘Ca Marche’ and ‘Et Vice Versailles’.
He has sold more than 1 million copies of his first solo album, “Mon Paradis”, released in 2007.

Born October 16, 1975 in Carpentras, he learned to play the violin at age 6. He began playing the guitar and harmonica at age 16 after he was immoblised from a chronic illness. He was very sick back then, and as a result of that, he had to be in bed 24/7. To please himself he started singing. This is when he discovered his inspiration: Stevie Wonder.

When he got better, he was struggling to gain fame. He performed in bars, restaurants and as opening act for artists like Cher, Seal and Jonathan Cerrada.

During the opening act for Jonathan Cerrada Cristophe got noticed by Dove Attia, who asked him if he would do a casting for the musical Le Roi soleil. He got the part.

His musical influences are Bob Marley, Ben Harper, Tracy Chapman, and Jack Johnson.

THE WACKY JUGS / France

00:15 - STAGE 2

It’s easier said than done to reinvent a world wide genre such as the blues. The Wacky Jugs took the challenge from the roots, digging up the past for forgotten grooves, back-step beats and hair standing mélodies. They built a new rural yet urban identity, with the earthy harp and double bass, the bold mandolin and accordion. Bringing back the Juke Joint dances with New Orleans Jives, Rock, Soul and Jugband Stomps, the decadent lyrics emphasized by Jack Titley’s untraceable voice, between Will Shade and Dr John. In 2022,the jury from the International Blues Challenge in Memphis were moved by their original writing and their will to modernise the style. They awarded the Wacky Jugs with the first prize, making them, the first European band to achieve such a title, the worthy heirs of this centenary music, and the proud explorers of its futur.

FRIDAY JUNE 16

ROD BARTHET TRIO / France

17:30 and 19:45 - STAGE 2

WHO’S ROD BARTHET ? He’s an active and innovative in the field of music. Rod BARTHET is on the roads to go to play music as professional musician for 25 years, always with the same pleasure.

Rod Barthet is an artist singer guitarist. Well known as one of the best bluesman in France, influences : Blues rock, Boogie, Soul music.

APPROXIMATELY 1700 CONCERTS SO FAR : France, Germany, USA, Macedonia, Greece, Turkey, Mexico, Switzerland, Spain, Slovakia, Portugal.

HAS SHARED THE STAGE WITH : John Lee Hooker, Bo Diddley, Jimmy Johnson, Francis Cabrel, Popa Chubby, Steve Smith, Patsy Gallant, Alvin Lee, Mick Taylor, Joe Louis Walker, Tommy Castro, Robben Ford, Robert Cray, Louis Bertignac .

CIRCLE OF MUD / France

18:25 - MAIN STAGE

A strong and modern Blues-Rock

The story begins under the impulse of Gino Monachello on the guitars and lapsteel, quickly joined by the young lead vocalist and guitarist Flo Bauer, Matthieu Zirn on drums and Franck Bedez on bass. All managed by the great producer David Husser.

The band gives us a strong and modern Blues-Rock, suitable both for connoisseurs and non-initiated. That is the strength of this project.