BLUES CARAVAN 2024
feat. Alastair Greene, Eric Johanson & Katarina Pejak

Alongside the latest edition of the Blues Caravan tour, Ruf Records, one of the world's leading independent music labels, is proudly celebrating its 30th anniversary. In that time, Ruf has released hundreds of albums, showcased dozens of renowned artists and launched the careers of many of today's most popular acts.

The annual Blues Caravan is one of the label's biggest successes. The concept of the show, which is now touring the world for the 19th time, is as simple as it is ingenious: each of the three headliners plays a complete live set before they all perform together in an exciting jam session at the end. The three outstanding musicians on this year's tour are eager to shake the concert halls of the world just like their predecessors.

The Bluesrocker Alastair Greene may not be a household name, but with a career spanning over 25 years, he is no longer an insider tip among music insiders. The California-born musician is a "skillful, eloquent songwriter and equally gifted vocal and guitar talent" (Rock & Blues Muse), whose guitar playing "is equal to and better than most" (Blues Matters). His resume includes nearly a decade as a touring guitarist with the Alan Parsons Project and successful times as a sideman for award-winning blues singer Sugaray Rayford and as support for Walter Trout. In recent years, Greene has increasingly focused on his own power trio with acclaimed albums such as The New World Blues and Alive In The New Worldon which he was supported by the two Louisiana legends Tab Benoit and Corey Duplechin. His gripping and highly explosive, electric blues will blow you away.

The same applies to Eric Johansonan up-and-coming star of the scene whose latest album The Deep & The Dirty entered the Billboard blues charts at No. 1 after its release in 2023. It's the strongest example yet of Johanson's groundbreaking alternative blues, a blend that incorporates elements of hard rock, Americana, New Orleans funk and country. "I love listening to old blues and country," he said in reference to the latest album, "but I love hard rock just as much." In the review of The Deep & The Dirty compared Americana Highways Johanson's "extremely dramatic blues performances" with those of rock legend Alvin Lee, while reviewer Marc Dorian of Rock & Blues Muse went even further, claiming: "Eric Johanson could be the modern hero the blues world needs to extend the reach of the genre."

But what would the Blues Caravan be without a touch of style and class to perfectly complement all that guitar power? The Serbian-born singer, songwriter and pianist Katarina Pejak offers just that. The charismatic live performer, whose influences range from Tom Waits to Otis Spann and Bessie Smith, is already well known to Caravan audiences from the 2019 tour. With the strong original songs from her Ruf Records debut Roads That Cross (produced by Mike Zito) established her on the international scene at the time and even earned her a spot on Allmusic.com's annual best of list. The respected online music platform praised her "delightful singing voice" and "amazing keyboard skills" and ultimately described Pejak as "an exciting artist who is just getting started."