7th Zagreb International Blues Festival was held during five days April 26 to 30 2016.

First day was held in Hard Place club in Zagreb. Performed Ben Dover band, Tomislav Goluban and Tibor Nadj from Novi Sad, Serbia, who also promote his book Healing power of the Blues. Evening closed by Boris Hrepić Hrepa and session with performance of Ms Harmonica.

Second day in Hard Place club performed Eric Sardinas. opening by Eduard Jimy Matešić

Thrid day also in Hard Place club performed Eric Sardinas, this time opening by Tony Lee King.

Fourth day in Pivana club performed Sunnysiders. Same day Eric Sardinas performed in Judino drvo club in Split.

Fifth day in Bikers Beer Factory club performed B#, BEHAVE and Crossroard. Same day Eric Sardinas performed in Kaštel in Pula.

This year, the sixth in the series, “Zagreb International Blues Festival”, brings a lot of good blues through four days in three different Zagreb club. This year we have guests from Slovakia, Switzerland and Mauritius, and there are “strong Croatian blues forces”.

The first day of the festival will be held on Tuesday, April 28. Club Hard Place where we will host two young bands and one of the old masters. Last year’s winners of the sixth “Croatian Blues Challenge” Rolin Humes, who represented Croatia in Memphis in January this year and the winners of last year’s 18th “HGF”, the biggest demo festival in the country, Soul Radio. Concert is hosted by by Ben Dover who has been held in Zagreb’s blues scene alive by hosting a variety of blues musicians every Tuesday at Hard Place club.

On Wednesday, April 29 the Mojo Bar will host the first foreign guests of the festival. From Slovakia is emerging as a “project” under the name of Slovak Blues Project. Behind this name “hide” the three great musicians – two of the “old guard” and one young. Two veterans, Lubos Bena and Bonzo Radvanyi for years playing as a duo throughout Europe and their duo sounds like a big band! For hosting the 6th IBF-to have joined forces with a young and promising guitarist Jergus Oravec whose album “Just Above The Surface” ranked among the top 20 albums samoproduciranih the world on “International Challenge” in Memphis in 2013’s. For exclusive Zagreb’s performance they will be joined our “first traveler to Memphis” Tomislav Goluban on harmonica.

On Thursday, April 30 in Bikers Beer Factory club will perform our second international guests – The Two. It is the attractive duo, which is based in Switzerland, consisting of two guitarists – Yannick from Mauritius and Thierry from Switzerland. The winners were the Swiss Blues Challenge and represented them in Memphis, where they reached the semi-finals. An interesting blend of roots blues with Creole influences, a unique blend of the Mississippi and the Indian Ocean, will be listened  for the first time in Croatia. With The Two will play two local artists – Sunnysiders and Marko & Darko. Sunnysiders have represented Croatia at the International Blues Challenge 2011’s and got into the semi-finals, and Marko and Darko are last year’s winners Demo Hr competition with their “new blues”.

As every year, and this time we have ZIBF away – so Slovak Blues Project on Thursday April 30 guest appearances in Rijeka at the club Nad Urom.

The festival ends on Friday May 01 at Hard Place club with the Vedran Božić supersession band and B# blues band. The best-known, longest-running and probably the best Croatian guitarist of all time, Vedran Božić will, especially for this occasion decided with his supersession band on 6th ZIBF, play in the dedication of Eric Clapton and Cream group. Awesome Clapton blues probably no one in Croatia good as well as Vedran performes. Concert will open by B# blues band with it’s cover repertoire.

It is important to note that the entrance to all festival days is free!