21. Rawa Blues Festival

Just like every year, the names of blues stars tempted Polish fans to visit „Spodek” again. On the billboards on posters hung in the bigger and smaller cities and towns the main attractions were foreign arists: Big Town Playboys, Cephas & Wiggins, Michael Hill's Blues Mob and the legendary American band Canned Heat. The result – over 5 thousand spectators arrived to Katowice.

Traditionally, The Main Stage concerts were opened by Irek Dudek with his interpretation of „Everyday I Have The Blues”. Later the stage belonged to: Blues Flowers, Tipsy Drivers, Green Grass, the winner of The Off Stage - Toster Band, female guitar and vocal duo Karolina Koriat & Aleksandra Siemieniuk. The set of Polish artists finished Sławek Wierzcholski, presenting the original blues and folk blend. 

The parade of foreign stars began Big Town Playboys from Great Britain. Michael Hill's Blues Mob showed the new vision of blues, was the eruption of emotions and amazing skills of Hill. Probably it was the most energetic concert at Rawa Blues since Junior Wells performance. 

The we came back to the acoustic roots of blues in Cephas & Wiggins gig. The final show belonged to Canned Heat, veterans presented the solid dose of high voltage boogie.

Of course spectators forced encores, Irek Dudek appeared again on the stage. That year, he didn't play as one of the festival stars, due to the tragedy in his family.

Fans who didn't have enough of blues could take part in all night jam sessions at six official Rawa Blues clubs in Katowice. In one of them, they could listen to Michael Hill, Mr. Wiggins and the members of Big Town Playboys jamming together...