43. Rawa Blues Festival

“Shemekia Copeland is the greatest blues singer of her generation,” wrote The Washington Post. NPR Music added, “She has established herself as one of the top blues artists of our time.” And it’s no exaggeration – Shemekia creates blues that speaks to the soul of modern America: powerful, fearless, and filled with hope. Her voice can roar with righteous anger and soothe with tender vulnerability – a combination that gives chills.

Born in Harlem, the American vocalist launched her career in the late 1990s. Her debut album, Turn the Heat Up!, released by the legendary Alligator Records, immediately caught the attention of the blues world. Since then, Shemekia has released 12 critically acclaimed albums and earned eight Blues Music Awards. Her 2000 release, Wicked, featured a duet with her idol Ruth Brown and brought her three major awards.

Over the years, she has collaborated with icons like Carlos Santana and Dr. John, blending blues with soul, gospel, and Americana. In 2011, during the Chicago Blues Festival, she was symbolically crowned the new Queen of the Blues by Koko Taylor’s daughter – a fitting honor for an artist whose voice has become a defining force of her generation.

Albums like Outskirts of Love (2015), America’s Child (2018), Uncivil War (2020), and most recently Blame It on Eve (2023) have received widespread acclaim. The latter earned her three nominations at the 67th Grammy Awards, including Best Contemporary Blues Album – a testament to her enduring excellence.

On October 11, 2025, Shemekia Copeland will return to the legendary stage of Spodek Arena in Katowice for another unforgettable performance at Rawa Blues Festival. Her previous appearances at the festival left audiences in awe with their emotion, energy, and pure blues spirit. Now, she’s back – stronger than ever and ready to deliver one of the most anticipated shows of this year’s edition.

“Castro is one of the brightest stars in the blues-soul genre. Unstoppable blues energy and the full power of soul... passionate vocals and pure creativity in his brilliant guitar solos.” – Blues Music Magazine

“A slow-burning, gritty blues-rock sound... shimmering, swampy, almost funky vibes drenched in Castro’s sharp, clean solos and turbocharged licks.” – Living Blues

“Soul-baring, roadside-meets-church Memphis guitar riffs... raspy vocals... Southern hues and rootsy textures.” – Washington Post

Tommy Castro, a guitarist and vocalist with a signature raw, soulful sound, is a mainstay of the modern blues scene. He began performing professionally in the 1970s with cover bands around the San Francisco Bay Area. In the 1980s, he joined The Dynatones and launched his own band in 1991.

His solo debut Exception to the Rule (1996, Blind Pig Records) won the Bay Area Music Award for Outstanding Blues Album, and Castro himself was honored as Outstanding Blues Musician. In the mid-90s, he gained nationwide exposure as the house band leader on NBC’s Comedy Showcase, broadcast after Saturday Night Live. In 2001 and 2002, blues legend B.B. King invited him to open his summer tours – and to share the stage during the nightly finales.

Castro has recorded for Telarc, 33rd Street, Heart And Soul, Blind Pig, and Alligator Records. His 2009 album Hard Believer, produced by John Porter, was hailed by Billboard as “irresistibly funky and soulfully honest.” In 2010, Castro swept the Blues Music Awards, winning four major categories including B.B. King Entertainer of the Year.

He went on to release The Devil You Know (2013) featuring guests like Joe Bonamassa, Tab Benoit, and Marcia Ball, and Method To My Madness (2015), which debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard Blues Albums chart. In 2023, Castro was again named B.B. King Entertainer of the Year for the second year in a row – a testament to his lasting appeal and electrifying stage presence.

On October 11, 2025, Tommy Castro will light up the stage at Spodek Arena in Katowice during the Rawa Blues Festival, delivering his signature blend of blues, soul, rock, and funk. Expect an unforgettable show full of groove, emotion, and musical mastery. Don’t miss it!

Eric Sardinas is a blues-rock guitarist from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, known for his wild, high-energy live shows – sometimes going as far as setting his guitar on fire. His raw power on stage and mastery of the resonator guitar have made him one of the most unforgettable figures in modern blues.

Despite being left-handed, Sardinas plays guitar right-handed – a trait many critics link to his distinctive technique and fiery style. He began playing guitar at the age of six, inspired by Delta blues legends like Charlie Patton, Bukka White, Big Bill Broonzy, Elmore James, and Muddy Waters.

In 2002, he contributed the track “Ride On Josephine” to the tribute album Hey Bo Diddley – A Tribute!. He soon signed with Favored Nations, the label founded by Steve Vai, and joined Vai’s worldwide Real Illusions Tour in 2005 as the opening act.

His 2008 album Eric Sardinas and Big Motor further cemented his status as a fearless guitar slinger. After a long break, caused in part by the rock’n’roll lifestyle, Sardinas returned in October 2023 with Midnight Junction – a fierce, no-holds-barred blues-rock statement full of grit and soul.

On October 11, 2025, Eric Sardinas will return to the stage of Rawa Blues Festival in Katowice for the third time. His previous performances were explosive – drawing massive crowds of young blues and rock fans and sparking mosh pits rarely seen at blues shows. We expect nothing less this time: fire, slide guitar fury, and wild energy at full blast.