The Slovakblues Association invites you to the next Slovakian Blues Challenge 2017. As every year, experts from the music scene, radios, media and organisers of music festivals will form a jury.

In September 29, 2016 in Skalica (Slovakia) held Slovakian Blues Challenge 2016. There played three final bands – Andy Ray Haverda Band, Slovak Blues Project and The Butchers. The winner is the Slovak Blues Project.

Foto: Miroslav Minďáš

The competition this year signed these bands

– The Butchers – The Butchers
– Novelty Shop – Juraj Schweigert

Slovakblues nominated to the International Blues Challenge 2016 – The Best Self-Produced CD album Novelty Shop – Juraj Schweigert.

The winner of Slovakian Blues Challenge 2015 is a singer and harp player Juraj Schweigert and his The Groove Time.

On Friday, 18th September, in Skalica, we will host the Slovakian Blues Challenge 2015, where three bands: The Butchers, Juraj Schweigert & The Grove Time, W Blues Band will meet. The winner will go to the European Blues Challenge 2016 onto Italy. Special guest of the evening will be “Bayou Alligators” from Germany.

International jury will consist of experts in blues music: Sinisa Bizović and Sanja Maksan (Croatian Blues Forces), Jeff Brandon (US, Mississippi), Jindrich Oplt (Czech Blues photographer), Frank Muller (singer and leader of Bayou Alligators), Lubos Bena (Slovakblues) and an one representitive of the City Skalica.

The Organizers and sponsors of the competition are the City Skalica, Slovakblues and Srdiecko Pub.

Galaconcert and the Slovak Blues Top 2015 Awards Ceremony was held on March 6, 2015 at the City of Skalica. Program featured winners: Silvia Josifoska, Bobos Prochazka & Marek Wolf, Lubos Bena & Bonzo Radvanyi and young-blues generation Barbora Cerna. Special guests will be American-Texas singer Willie Jones and Italian bluesman Toni Balloco.

On Thursday, 19 February 2015 in Prague, Amistar Guitar founder Ing. Frantisek Javurek passed away after a severe illness. The music world lost in his person not only an excellent musician, playing the mandolin but especially a designer and one of the largest manufacturers of metal and wood resophophonic guitars in Europe. He lost a courageous fight with cancer.

As it was in his nature, he did not give up and fought until the end and even in December he talked about new plans and new models of guitars. Ironically, he died the day when the Czech Television brought a short documentary The Czech Dobros “Česká Dobra” about him and his guitar. It was actually our last meeting with him. Yet while “Franta”, as we all called him, creator of Resophonic guitars that will speak for him and bring joy to musicians and audiences worldwide.

See dokument about resophonic guitars here:

“Bluesová Anketa” (means Blues Survey) is every year announced by Slovakblues. It´s vote of all blues fans from Slovakia, The Czech Republic and from the other countries. The result shows how popular are bands, solos and duos, festivals, clubs, instrumentalists and concerts in Slovakia.