The Sevillian municipality of Tomares will host the second edition of the International Blues Festival on Saturday, September 19, with Californian Tia Carroll as the headliner and a lineup of national and international artists.
On September 19, the Gardens of the Count of Hacienda Santa Ana, the seat of the Tomares Town Hall, will become the epicentre of blues with the second edition of the International Blues Festival of Tomares. The event, organised by the town council in collaboration with the House of Blues, will kick off at 12:30 PM with the opening of doors and promises an intense day of live music.
Tia Carroll, the Great Voice of Californian Blues
This year's headliner is Tia Carroll, born in Richmond, California, in 1958 and considered one of the most powerful voices in contemporary blues, soul, and gospel. Her style, inheriting from greats like Koko Taylor, Aretha Franklin, and Tina Turner, has made her a regular at major international festivals. Her latest album, You gotta have it (2021), was nominated for Best Blues Album at the prestigious BMA in Memphis and at the 2021 Blast Music Awards in the Soul Blues category.
Carroll promises to thrill and energise the Gardens of the Count with her commanding stage presence and vocal strength that places her among the great divas of the genre.
For the residents of Tomares and Aljarafe, having an artist of this calibre at a local festival represents a unique opportunity to enjoy top-level blues without leaving the region. Last year, the festival debuted with figures such as Matt Schofield, Kid Carlos Band, Lolo Ortega, and Mingo Balaguer, setting a precedent that this year surpasses.
A Luxurious Lineup with Local and National Talent
Alongside Tia Carroll, the festival will bring together a dozen artists and bands. Notable is the performance of Lluís Coloma Trío & Kid Carlos. Lluís Coloma, a world-renowned blues and boogie woogie pianist from Barcelona, will join forces with Sevillian guitarist Kid Carlos, a reference in national and international blues. Also taking the stage will be Quique Gómez & His Vipers, with a classic sound that evokes the golden age of electric blues; Quique Bonal & Kid Carlos, a high-level guitar duel; and Q & The Moonstones, led by Cadiz guitarist Rick A. Bowen, who blend blues, R&B, soul, and swing to get the audience dancing.
Completing the lineup are Lightning Band, La Manso & Blues Sapiens, and Slowhand, adding up to more than eight hours of uninterrupted music. The organisation has planned a family-friendly atmosphere, with dining areas and parallel activities, catering to attendees of all ages.
For blues lovers in the province, this festival has become an unmissable event in the autumn cultural calendar. Last year, attendance exceeded expectations, and this year the gardens, which can accommodate several thousand people, are expected to be filled. Tickets are already on sale on the Tomares Town Hall website and at physical points in the municipality, with prices ranging from 15 euros (in advance) to 20 euros at the box office.
The Councillor for Culture of the Tomares Town Hall has highlighted that "the festival was born with the intention of continuity and to put Tomares on the map of international blues." The collaboration with the House of Blues, an entity that promotes this genre in Andalusia, has been key to bringing in top-level artists. Undoubtedly, an opportunity for the local community to enjoy a genre that, although minority, has a legion of loyal followers.
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