Members:

Virgilijus Jutas – vocal, guitar, harp
Andrej Polevikov - keyboard
Gediminas Alekna – bass guitar
Bernardas Tomaševič – drums

The Blues Makers Biography

The Blues Makers band launched their career in 1990 in Vilnius, Lithuania. Gradually they achieved some success in their homeland country playing on various stages and participating at such festivals as ROCKROAD, HIPPY SESSION, etc. The same year, the band was the main power force in setting up the very first Blues&Rock’n’Roll club in Vilnius, the venue for both Lithuanian and foreign bands. SUMMIT ‘90, THE EURO

The debute CD, “MAKING BLUES”, featuring a number of classical hits and the band’s originals of 1990/92, was released in 1994. The band developed some new ideas in cooperation with Californian musician James Brown in 1995, resulting extensive touring all across Lithuania presenting new songs. Two years later, the band’s leader Virgilijus Jutas got engaged into The Acoustic Trio Project, with the record being released later under Bomba Records label. Then at Moulin Blues Ospel Festival (Holland) Mr. Jutas had a great honor to play duo with one of the most prominent acoustic blues musician Keb’ Mo’...

In 1997, The Blues Makers broadened their repertoire with some new songs with lyrics in their mother-tongue Lithuanian and played at NIDA ’97, SERIFO ATOSTOGOS ’97, BLUES NIGHTS, PUDASDRUSKOS, COUNTRY BLUES, ROKO MARSAS international festivals in Lithuania. The band dashed into RADIO CENTRAS Top Ten Hits with their THE SHIP OF ILLUSION song, also being featured in MUZIKINESVIESBUTIS TV project on the Lithuanian National TV Channel. Then there was the 1997 release of “MESLIEKAME ČIA” album.

In 1998/99, two years in a row, the band won The Best Blues Band Award at SUMMER MARATHON Lithuanian National Music Festival. Also in 1998, Virgilijus Jutas took part in Juozas Milasius AUKSINESGITAROS project, having great success at BIRSTONAS JAZZ and VILNIUS JAZZ’98 festivals.

In 1999, the B.M. played together with the black-blues singer Jimmy Lawson (USA) at his shows in Lithuania, and two years later this line-up took part at the BLUES FESTIVAL in Varniai. Then followed the 2001 release of “UZBURTAME RATE” (Bomba Records) album featuring popular Lithuanian pop&jazzsingress Neda.

In 2002, the together project with King Lion (Jamaica) had been presented to public and the new CD “LIVE IN VILNIUS” was eventually released. Virgilijus Jutas performed as a duo with Alexander Belkin at XI OLSZTYNCKIE NOCE BLUESOVE festival in Poland. At the very end of 2002, the B.M. won the Lithuanian National Radio’s Best Rock Band Award .

The Blues Makers began 2003 intensively touring in Germany (Bluesgarage, Hannower) and Russia (R&B Cafe, B.B. King Blues Club, etc., in Moscow).

In the summer of 2003 B.M. had been voted the best Lithuania Blues&Jazz band by Brodvej Music Club’s board of members. Blues Makers toured all across Lithuania featuring blues and rock singer/performer from USA Gary Lowell. Also that summer B.M. took part at Varniai 2003 festival along with brass section of Green Bridge Band; this project also participated at annual Kaunas Jazz festival 2004. In the same year B.M.+KingVarniai Blues Festival. Band ended their successful year with visit to TORUN BLUES MEETING (Poland). Lion played at

In the year of 2005 there was another CD, recorded together with the outstanding harmonica player from the very Mississipi Delta, Scott Albert Johnson. The same year’s summer B.M. again toured in LithuaniaBuden to play at Western Farm venue. and visited Swedish town of

In 2006, Blues Makers took part in international Galicia Blues Festival(Krosno, Poland).At Varniai Blues Festival 2006, BM together with DJ Laimis introduced modern sounding BLUES GROOVE PROJECT. Meanwhile, Belkin&Jutas Acoustic Duo recorded their first CD „Live at Varniai Blues Festival“.Later on the same year Belkin&Jutas broadened their duo with the rythm section, of B.Tomasevic (drums) and S.Sopelev (bass) and played their special program “Country, Blues, Rockabilly” at Visagino Country 2006 festival, Visaginas, Lithuania.

In the early spring of 2007, the acoustic Duo represented Lithuania blues situation at “In The Circle Of Blues”, Music Festival, Suwalki, Poland.In march 2007 the Duo went touring to Israel, where they joined American harmonica virtuoso Dov Hammer.As for Varniai Blues Festival that year, yhe Blues Makes presented “Tribute to Eric Clapton” project together with one of the best Lithuanian guitarists G.Sulinskas.In the summer 2007, V.Jutas as the very special guest of The Road Band, another Lithuanian leading blues band, played at Alanya Jazz Days,Turkey.

On Feb. 16, 2008 Bluesmakers and Neda played a concert dedicated to Lithuanian Independence Day at Lithuanian embassy in Stockholm, Sweden. Belkin-Jutas Acoustic duo was invited and took part in Eutin Blues Festival 2008 (Germany).Traditionally, Bluesmakers presented their new program at Varniai Blues Festival, Lithuania. Then, BM successfullly appeared in Suwalki Blues Festival 2008, Poland.

As a solo artist, V.Jutas took part at Akaciju Aleja (Kulautuva, Kaunas, Lithuania) bard festival. Also, in co-operation with the renown producer Andrius Borisevicius, V.Jutas recorded several songs for his debut album called Kur Veda Sirdis (Where Heart Leads).

As a warming-up band, Bluesmakers&Roadband United Force appeared before John Mayall concert in Vilnius, Lithuania. Belkin-Jutas Acoustic Duo and saxophone player Darius Kodikas warmed up Candy Dufler and then Chris Botti.

The BM repertoire contains blues/rock/rock’n’roll clasics,Lithuanian hits and the band’s originals

Contacts:

Virgilijus Jutas: mob. +37065999871, home +37052614825, Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

http://www.myspace.com/bluesmakerslt

http://bluesmakers.frype.lt

Blues Cats

The founder of the band Giedrius Klimka – guit.voc.harm. started his career playing in various local bands. Such blues players as Robert Johnson, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Mississippi John Hurt, Johnny Winter, encouraged him to search for his own original music. “GKG Blues Cats” was created from separate music shows in various bars and clubs in Vilnius, Lithuania. At that time various musicians (Rubinas (Benas) Vainas, Vladimir Kaplan, Robertas Mankus and others) played with G.Klimka.

The band existed only as a jam band and was knowm only for a particular audience. But nevertheless Giedrius Klimka even at that time has already been participatin in local festivals (“Varniai Blues Night”, “Pūdas Druskos”, etc.) In 2001 “GKG Blues Cats” participated in festival “Pelican Blues” in Riga. (G.Klimka, Gediminas Alekna – bass, Salvijus Žeimys – drums.) In 2004 “Varniai Blues Night” (G.Klimka, Eugenijus Mikšys – bass, Eugenijus Zubkėvič – drums.) “Minsk Blues 2008“ (G.Klimka, E.Mikšys, Linas Labudis - drums). Lately “GKG Blues Cats” are Giedrius Klimka, Eugenijus Mikšys – bass, Eugenijus Zubkėvič or Linas Labudis – drums.

Eugenijus Mikšys – a talented bass player (has been with Litnuania TV orchestra and bigband since 1977). He works with various Lithuanian jazz players and makes records in various studios. He has taken part in joint projects with musicians from Sweden, Denmark and Norway. Eugenijus worked with a well-known blues musician Mickey Baker. He also participated in country music festivals with musicians from Poland, Australia and other countries.

Eugenijus Zubkėvič – jazz, rock and blues drummer. He performs with various performers and bands. He participated in Birštonas, Moscow, Vitebsk as well as great number of other jazz festivals. He performed in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Poland and Germany. He is the founder of „Tax Free“ band. He has also worked with S.Šiaučiulis, M.Granovskaja, S.Januška, rock band „Plentas“, etc.

Linas Labudis – a talented jazz player, participates in various projects with such musicians as R.Grabštas, A.Dunis, D.Praspaliauskis and others. He participated in Birštonas, Riga jazz festivals and also had concerts in Estonia, Belgium, Norway, Holland, France,etc.He is a founder of Balčikonis gymnasium Young drummers orchestra.

Giedrius Klimka also works as a sound engineer in recording studios and helps various performers and bands – Keksi, Raversong, Spichki, Katedra. „GKG Blues Cats“ (promo, demo) recorded at G.Klimka‘s home studio – „Balkone"

Grupė buvo žinoma tik siauram klausytojų ratui, tačiau Giedrius Klimka jau dalyvaudavo Varnių bliuzo festivalyje (1995,1996,1997,2007). 1997m. "Bliuzo Katinai" debiutavo Druskininkų kantri-bliuzo festivalyje "Pūdas Druskos". 2001m. "Blues Cats" pasirodė Rygos festivalyje "Pelican Blues" (Giedrius Klimka - git. vok. armonik. Gediminas Alekna - bosinė g. Salvijus Žeimys - mušamieji). 2004m. Varnių "Bliuzo Naktys" (G.Klimka, Eugenijus Mikšys - bosinė g. Eugenijus Zubkėvič - mušamieji)."Minsk Blues 2008" (G.Klimka, Eugenijus Mikšys - bosinė g. Linas Labudis - mušamieji). Šiuo metu grupėje groja: Giedrius Klimka - git. vok. armonik. Eugenijus Mikšys - bosinė g. ir Linas Labudis - mušamieji.

Giedrius Klimka taip pat yra garso režisierius ir talkina įvairiems atlikėjams, bei grupėms - Keksi.lv, Raversong, Spichki, Katedra. "GKG Blues Cats" (promo, demo) įrašyta G.Klimkos namų studijoje –"Balkone"