B.B. & The Blues Shacks
Also known as: The Blues Shacks
Blues band from Hildesheim (1989–), over 3,000 concerts on five continents, three-time Trophée France Blues winner.
Musical Influence
With over three decades and more than 3,000 concerts across five continents, B.B. & The Blues Shacks are among the most-touring and internationally recognised blues bands Germany has produced, with three straight Trophée France Blues wins (2003–2005) and a fixture status on the blues calendar from Notodden to Byron Bay (Source: de.wikipedia.org). Having shared stages with B.B. King himself, James Cotton and Bob Dylan places them in a unique position as bridge-builders between the classic American Chicago/R&B tradition and a European blues audience (Source: de.wikipedia.org). Their own Blues Shacks Festival in Hildesheim, launched in 1999, has become a fixture on the international blues calendar and shows how the band has actively built infrastructure for the genre at home, not just toured through it (Source: de.wikipedia.org).
Formative experiences
- •August 1989: The band forms in Lamspringe near Hildesheim (Source: de.wikipedia.org).
- •20 May 1994: Steps in for Sherman Robertson at the Breminale festival — the breakthrough gig that led to a record deal (Source: de.wikipedia.org).
- •1999: Establishes their own Blues Shacks Festival in Hildesheim (Source: de.wikipedia.org).
Instruments & Equipment
Guitar
Founder and composer of the band's original songs; called a "walking blues encyclopedia" (Source: bluesshacks.de/de/14-deutsch/about/band.html).
Other
Known for the rare use of upright bass as a signature sound, in later years also electric bass referencing 1960s soul/R&B (Source: de.wikipedia.org).
Stories & Anecdotes
"The band's breakthrough came almost by chance: when Sherman Robertson had to cancel at the Breminale festival on 20 May 1994, B.B. & The Blues Shacks stepped in — catching the attention of Thomas Ritter of Stumble Records (Source: de.wikipedia.org)."
"In 2011 the band performed on three continents within four months: Dubai Jazz Festival in January, Byron Bay Bluesfest in Australia in April, and Doheny Blues Festival in California in May (Source: de.wikipedia.org)."
Collaborators
Artists B.B. & The Blues Shacks have shared the stage with (Source: de.wikipedia.org).
Chicago bassist who featured on the album "Jive Talk, Slow Walk" (1995) (Source: de.wikipedia.org).
American blues/soul vocalist the band toured with and recorded a live album alongside in 1998 (Source: de.wikipedia.org).
Watch & Listen
B.B. & THE BLUES SHACKS - Blues Is A Stew
B.B. & The Blues Shacks
Watch & Listen
Press & quotes
"If the guitar is too loud, you are too weak!"
"When feet start tapping and nobody can sit still, I've reached my goal!"
Discography
| Year | Title | Producer | Studio | Label | Chart | Sales | Musicians | YouTube | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Feelin' Fine Today | — | — | — | — | — | — | Source: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/B._B._%26_The_Blues_Shacks; bluesshacks.de. | |
| 1995 | Jive Talk, Slow Walk | — | — | — | — | — | — | Featuring Chicago bassist Mike McCurdy. Source: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/B._B._%26_The_Blues_Shacks; bluesshacks.de. | |
| 1997 | Reality Show | — | — | — | — | — | — | Recorded in California, produced by Richard Duran. Source: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/B._B._%26_The_Blues_Shacks; bluesshacks.de. | |
| 1998 | Live at the Lucerne Blues Festival (with Tad Robinson) | — | — | — | — | — | — | Source: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/B._B._%26_The_Blues_Shacks; bluesshacks.de. | |
| 1999 | Straight Blues, Big Swing: The Blues Edition | — | — | — | — | — | — | Source: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/B._B._%26_The_Blues_Shacks; bluesshacks.de. | |
| 1999 | Straight Blues, Big Swing: The Swing Edition | — | — | — | — | — | — | Source: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/B._B._%26_The_Blues_Shacks; bluesshacks.de. | |
| 2001 | Midnite Diner | — | — | CrossCut Records | — | — | — | Source: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/B._B._%26_The_Blues_Shacks; bluesshacks.de. | |
| 2003 | Blue Avenue | — | — | — | — | — | — | Source: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/B._B._%26_The_Blues_Shacks; bluesshacks.de. | |
| 2006 | Live at Vier Linden (CD) | — | — | — | — | — | — | Source: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/B._B._%26_The_Blues_Shacks; bluesshacks.de. | |
| 2006 | Live at Vier Linden (DVD) | — | — | — | "DVD of the Year", bluesnews & Concerto (AT), 2007 | — | — | Source: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/B._B._%26_The_Blues_Shacks; bluesshacks.de. | |
| 2007 | Unique Taste (EP + Video) | — | — | — | — | — | — | Source: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/B._B._%26_The_Blues_Shacks; bluesshacks.de. | |
| 2008 | Unique Taste | — | — | — | Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik — Bestenliste | — | — | Source: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/B._B._%26_The_Blues_Shacks; bluesshacks.de. | |
| 2010 | London Days | — | — | — | — | — | — | Band's first vinyl LP, recorded in London. Source: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/B._B._%26_The_Blues_Shacks; bluesshacks.de. | |
| 2011 | All-Time Favourites (Andreas Arlt solo) | — | — | — | — | — | — | Source: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/B._B._%26_The_Blues_Shacks; bluesshacks.de. | |
| 2012 | Come Along | — | — | — | — | — | — | Source: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/B._B._%26_The_Blues_Shacks; bluesshacks.de. | |
| 2014 | Businessmen | — | — | — | German Blues Award — Best Band + Best Recording, 2015 | — | — | Source: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/B._B._%26_The_Blues_Shacks; bluesshacks.de. | |
| 2014 | Live at Satyrblues | — | — | — | — | — | — | Source: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/B._B._%26_The_Blues_Shacks; bluesshacks.de. | |
| 2015 | Bonita & The Blues Shacks | — | — | — | — | — | — | Source: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/B._B._%26_The_Blues_Shacks; bluesshacks.de. | |
| 2017 | Reservation Blues | — | — | — | — | — | — | Source: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/B._B._%26_The_Blues_Shacks; bluesshacks.de. | |
| 2019 | Dirty Thirty | — | — | — | — | — | — | Source: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/B._B._%26_The_Blues_Shacks; bluesshacks.de. | |
| 2019 | Bonita & The Blues Shacks: Sweet Thing | — | — | — | — | — | — | Source: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/B._B._%26_The_Blues_Shacks; bluesshacks.de. | |
| 2021 | Breaking Point | — | — | — | — | — | — | Source: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/B._B._%26_The_Blues_Shacks; bluesshacks.de. | |
| 2026 | Blues Is A Stew | — | — | Rhythm Bomb Records | — | — | — | Source: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/B._B._%26_The_Blues_Shacks; bluesshacks.de. |
Famous songs
Awards & Recognition
External links
Booking / Contact
Press contact: Andrea Schumacher, presse@bluesshacks.de. International booking agent: Sören Andersson, DP-Agency, soren@dpagency.fi (Source: bluesshacks.de).
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