Lucerne, 25.06.2009

From the 6th to the 15th November 2009 Lucerne will be the international capital of Blues again. 14 formations will perform at the 15th Lucerne Blues Festival in the Grand Casino Lucerne. The festival counts for years worldwide to the most important festivals of its kind. It presents also in the jubilee year a program which will delight not only the connoisseurs of Blues

Within the scope of the 15th Lucerne Blues Festival again well-chosen performers will play various types of Blues. Not least because of the frenetic reaction of the audience in the last two years, also in 2009 one of the leading Zydeco bands will appear on the scene. And the Club Stage at the Casineum is a firm program part by now.

Not only because of the program arrangements, the American Blues Foundation presented in 2007 the “Keeping The Blues Alive-Award” to the Lucerne Blues Festival, which is the most important honoring a Blues organizer can receive. And also this year the organization committee keeps firmly to this concept, explains Guido Schmidt, the president of the festival. “At our festival the musicians play only with their original bands from the United States. Our high-class quality requirement does not permit the evasion on cheaper European tour bands. This, by the way, is completely in the sense of the musicians. Also no formations play in Lucerne only because there are on tour in Europe just now. Most of the bands will be flown in from the States exclusively for the Lucerne Blues Festival.”

The following high-class artists and bands stand on the program 2009:

Eugene "Hideaway" Bridges, Dave Riley & Bob Corritore, Lurrie Bell with special guest Eddie Shaw, Holland K. Smith, Mark Hummel & The Blues Survivors with Rusty Zinn, BB & The Blues Shacks, Mud Morganfield, Dorothy Moore, Bryan Lee & The Blues Power Band, Elias Bernet & Friends, Tomcat Courtney and The Rhythm Room All Stars, Marcia Ball, C.J. Chenier & The Red Hot Louisiana Band, Michael van Merwyk & Bluesoul

As every year, the Lucerne Blues Festival will begin with a free concert at the Hotel Flora Lucerne (Friday, November 6th, 2009, starting at 8.00 p.m. with Lurrie Bell and Eddie Shaw). For the festival opening concert of Holland K. Smith at the Grand Casino Lucerne on Wednesday, November 11th, starting at 11.00 p.m at the Casineum, no entry fee has to be paid as well.

Because for years the both Blues Brunches have been completely sold out long before the festival, in the last year the offer has been extended. Also in 2009 there will be an additional third Blues Brunch at the Hotel Schweizerhof: On Saturday, November 14th, 2009 the Geman formation BB & The Blues Shacks will perform there. Apart for this brunch, Tickets are available as well for the first Blues Brunch on Sunday, November 8th, 2009 at the Hotel Seeburg Lucerne with Eugene „Hideaway“ Bridges. The second brunch on Sunday, November 15th, 2009 at the Hotel Schweizerhof Lucerne with Marcia Ball is already completely sold out. Due to the big demand and the limited numbers of tickets we recommend an immediate reservation directly at the hotels.

The pre-selling for the concert tickets on November 12th to 14th 2009 in the Grand Casino Lucerne will start mid of July 2009. The ticket price for one concert evening is CHF 64.00, the festivalpass for all three concert evenings costs CHF 135.00 Tickets can be ordered online on www.bluesfestival.ch.