Walter Trout Joins the Lineup of Blues Alive 2025

Blues Alive will also feature the winners of the Blues Aperitiv talent contest: the Czech O.J. Žlábek Band, Poland’s Onus Blues, and Slovakia’s Beans & Bullets. Previously announced artists include legendary Chicago blues guitarist and singer Joanna Connor, American harmonica great Mark Hummel performing with guitarist Anson Funderburgh, vintage-style blues-rock trio GA-20, and genre-blending guitarist Selwyn Birchwood, who mixes traditional Chicago blues with contemporary soul influences.

Walter Trout, originally from New Jersey, began his musical journey in the late 1960s. A major milestone in his career was joining John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, the iconic band led by the king of British blues. Trout’s guitar work appears on more than ten albums with the group. Since launching his solo career in the late 1980s, Trout has become one of the most prolific and respected figures in blues-rock. After being diagnosed with a life-threatening liver disease in 2014, he underwent a transplant—made possible by the generous support of fans—and made a triumphant return to the stage and studio.

Jerron Paxton, originally from Los Angeles and of Louisiana heritage, is one of the few contemporary musicians—alongside artists like Rhiannon Giddens—who have mastered the early African American banjo style. He is also a skilled guitarist, fiddler, pianist, harmonica player, and accordionist. Though he gradually lost his sight as a teenager and is now virtually blind, Paxton remains an inspiring presence both on stage and through his advocacy for people with disabilities.

Elijah Wald has been active on the music scene since the 1970s. His performances span blues, ragtime, folk, jazz, country, Caribbean, and African styles. In addition to his performing career, Wald is a renowned musicologist, author, and journalist. His published works include The Blues and Dylan Goes Electric!, both available in Czech translation. The latter served as the basis for the 2024 film Bob Dylan: Completely Unknown. Festivalgoers can also look forward to Wald’s special Dylan lecture in the municipal library.

Additional confirmed acts include the raw French blues-rock trio Dirty Deep, American blues-soul group Beaux Gris Gris & The Apocalypse, powerhouse New York vocalist Sari Schorr, guitarist and singer Sean “Mack” McDonald, the British blues-soul-funk band The Cinelli Brothers, Chicago duo Halo Rider, American roots rockers The True Strays, psychedelic guitarist and singer Rett Smith, and the Austrian dirty roots band The Lettners Combo.

Stay tuned for more updates and get ready for another unforgettable edition of Blues Alive!
Tickets are available at https://www.bluesalive.cz/en/tickets/

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