Erja Lyytinen – 20 Years of Blues Rock!
Erja Lyytinen – 20 Years of Blues Rock!
Format: 2CD + 2DVD
Label: Tuohi Records
Release: 2024
Release date: December 2, 2024
20 Years of Blues Rock! Erja Lyytinen’s 20th anniversary concert, recorded on the stage of the Tavastia club in Helsinki in the fall of 2023, contains a comprehensive overview of the guitarist-singer’s career
During the three-hour spectacle, the original rhythm compositions of Erja Lyytinen’s bands will take the stage. Featuring Davide Floreno, Harri Taittonen, Miri Miettinen, Juha Verona, Kai Jokiaho, Timo Tuppurainen, Rami Eskelinen, Iiro Kautto and also special guests Heikki Silvennoinen and Maria Hänninen!
Erja reflects on the story behind the live album 20 Years of Blues Rock! that was recorded at the legendary Tavastia Club in her native Helsinki. Says Erja, “Though I was just twenty-something, I had been active in the music scene since my early years. I had played in my parents’ band at dance halls since I was fifteen, I had been on TV shows and played all kinds of gigs from weddings to rock clubs. I couldn’t imagine what the future would bring, but I wanted to play lead electric guitar and sing and write my own songs. Twenty years after that festival performance I was standing on stage at the legendary Tavastia Club in downtown Helsinki in front of a sold-out audience performing with a bunch of different musicians I had been playing with since 2003.”
I thought it was about to time to make a tribute to my band mates and celebrate those twenty years of playing blues-rock around the world and making albums. Between my first solo album ‘Wildflower’ (2003) and the latest studio album ‘Waiting for the Daylight’ (2022) I’ve released several live and studio albums, recorded in the USA, England, and Finland. I’ve played in various countries all over Europe, the US, Canada, India, and I´ve had the pleasure of playing with the world’s greatest guitarists like Sonny Landreth, Santana, and Jennifer Batten. We have so many shared stories and experiences.
So, the time came to celebrate these years of growth and hard work with my fellow bandmates on this night at Tavastia. It was wonderful to rejoice with everyone and share this experience with the packed audience that had come to witness the spectacle once again. The event was three hours long and we kept changing the rhythm section along the albums we had made together over the years. I also had the opportunity to bring in two lovely featuring artists I had had the honour of sharing the stage with, Heikki Silvennoinen and Maria Hänninen, and they both brought their special energy to the event. It was also so sweet to have my twin boys Massimo and Dante announcing the show! It wasn’t their first time on this stage though, as they were there in 2013, but that time they were still in my womb!”
Website: https://erjalyytinen.com/home
CD and DVD Track Listing:
SET 1
Baking Blues
Long Ago
Grip of the Blues
Let it Shine
Skinny Girl
Oil and Water
Bed of Roses
Lullaby
Erja’s Contribution to Jazz
Everything’s Fine
Change of Season
SET 2
Stolen Hearts
24 Angels
Silloin Nyt Aina
Bad Seed
Black Ocean
You Talk Dirty
Wedding Day
Dust my Broom (E.James)
MUSICIANS:
Erja Lyytinen – vocals, guitars
Davide Floreno – guitars, vocals
Harri Taittonen – keyboards, vocals
Heikki Silvennoinen – guitar, vocals
Maria Hänninen – violin, vocals
Timo Tuppurainen – fretless bass
Iiro Kautto – bass
Juha Verona – bass
Tatu Back – bass
Rami Eskelinen – drums
Miri Miettinen – drums
Kai Jokiaho – drums
Iiro Laitinen – drums