Since February 1993 the "Osnabrücker Bluesverstärker", an independent, non-commercial society, has pursued a common interest in blues music and culture. Since the summer of 2003 the society is officially registered. We meet on a regular basis, make a bi-weekly radio program on the open channel at OS-Radio 104,8 and arrange the yearly blues festival, the Blueslawine.

Osnabrücker Blueslawine

The first Blueslawine in the "Haus der Jugend" was arranged on February 5th 1994. The next Blueslawine will again be an event to look forward to. Keep up to date here or at the Blueslawine site.

Our aim: superb music, fantastic feeling and a special atmosphere in the Haus der Jugend. We have reached that aim with the help of many good bands over the past years: not just with blues legends like Dave Myers from Chicago and internationally famous artists like Stan Webb’s Chicken Shack or the Blues Band, but also with relatively unknown bands like the B.B. Band from the Check Republic, Rudy Rotta from Italy or Teksasy from Poland.

Naturally we also invite artists from the vibrant local blues scene: Angela Brown, hailing from Chicago and living in Osnabrück, has performed at the Blueslawine several times. Doug Jay, a harp virtuoso from Washington D.C. and Memo Gonzales from Dallas, Texas, both now living in Osnabrück have played at the Blueslawine, as have just about everyone of the many outstanding blues players living in the region.

The fantastic audience, several hundred every time, has made the festival to a huge success, inspiring and committing us to go on. We will continue to invite international blues celebrities, growing stars and European top acts to make future Blueslawines to a special experience for our visitors.

Broadcasting

Bluesverstärker is also the name of our program on OS-Radio. You can hear portraits on artists, topics on blues history, and regional and global blues news bi-weekly on Wednesdays from 20:00 to 21:00 on 104,8 MHz in the Osnabrück area.

Meetings

We meet about once a month at the pub "Erdinger Keller" to prepare the next Blueslawine, and to plan coming radio programs and other activities. We also meet occasionally in a less official context listening to music and talking blues.

Bluesverstärker "at work": Hans-Jürgen, Wolfgang, Rolf, Ulrike, Werner, Hans-Peter, Tom, Dennis, and Peter. Britta is missing.

The Blues in all its variety

We like the blues. All varieties of it. Country Blues and Soul have their supporters, as do Blues Rock, Jump Blues, jazzy and folky styles. Fans of traditional Blues meet supporters of modern interpretations: The basis for lively discussions and a vivid atmosphere.

The "Bluesverstärker" are:

Tom Carlsson, Rolf Habben, Werner Hülsmann, Marty Kirkman, Thomas Kleinschmidt, Peter Krüger, Britta Lammers, Wolfgang Lampe, Hans-Peter Müller, Dennis J. Newson, Ulrike Wehmeier, Hans-Jürgen Weis (Stand April 2008).