Let’s rewind first to the end of 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic unfortunately also affects Travellin' Blue Kings. Originally founded by Belgian and Dutch musicians, it turned out that it was no longer possible to keep the band active & creative across national borders. The renewed "full Belgian" line-up bears solid letters of nobility and an impressive pedigree: Blues Lee, Howlin’ Bill, Rhythm Bombs, Fried Bourbon, Jim Cofey, Hideaway … just to name a few.
Travellin’ is not in the name by chance, these five gentlemen worked with their respective bands all over Europe. You could find them on festival stages in Norway, Sweden, Poland, Germany, France, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Italy and Spain. And of course, in every corner of Belgium and the Netherlands.
In 2021, the two Covid singles "Gotta Get Away" and "Too Many People" set the tone and demonstrated a critical view of the world's goings-on. The single "A Stiffer Drink" articulated once again a state of mind anno 2022 and rolled out the red carpet for the album "Bending The Rules", the synthesis of the passion and ability of five gentlemen who have nothing more to prove. The title says it all: honest songs that aren’t necessarily painted within the dotted lines of the genre, but who simply fill themselves in.
In the meantime, the record has been very well received by the media and the album can count on quite some airplay in Europe and the States. To celebrate the release of the 12” vinyl version, the track “Hold You Horses” was placed in the spotlight …
Single releases:
• Nov 2020: “Live Your Life”
• Mar 2021: “Gotta Get Away”
• May 2021: “Too Many People”
• Feb 2022: “A Stiffer Drink”
• Apr 2022: “Never Never Land”
• Aug 2022: “Hold Your Horses”
Worldwide album release “Bending The Rules” on April 22, 2022:
• #15 in April, #7 in May and #20 in June in the Independent Blues Broadcasters Association airplay chart in the UK.
• #10 in May and #6 in June in the airplay chart of the Collectif des Radios Blues in France.
• 36 weeks in The Roots Music Report’s Top 50 Blues Rock Album airplay chart in the US.
_BAND
Jb Biesmans: vocals, saxophone, harp
Jimmy Hontelé: guitar, backing vocals
Patrick Cuyvers: Hammond organ, backing vocals
Winne Penninckx: bass
Marc Gijbels: drums
