The Brilliant Rauma Blues 2007

The 22nd Rauma Blues was a success both artistically and financially. The Kukko Arena was packed with nearly 3000 people and many think this was artistically the most high class Rauma Blues ever. The organizers put their effort on a more rocking main artist and it was worth it: younger blues fans crowded the stage front during North Mississippi All Stars' show. Despite the change in the guests age structure, the festival remained calm and peaceful, and the organizers were able to smile and shine along with the sun after the festivities were over. The positive feedback from the audience gave a clear signal that the development of Rauma Blues has been successful and pleasing for people.

All the main stage artists did a fine job. Larry Garner operated on the stage as a professional, being in a good mood and giving the audience plenty of stories alongside his music. Erja Lyytinen was the magnet of the starting hours of the festival, hugging the audience with her inspirational performance and glow, noticed also on the backstage by Joe Louis Garner who kept biting his teeth watching Erja's go-go.

The return of Joe Louis Garner to Rauma Blues wraps up the huge development history of the festival: during his first visit in 1987 Joe Louis was the undisputed king of the stage, but now he found himself in the position of a fill up artist, warming the stage for the main show, digged only by the oldest and the purest blues fans.

Irma Thomas, a sensitive and a very sympathetic artist, did considerably better than Walker. The soul queen of New Orleans took her audience without any theatricality - just her skills, a good choice of songs and her toned down stage charm were enough to sweep the audience off their feet.

The climax of the night wasn't until North Mississippi All Stars came on stage and started their show, combining rock and a multitude of types of root music. The way the band played together, the amazing guitar of Luther Dickinson and the awesome groove the threesome created caught not only the young fans but also the older crowd of the festival. This supertrio has been compared to Cream and the Jimi Hendrix Experience and for once the compliment is not over the top. The one and a half hours of North Mississippi All Stars has been rated by many as the toughest live set of the whole year.