Jerry Rick's Blues Festival: The new blues caravan is traveling through Kvarner from Wednesday

Jerry Rick’s Blues Festival kicks off its five-day journey through the Kvarner region on Wednesday, July 22, with performances beginning at the Small Stage of the Summer Theatre in Opatija and concluding in Lovren on Sunday, July 26, in a picturesque park overlooking the coast. The festival promises yet another summer filled with top-tier musical experiences, drawing fans of blues music and tourists staying in the area during this time. Organizers have expressed confidence that the event will once again attract large crowds, with Riccardo Staraj, the festival’s director, stating that it is likely to see both local enthusiasts and international visitors. The festival begins with two Italian bands from the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, Pussy Wagons and Mike Sponza Band, performing on the opening night. Pussy Wagons will open with high-energy sets featuring saxophone-driven blues and blues-rock, while Mike Sponza Band will perform in a six-member lineup augmented by vocalists and percussionists. Both acts are known for their consistent presence at previous festivals, adding to the anticipation surrounding the event. Admission is free throughout the festival. On Thursday, July 23, the blues caravan moves to Matulje, where the well-known blues trio Jed Beckers Band, led by Emina Grozdanić, will take center stage. The evening will feature a special performance by the Midnight Blues Band, including guest appearances by Mauro Staraj on Hammond organ. The band plans to showcase a repertoire of blues interpretations and original songs, many of which have been performed by the Staraj brothers at past blues events. The setting for the concert will be the historic railway station in Liburnia, described by the band's frontman as the perfect backdrop for a blues religious experience. The third day of the festival takes place in Mošćenička Dragica, where Swiss band Max Dega and Hungarian trio The Pilgrims will perform. The Pilgrims will play acoustic guitar renditions of Eric Clapton classics, while Max Dega returns after having previously played in Matulje. Both acts are expected to draw enthusiastic support from both locals and tourists, according to Riccardo Staraj. The event will continue to highlight the rich blues tradition of the Kvarner region. Kastav, often referred to as the birthplace of Kvarner blues, hosts one of the festival’s key performances on Friday, July 24. American blues ensemble Barry Finnerty Blues Joint will perform alongside jazz-blues artist Zoran Majstorović, who will lead a blues workshop earlier in the evening. The session will also introduce Thomastic guitar strings, a brand that provides custom guitar strings to musicians and has supported the festival through promotional efforts. The main attraction of the evening will be Eric Sardinas, a renowned blues-rock artist from Florida, marking his second appearance at the Kastav blues festival. The final day of the festival takes place in Lovren, where three performers will take the stage. Croatian blues group Laid Back Blues, The Low Riders will present compositions dedicated to J.J. Cale. Slide guitarist and songwriter Marco Bartocconi, making his debut in Croatia, will also perform. The evening will conclude with a tribute to honorary citizen of Kastav, Michael Messer, who arrives from the United Kingdom under the name Michael Messer & Chaz Jankel’s Dance of Life. All concerts begin at 9 PM, except for the final night in Lovren, which starts at 8:30 PM. Admission to all performances is free, and the festival is organized by local self-government units from the Liburnia region and the city of Kastav, supported by the Italian Union, the Community of Italians in Mošćenička Dragica, the Primorsko-Goranska County, and the Tourist Associations of the Kvarner region.