The Very First Dundee Blues Bonanza

For the record, the artists appearing on the very first Bonanza way back in 1995 were as follows: -

Allan Jones, Bo'Weevil, Elevators, Hoolits, Jack Daniels Experience, Jive Ass, Little Wolves, Shinkicker and Wolftrain.

The first Bonanza took place across 6 city-centre venues: -

Lucifers Mill, Deacon Brodies, The Caledonian Bar, The Tally Ho, The Old Bank Bar and The Galleon. 

The growth of the festival to date is as follows:

YEAR (BONANZA No) NUMBER OF LIVE PERFORMANCES NUMBER OF VENUES NUMBER OF DAYS 1995 (I) 9 6 1 1996 (II) 10 7 1 1997 (III) 12 8 1 1998 (IV) 14 8 1 1999 (V) 18 10 1 2000 (VI) 22 11 1 2001 VII 30 16 1 2002 (VIII) 70 24 1 2003 (IX) 110 30 3 2004 (X) 110+ 30+ 3 2005 (XI) 110+ 32 3 2006 (XII) 110+ 31 3 2007 (XIII) 130+ 32 3

Dundee Evening Telegraph 16th January 2004

"You would have been hard pushed to find somebody to predict this 10 years ago,but Dundee’s Blues Bonanza is now approaching the end of its first decade as Britain’s biggest free blues/roots festival! The now-famous extravaganza of live blues, boogie, rock and roots music is seemingly set in stone in the city’s summer calendar, taking place this year over the weekend of Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th July.

It wasn’t always the case, having been launched by local blues fans worried about the demise of the Dundee Jazz Festival, featuring only nine bands in six venues in one afternoon.

Thanks to a combination of sheer perseverance and hard work, copious amounts of goodwill and an outstandingly-fine feel good factor, the festival has gone from strength to strength, and now attracts around 10,000 music fans to more than 120 live performances in 30 city centre venues."

Website designed and constructed by Alan J Grant 2008