Gugun Blues Shelter
About
Previously called the Bluesbug, Gugun Blues Shelter is an
Indonesian blues power trio that is a breath of fresh air in the
seemingly dying Asian blues scene these days. Influenced by the likes of
Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Bettie Davies, and Led Zeppelin among
others, the band forced many music fans to take notice of its powerful,
flawless genre-crossing blend of blues that incorporate influences from
rock, funk, and soul.
Led by guitarist/vocalist Gugun, Gugun & Blues Shelter has released
two albums under the Bluesbug moniker “Get The Bug” (2004) and “Turn it
On” (2007) that has been gaining praises from music critics and fans
alike. ”Turn It On” was voted as one of the best Indonesian album in
2007 by Rolling Stone Indonesia Magazine and Gugun was noted as one of
the most promising local guitar player by the same maga-zine. In the
same year, Indonesia’s Trax Magazine also voted Gugun as the best guitar
player in South East Asia. Gugun Blues Shelter is not only drew the
attentions of local music lover only. The band also received attentions
from European fans, thanks for years of playing for expatriate fans
during its pub-playing days. As the result, Gugun Blues Shelter was
participated in Belfast Big River Blues and Jazz Festival 2008 and
played several dates in a four-weeks UK tour at cities like Burnley,
Scarborough, and Crewe.
Due to the good receptions, the tour was extended to other cities like
Leeds, Oxford, York, Rotherham, and culminated in another
festival,”Colne Great British R n’ B Festival” at the Manchester
outskirt. In Asia, recently Gugun Blues Shelter played several dates in
Malaysia in 2008, participated in Singapore Art Festival at the same
year, as well as in Indonesia’s big festivals such as Java Jazz Festival
and JakJazz Festival.
With the success of their debut album “Get the Bug” (2004), and their
second album “Turn it On” (2006), Gugun (Guitar / Vox) and Bowie (Drums)
returned to Indonesia after a highly successful tour of the UK in 2009
leaving Jono (Bass) to clear up loose ends before the team became
re-united once again in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The Band released their third album “Self titled” in March 2010. With
the hit single “When I See You Again” the 9 track album went on to win
numerous awards including ‘Favourite Blues Song’ in the Indonesian
Cutting Edge Music Awards 2010 (ICEMA 2010), TRAX Magazines “Best Local
Album 2010” and also featured in “Rolling Stone Magazine” top 20 albums
of 2010.
The group has made 3 highly successful tours of the UK and Northern
Ireland between 2007 and 2010 featuring at both the “Belfast Jazz &
Blues Festival”, The Annual “Colne Blues Festival” and also the
“Skegness Rock & Blues Festival”. In March 2010 the band were
invited to play alongside Buddy Guy, Jools Holland and the Buena Vista
Social Club at the Timbre Rock & Roots Festival in Singapore.
Touring both Nationally and Internationally during 2010, the band
were flown out to represent Indonesian modern music at the Indonesian
Pavilion of the World Expo in Shanghai China both in August and once
again in October. It didn’t stop there either as passers-by from the
Romanian pavilion were so impressed with what they heard that they
invited the band to take part in a special concert held at their
pavilion.
October was a busy month for the band, aside from being re-invited to
play in Shanghai, the band also took part in 2 of Indonesia’s largest
music festivals; The “Java Rockin’ Land” festival and also the “Jakarta
International Blues Festival” where the band performed with Aussy blues
legend “Kevin Borich” and European Blues Queen “Anna Popovich”…. Oh and
also rock legends “Smashing Pumpkins” and “Wolfmother”.
On the 10th December the band put on a special performance for the
grand opening of Rolling Stone Cafe (Located at the HQ of Rolling Stone
Magazine Indonesia) collaborating with legendary Indonesian frontman
“Once” the band performed a half hour set including a rendition of Led
Zeppelins “Rock & Roll”.
The successes continued into the new year of 2011 as the band scored a
record deal with the prestigious independent “Guitar Driven” record
label “Grooveyard Records” from New York, USA. The Compilation album
“Far East Blues Experience” consists of hand-picked tracks from the
previous 3 albums, re-mastered and re-packaged under the Grooveyard
Label. The album was released in early January 2011 and is already
receiving rave reviews from the blues rock community both in the USA and
worldwide as the album is available to order via amazon.com and
amazon.co.uk
Into the future, the band is due to release their 2nd album with
Grooveyard Records in April 2011 titled ‘Solid Ground’ featuring 10 all
new songs and taking the bands vibe into a new “progressive / funky”
direction. It doesn’t stop there either… Aware that many of their local
fans will not be able to acquire the ‘Solid Ground’ album, the band will
also release a local album “Satu Untuk Berbagi” which consists of 80%
of the songs in Indonesian Language.
The band also plans to return to the UK to tour in both May and
August and is also pursuing the possibility of performing in both Europe
and Australia.
If you’d like to stay tuned to the bands progress, please do so via the following;
Indri Sjafri (Manager) – 08128882694
e-mail: bugsproduction09@gmail.com
web: www.blues-shelter.com
Twitter: @GBluesShelter
Myspace: www.myspace.com/gugunandthebluesbug
www.grooveyardrecords.com/gptfareastblues.html
Gugun Blues Shelter International Stages:
- KL Blues Festival 2008 – Malaysia
- Singapore Timbre Arts Festival 2008 – Singapore
- UK Tour – August 2008 (Colne Blues Festival, Belfast Big River Jazz & Blues Festival)
- UK Tour – January 2009 (Skegness Blues Festival, 229 club London, BBC World)
- Singapore Grand Prix Race Event – September 2009
- Jakarta International Blues Festival – 2009
- Java Jazz Festival 2010 – Indonesia
- Singapore Rock & Roots Festival 2010
- Java Rockin’land 2010 – Indonesia
- Jakarta International Blues Festival 2010 – Indonesia
- Shanghai World Expo 2010 – August 2010
- Shanghai World Expo 2010 – October 2010
- Java Jazz Festival 2011 – March 2011
- UK Tour, May – June 2011
- Hard Rock Calling, Hyde Park, London – June 2011
- Java Rockin’land 2011 – September 2011
- Jakarta International Blues Festival 2011 – December 2011
- Festival Indonesia 2013 – September 2012
- US Tour – November 2012
About
Previously called the Bluesbug, Gugun Blues Shelter is an
Indonesian blues power trio that is a breath of fresh air in the
seemingly dying Asian blues scene these days. Influenced by the likes of
Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Bettie Davies, and Led Zeppelin among
others, the band forced many music fans to take notice of its powerful,
flawless genre-crossing blend of blues that incorporate influences from
rock, funk, and soul.
Led by guitarist/vocalist Gugun, Gugun & Blues Shelter has released two albums under the Bluesbug moniker “Get The Bug” (2004) and “Turn it On” (2007) that has been gaining praises from music critics and fans alike. ”Turn It On” was voted as one of the best Indonesian album in 2007 by Rolling Stone Indonesia Magazine and Gugun was noted as one of the most promising local guitar player by the same maga-zine. In the same year, Indonesia’s Trax Magazine also voted Gugun as the best guitar player in South East Asia. Gugun Blues Shelter is not only drew the attentions of local music lover only. The band also received attentions from European fans, thanks for years of playing for expatriate fans during its pub-playing days. As the result, Gugun Blues Shelter was participated in Belfast Big River Blues and Jazz Festival 2008 and played several dates in a four-weeks UK tour at cities like Burnley, Scarborough, and Crewe.
Due to the good receptions, the tour was extended to other cities like Leeds, Oxford, York, Rotherham, and culminated in another festival,”Colne Great British R n’ B Festival” at the Manchester outskirt. In Asia, recently Gugun Blues Shelter played several dates in Malaysia in 2008, participated in Singapore Art Festival at the same year, as well as in Indonesia’s big festivals such as Java Jazz Festival and JakJazz Festival.
With the success of their debut album “Get the Bug” (2004), and their second album “Turn it On” (2006), Gugun (Guitar / Vox) and Bowie (Drums) returned to Indonesia after a highly successful tour of the UK in 2009 leaving Jono (Bass) to clear up loose ends before the team became re-united once again in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Led by guitarist/vocalist Gugun, Gugun & Blues Shelter has released two albums under the Bluesbug moniker “Get The Bug” (2004) and “Turn it On” (2007) that has been gaining praises from music critics and fans alike. ”Turn It On” was voted as one of the best Indonesian album in 2007 by Rolling Stone Indonesia Magazine and Gugun was noted as one of the most promising local guitar player by the same maga-zine. In the same year, Indonesia’s Trax Magazine also voted Gugun as the best guitar player in South East Asia. Gugun Blues Shelter is not only drew the attentions of local music lover only. The band also received attentions from European fans, thanks for years of playing for expatriate fans during its pub-playing days. As the result, Gugun Blues Shelter was participated in Belfast Big River Blues and Jazz Festival 2008 and played several dates in a four-weeks UK tour at cities like Burnley, Scarborough, and Crewe.
Due to the good receptions, the tour was extended to other cities like Leeds, Oxford, York, Rotherham, and culminated in another festival,”Colne Great British R n’ B Festival” at the Manchester outskirt. In Asia, recently Gugun Blues Shelter played several dates in Malaysia in 2008, participated in Singapore Art Festival at the same year, as well as in Indonesia’s big festivals such as Java Jazz Festival and JakJazz Festival.
With the success of their debut album “Get the Bug” (2004), and their second album “Turn it On” (2006), Gugun (Guitar / Vox) and Bowie (Drums) returned to Indonesia after a highly successful tour of the UK in 2009 leaving Jono (Bass) to clear up loose ends before the team became re-united once again in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The Band released their third album “Self titled” in March 2010. With
the hit single “When I See You Again” the 9 track album went on to win
numerous awards including ‘Favourite Blues Song’ in the Indonesian
Cutting Edge Music Awards 2010 (ICEMA 2010), TRAX Magazines “Best Local
Album 2010” and also featured in “Rolling Stone Magazine” top 20 albums
of 2010.
The group has made 3 highly successful tours of the UK and Northern
Ireland between 2007 and 2010 featuring at both the “Belfast Jazz &
Blues Festival”, The Annual “Colne Blues Festival” and also the
“Skegness Rock & Blues Festival”. In March 2010 the band were
invited to play alongside Buddy Guy, Jools Holland and the Buena Vista
Social Club at the Timbre Rock & Roots Festival in Singapore.
Touring both Nationally and Internationally during 2010, the band
were flown out to represent Indonesian modern music at the Indonesian
Pavilion of the World Expo in Shanghai China both in August and once
again in October. It didn’t stop there either as passers-by from the
Romanian pavilion were so impressed with what they heard that they
invited the band to take part in a special concert held at their
pavilion.
October was a busy month for the band, aside from being re-invited to
play in Shanghai, the band also took part in 2 of Indonesia’s largest
music festivals; The “Java Rockin’ Land” festival and also the “Jakarta
International Blues Festival” where the band performed with Aussy blues
legend “Kevin Borich” and European Blues Queen “Anna Popovich”…. Oh and
also rock legends “Smashing Pumpkins” and “Wolfmother”.
On the 10th December the band put on a special performance for the
grand opening of Rolling Stone Cafe (Located at the HQ of Rolling Stone
Magazine Indonesia) collaborating with legendary Indonesian frontman
“Once” the band performed a half hour set including a rendition of Led
Zeppelins “Rock & Roll”.
The successes continued into the new year of 2011 as the band scored a
record deal with the prestigious independent “Guitar Driven” record
label “Grooveyard Records” from New York, USA. The Compilation album
“Far East Blues Experience” consists of hand-picked tracks from the
previous 3 albums, re-mastered and re-packaged under the Grooveyard
Label. The album was released in early January 2011 and is already
receiving rave reviews from the blues rock community both in the USA and
worldwide as the album is available to order via amazon.com and
amazon.co.uk
Into the future, the band is due to release their 2nd album with
Grooveyard Records in April 2011 titled ‘Solid Ground’ featuring 10 all
new songs and taking the bands vibe into a new “progressive / funky”
direction. It doesn’t stop there either… Aware that many of their local
fans will not be able to acquire the ‘Solid Ground’ album, the band will
also release a local album “Satu Untuk Berbagi” which consists of 80%
of the songs in Indonesian Language.
The band also plans to return to the UK to tour in both May and
August and is also pursuing the possibility of performing in both Europe
and Australia.
If you’d like to stay tuned to the bands progress, please do so via the following;
Indri Sjafri (Manager) – 08128882694
e-mail: bugsproduction09@gmail.com
web: www.blues-shelter.com
Twitter: @GBluesShelter
Myspace: www.myspace.com/gugunandthebluesbug
www.grooveyardrecords.com/gptfareastblues.html
Gugun Blues Shelter International Stages:
- KL Blues Festival 2008 – Malaysia
- Singapore Timbre Arts Festival 2008 – Singapore
- UK Tour – August 2008 (Colne Blues Festival, Belfast Big River Jazz & Blues Festival)
- UK Tour – January 2009 (Skegness Blues Festival, 229 club London, BBC World)
- Singapore Grand Prix Race Event – September 2009
- Jakarta International Blues Festival – 2009
- Java Jazz Festival 2010 – Indonesia
- Singapore Rock & Roots Festival 2010
- Java Rockin’land 2010 – Indonesia
- Jakarta International Blues Festival 2010 – Indonesia
- Shanghai World Expo 2010 – August 2010
- Shanghai World Expo 2010 – October 2010
- Java Jazz Festival 2011 – March 2011
- UK Tour, May – June 2011
- Hard Rock Calling, Hyde Park, London – June 2011
- Java Rockin’land 2011 – September 2011
- Jakarta International Blues Festival 2011 – December 2011
- Festival Indonesia 2013 – September 2012
- US Tour – November 2012
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