Vargas Blues Band LIVE at Black Bear Lodge

JAVIER VARGAS

He has been called a ‘living legend on the electric guitar’, the “King of the Latin blues”, a “guitar blues player of another dimension”. And this is perhaps an understatement for Javier Vargas, the most acclaimed Blues and Blues Rock guitarist from Spain, founder of the Vargas Blues Band, with 8 platinum discs for sales records in Europe and America and reaching 30 albums released since 1991.

Throughout Javier’s successful career, he has shared the stage with many world-renowned guitarists in the Blues Rock genre including Carlos Santana, Prince, Gary Moore, Alvin Lee, BB King, Chris Rea and Double Trouble the band of the late Stevie Ray Vaughan, among others. Javier has also had the pleasure of being the opening act for several well-known bands including The Rolling Stones and Toto.

The list of Vargas Blues Band’s most popular releases is lengthy however just to mention a few, Javier’s song Blues Latino recorded by Carlos Santana in his albums Santana Brothers and Multidimensional Warrior, Chill Out (Sacalo) included at Carlos Santana’s setlist in every concert, Black Cat Boogie, Do You Believe in Love, Spanish Fly, Del Sur, Wild West Blues, Texas Tango, Last Night, Back to La Fusa, Buenos Aires Blues, Passion Blues.

Currently Vargas Blues Band’s presence continues strong, attracting large crowds throughout all of Europe while touring their latest release Blues Magic, before their highly anticipated debut in Australia in March and April 2025.

Javier Vargas will celebrate this Australian Tour with a new album titled Down Under Blues which promises to be more than just a simple blues album. In this album Javier’s guitar playing transcends the traditional blues, elevating this musical genre to a completely new level. The album is a powerful blend of heartfelt lyrics and masterful guitar work. With Down Under Blues listeners will experience the blues like never before!

Watching Javier Vargas play the blues along with his band is an immersion into a versatile world where the influences of blues, rock, soul, Latin and jazz combine with powerful guitar playing, to say it all!

Support Act: Blues Arcadia (DUO)

Alan Boyle (vocals) and Chris Harvey (guitar) are the songwriting duo behind award-winning act Blues Arcadia, with a rich shared history of performing at venues and festivals around Australia, The UK and Europe. Bringing a fresh and exciting energy to blues and soul music, they are three-time Australian Blues Music Award winners and Australian Roots Music Award nominees. Reviews for Blues Arcadia’s second studio album Now Or Never include 4.5 stars from The Australian Weekend Review, 5 stars from Rhythms Magazine, and a #1 debut on the Australian Blues and Roots Airplay Charts, with Blues Blast Magazine (US) proclaiming that with them “…the future of blues is secure”.
Performing their songs as a stripped-back duo, this is a rare and intimate insight into the music Al and Harv have crafted together and the songs that have influenced them through their careers.

Opening Act: Jordon Rodios

Jordon Rodios is an impressive up and coming blues musician from Brisbane, Australia. Playing his way around Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, his name is quickly becoming known amongst the East-Coast Blues circles. Jordon connects with audiences through his voice and guitar with vulnerability and a rawness of emotion. Compromised of a rhythmic fingerpicking style on guitar and a clear and strong voice, his sound harks back to a time of crowded music halls and the laments and joys of working class people. He effectively captures the blues soul, with a modern, Australian touch.