Blues Caravan 2026

The milestones just keep coming for the German record label Ruf Records. The company recently celebrated its 30th anniversary as one of the leading international blues labels with a series of high-profile concerts and tours. Now, in 2026, Ruf Records’ popular live incarnation of the Blues Caravan is pulling up its tent pegs and hitting the road for the 20th time.

The list of artists who have been part of the caravan’s history includes many of today’s most acclaimed blues musicians, such as Ana Popovic, Samantha Fish, Albert Castiglia, Aynsley Lister, Erja Lyytinen, and Joanne Shaw Taylor, to name just a few. The trio of headliners following in their footsteps on the 20th anniversary tour represents an exciting combination of experience, big emotions, and youthful exuberance.

California native Laura Chavez is without a doubt the most established artist of the group. She is an exceptionally gifted guitarist and for many years was the musical driving force in the band of the late blues singer Candye Kane. In addition, she has played countless concerts with American blues vocalist Nikki Hill and her band, as well as with saxophonist and singer Vanessa Collier, who also draws on blues and related genres.
Furthermore, Laura Chavez has performed with rock ’n’ roll legend Mitch Ryder—but regardless of the context in which she appears, she knows how to get any audience on its feet with her rock-solid rhythm guitar work and explosive guitar solos. Her reputation as one of the very best musicians on the blues scene was confirmed by The Blues Foundation in 2023, when Chavez—after being nominated several times—became the first woman to win a Blues Music Award for “Best Instrumentalist – Guitar.”

Matthew Curry is a genuine insider tip for those familiar with the blues and rock scene. For more than a decade, the American has performed on stages across North America, thrilling audiences with his distinctive sound—a successful blend of blues, rock, and Americana. He has shared the stage with true giants such as Peter Frampton, The Doobie Brothers, Blackberry Smoke, and the Steve Miller Band.

The French singer, guitarist, and songwriter, Elise Frank, is by no means a complete newcomer as a musician. Rather, she is a young artist to watch. Since 2021, she has fronted her own blues and rock band, FRANK, and together they have played at several major European blues festivals, including the Cognac Blues Passions Festival in France and The Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival in Ballyshannon, Ireland. She is certain to make many audiences sit up and take notice on the upcoming Blues Caravan tour.

Even after 20 years and hundreds of concerts, the Blues Caravan format remains the same: each headliner performs a full live set, after which all three join forces on stage for a high-energy jam session to close the evening.