Michael Arlt - vocals / harmonica
Andreas Arlt - guitar
Dennis Koeckstadt - piano
Henning Hauerken - upright bass
Andreas Bock - drums

B.B. & The Blues Shacks today have developed into the most successful performers of traditional blues in Europe. Since its formation in 1989, the band from Hildesheim/Germany has established itself as one of the top acts within the blues scene, with countless club and festival appearances all over Europe.
With their swinging and shuffling brand of blues from the 1940's and 1950's, together with their own compositions in this style, they are among the most authentic blues bands active today. Whether covering lesser-known classics of the era or performing their own songs, B.B. & The Blues Shacks always show their respect of their idols, such as T-Bone Walker or Sonny Boy Williamson.
But at the same time, the Shacks are very much up to date, incorporating contemporary topics and recent events in their own songs, telling their own stories of today. Although their own compositions sound like they could have been written in the 50's, the imaginative lyrics and creative musical ideas make them sound fresh. WWW.BLUESSHACKS.COM
The band has gathered essential experience by backing up many touring American blues acts such as R.J. Mischo, Kid Ramos, and Smokey Wilson, contributing to the further development of their own mature musical expression.
Besides their musical prowess, B.B. & The Blues Shacks are an exciting visual live act with a repertoire that encompasses Delta Blues, Swing, Chicago Blues, and West Coast Jump Blues, all the way to 50's style Rock 'n' Roll.
This is music for all lovers of charged-up blues shows without any hackneyed clichés!
Back to the essentials of electric blues with B.B. & The Blues Shacks!

Awards

- elected "best blues band" by the readers of "BluesNews" magazine several times
- CDs elected "best German blues album" in "BluesNews"
- Talking Blues Award

Important Events

• In October 2001, the renowned label CrossCut Records/Bremen signed B.B. & The Blues Shacks.
• Back-up band of St. Louis sax player/singer Erskine Oglesby live as well as on his Black & Tan CD release "Honkin' and Shoutin'"
• Michael Arlt opened up the Blues Gala at the World Harmonica Festival in Trossingen
• Featured at the largest British blues festival, the Great British R'n'B Festival/Colne
• European tours with harmonica player/singer R.J. Mischo from San Francisco
• Blues-at-Schools Project, educational project that was featured on German TV
• Appearances at the renowned Gaildorf Bluesfestival/Germany and More Blues Festival/Belgium with ex-Fabulous-Thunderbirds guitarist Kid Ramos
• Appeared in the most popular blues club in America, "Buddy Guy's Legends"/Chicago, with James Cotton
• Appearances at two of Europe's most important blues festivals, the Notodden Blues Festival (Norway) and the Lucerne Blues Festival (Switzerland)
• European tours with blues legend Smokey Wilson and with singer/harp player Tad Robinson
• Recording session in Los Angeles/USA with Kid Ramos and Fred Kaplan.
  

„One of the most swinging bands in Europe, highest recommendation!" (German Blues Circle)

„Germany’s retro band no. 1 with one of Europe’s finest releases. A band that does not have to be afraid of competition in Europe." (Detlev Hoegen, CrossCut Records, on „Reality Show")

„Just buy it, is the message!" (Back To The Roots, Belgium)

„B.B. & The Blues Shacks are something special in this area!" (Rolling Stone)

„B.B. & The Blues Shacks - destroyer of prejudice of Blues from Germany!" (Neue Luzerner Zeitung, Switzerland)

„Texas Shuffle and Westcoast Swing of best quality. Go there and enjoy!" (Blues News, Germany)

„Almost unbelievable that this really is a young band from Germany, an overwhelming quartett!" (Fachblatt Musik Magazin, Germany)

Latest album: Midnight Diner (CrossCut Records)