In the last few years the acoustic blues have been more and more popular. Artists like Eric Bibb, Guy Davis and Kelly Joe Phelps has taken the music to the top charts. In Sweden there are several very talented musicians whom perfer to play unplugged and one of them who really is up and coming is Johan Eliasson. During this year he have played and toured in Sweden as well as in the States and Europe. He has performed solo as Bottleneck John, playing duets or with a full band, most of the time with the band Johan Eliasson's Heart & Soul. In 2005 he received the award "Årets blådåre" [The Blue Fool of the Year] - a yearly award from the blues society in Östersund.

The jury´s motivation [in Swedish]:

 ...Det är svårt att inte bli berörd av vissa människors stora och innerliga passion för sin konstart. Människor som väljer att satsa allt och lite till för kärleken till ett uttryck, skrivet eller sjunget eller bådadera. När det drar iväg i alla tänkbara stickspår så förvandlas det till något större. Årets blådåre har gjort allt det där, och lite till. Under de senaste åren har han flackat runt stora delar av vårt klot och missionerat sin blues och rootsmusik. Och det är omöjligt att inte smittas av hans stora lidelse när man möter honom live...

Johan Eliasson plays acoustic music with a Heart and Soul. Listen at the song here on the Jefferson website or try one of the many at his website. When listening, you´ll be aware of the deep feeling in his perfomance.

You can find more information regarding tour dates, music and much more at his website, http://www.johaneliasson.com