Sierre Blues' Kids
"SIERRE BLUES’ KIDS" is the current outcome of a project initiated over 10 years ago.
Indeed, in 2010, "Blues in School" was established with the aim of presenting, through the concert of a class from Sierre, singing, blues culture, the roots of American music, and the values of tolerance to the future generation. It is close to the heart of the Sierre Blues Festival that these strong values are imparted to children.
The project then evolved and expanded to become "Funny Blues" in 2014. On this occasion, children who wished could enroll in a holiday workshop which included manual creative activities and preparation for the opening concert of the Sierre Blues Festival. This workshop took place over 4 mornings.
Since 2018, "SIERRE BLUES’ KIDS" still brings together about forty young people in the form of a choir who have a desire to sing the blues. A blues camp is organized in a chalet over two days, with preparation workshops supervised by a team of monitors and cooks.
Thierry Epiney, a well-known composer and musician in the region, directs the choir and teaches the songs to the children. The varied program of the camp combines blues with fun, through singing, games, and various activities.
"SIERRE BLUES’ KIDS" have the honor of inaugurating each edition of the Sierre Blues Festival on the main stage.
"Children, you must know that the world did not begin at the moment of your birth. Everything has a history and roots in the past." This is what Michael "Hawkeye" Herman, musician, educator, and host of the Blues in School program, explained when he visited the schools of Sierre in October 2012. He also explained that the blues has had a major influence on popular music, as traces of it can be found in jazz, rhythm and blues, rock and roll, hard rock, country music, soul, pop music, etc. It has undergone many changes since then, but it is still linked to "personal history" or tradition.