In Toulouse, there is a new oddity on the up and up, a phenomenon which is much more pleasurable than the Capitole, aeronautical construction, rugby or cassoulet, the other local specialities. I mean the group Awek, who have become the talk of the town within the Blues microcosm, which was in serious need of a face-lift. With 5 albums and 10 years' experience behind them, spreading the good word of the little blue note, Awek have acquired a strength and maturity worthy of their peers on the other side of the Atlantic. Their musical style is an explosive cocktail, a melting pot of groove and feelings, mingling classicism and originality, passion and soberness, orthodoxy and personal impressions…
Dressed up to the nines, like hoodlums from down-town Chicago, Fabulous Thunderbirds style, or die-hard Mafiosi, ready for a lead role in Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs, it's a treat for the ear-drums and the brain-cells to see them on stage, with their sensitive blues always on target. Awek play an authentic blues, echoing the juke joints and smoky bars of Jackson, Mississippi. But at the same time, a personal and multicoloured blues, light-years away from dull facsimiles.
Understandably elected best blues group in 2004, the group work abroad now and have just got back from a tour in Quebec, where they were hailed as a real revelation.
Their last opus, entitled "Just pick up the pieces", is definitely the most accomplished and mature yet, coming close to the state of grace.
You never emerge unscathed, when, one ebony black night, you cross the path of Awek and their tribal blues.

Serge Sciboz (BCR La Revue)

Festivals :

Cognac Blues Passion - Bagnols Blues - Cahors Blues Festival - Playing with Fire (Omaha/US)
Festival International de Jazz de Montréal (Québec) - Blues sur Seine (Paris)
Garde'n Blues (Marseille) - Salaise Blues Festival - Sur la route de Tullins
Grésiblues Festival - Sathonay Country & Blues Festival - Blues & Jazz in Vaison
Blues à Gogo - Blues en Retz - Europa Blues (Blues qui roule) - "Vache de Blues"
Rallye du Luxembourg - Jazz sur son 31 (Toulouse) - Festival de Tremblant (Québec)
Blues autour du Zinc - Blues à Tremblay - Jazz en Touraine - Lam' du Blues
Bougy Blues Festival - Blues en V.O. - Festival Blues Nou Barris (Barcelonne)
Festival Autour du Blues (Binic) - Festival Le Passage - Festival "Auprès du Blues"
Sam Blues Festival - Real' Croche - Bonjour India - Festival "le Pic Sonne"
Lax'n Blues - Blues Festival St Izaire - Metiv' Son - Les Rendez-vous de l'Erdre
7 nights to Blues Festival - Blues à Senart - Festival Trieux Tonic Blues
Eden District Blues - Festival Blues de Jarnioux - Jazz & Blues Léognan
Enghien Jazz festival - Blues en VO - Black Music Festival - Blues à Gogo
Festival du Rythme en Cévennes - Country Roque Festival - Festival de Curbans
Beautiful Swamp Blues Festival - Festival Blues des 2 rivières - Festival du Creusot
Festival de Ségoufielle - Festival "Cordes sensibles" - Festivla Blues Jarnioux
Blues en Retz - Festival Bain de Bretagne - Blues à Fenouillet
Festival Playing with Fire (US)