About BluesPress.com
Empowering the Global Blues Community
BluesPress.com is more than a news portal; it is a dedicated engine for the growth, visibility, and preservation of the blues. We sit at the intersection of tradition and innovation, serving as a bridge between the legendary roots of the Mississippi Delta and the vibrant, evolving blues scenes across Europe and the United States.
Our Mission: Visibility & Empowerment
The blues is a living, breathing art form, yet many of its most talented practitioners and vital programs lack the digital stage they deserve. Our mission is to empower the blues community by providing a high-authority platform that brings professional visibility to:
- Emerging & Established Artists: We provide a home for musicians who are connected to the blues in any form—from traditional purists to those pushing the genre into new, invigorating territories.
- Events & Festivals: From the historic juke joints of Clarksdale to the major festival stages of Europe, we highlight the gatherings that keep the rhythm alive.
- Education & Training: We actively support and promote workshops, masterclasses, and foundations that are dedicated to teaching the craft to the next generation.
A Living Encyclopedia of the Blues
Beyond daily news and reporting, BluesPress is building the definitive “Wikipedia of the Blues.” We are developing a comprehensive, searchable index that serves as a digital archive for the community. This includes:
- The Legends: A deep-dive into the lives and legacies of the passed masters who built the foundation of this music.
- The Living Icons: Celebrating the senior statesmen and women who continue to carry the torch today.
- The Active Scene: A real-time directory of active touring artists, session musicians, and educators who are currently shaping the sound of the 21st century.
Supporting the Ecosystem
If you are doing something that benefits the blues world—whether you are a festival organizer, a music educator, a specialized PR agent, or a luthier—BluesPress is here to support you. We believe that by documenting the “who, what, and where” of the blues, we create a stronger, more connected ecosystem that ensures this music thrives for another hundred years.
BluesPress: The pulse of the blues. Past, present, and future.
The Team
Who are we?
Hjalti Kristinsson - 'Kris'
After two years of volunteering at the Notodden Blues Festival — and four years of having a direct, living connection to the blues community through his son Alexander's musical journey — Hjalti's passion for the blues has been growing deeper with every passing season.
As someone whose professional world has always revolved around online marketing and building websites, with over 30 years of hands-on experience, the idea of building a dedicated blues platform felt less like a business decision and more like a natural calling. Combined with his lifelong focus on raising frequency, healing, and conscious community-building, BluesPress.com became the place where all of those worlds could meet.
His mission is simple but heartfelt:
to shine a brighter light on the artists — young and emerging, established and legendary, living and those who have passed — and to help grow and support the wonderful, soulful community of blues globally.
Alexander Ray
Alexander's journey into music has been one of those quietly remarkable stories — the kind that unfolds not through grand announcements, but through a steady, humble dedication to the craft and a natural gift that keeps revealing itself.
Born and raised in Iceland, and now living in Spain, Alexander found his way into the blues with a speed and depth that surprised even those closest to him. What began as a personal exploration quickly became a serious path, shaped by the mentorship of wonderful musicians who recognized something real in him and helped pave the way forward.
A pivotal chapter came with his year at USN's blues program in Notodden — an immersive experience that sharpened his musicianship and placed him at the heart of Norway's most vibrant blues community. That journey deepened further through Little Steven's Bandcamp in Notodden, where he connected with fellow musicians and educators who share the same reverence for the roots and soul of the blues.
YOU
While Hjalti and Alexander provide the digital architecture and musical insight, the true "third member" of our team is You—the global community of blues.
The blues has always been a collective frequency, a conversation between the stage and the crowd, the mentor and the student, the past and the future. BluesPress.com is designed to be a community-powered engine where your voices, your stories, and your energy provide the lifeblood of the platform.
From the front-row photographers and the dedicated volunteers to the legendary artists and the next generation of players, this portal belongs to everyone who keeps the blues alive. You are the reporters on the ground, the keepers of the history, and the visionaries shaping the future of the blues—ensuring this timeless music continues to resonate across borders and generations.
You are the pulse. We are simply the platform.
Get involved
Help Us Shape the Portal
BluesPress.com was never meant to be built by two people alone.
From the very beginning, the vision has been bigger than that — a living, breathing portal shaped by the voices, stories, and energy of the global blues community itself. Hjalti and Alexander have already begun building a growing network of musicians, organizers, and blues lovers across Norway, Iceland, and the USA, and that network is the foundation. But the walls, the rooms, and the soul of this house? That belongs to all of us.
What We Are Building Together
BluesPress is designed to be a community-powered information and energy portal — a place where the blues is documented, celebrated, and amplified in real time. Whether you are a touring artist, a local venue, a festival organizer, a photographer, a writer, or simply someone who lives and breathes this music, there is a place for you here.
We are actively welcoming contributions and connections in the form of:
- Artist Registrations — Get your profile, story, and music in front of a dedicated blues audience
- Upcoming Events & Gigs — Concerts, festivals, workshops, jams, and blues education programs
- Gig & Concert Reports — Stories and photos from the road, the stage, and the front row
- Artist Spotlights — In-depth features on emerging talent and established legends
- New Releases — Singles, albums, and projects that deserve to be heard
- Photography — The blues is a visual art too; your images tell the story
- Training & Education — Blues programs, workshops, masterclasses, and camps worth knowing about
- Reviews & Opinions — Album reviews, concert reviews, and community perspectives
A Portal That Serves the Music
The blues has always been about community — about passing something real from one pair of hands to the next. BluesPress exists to honor that tradition in the digital age, giving artists and events the visibility they deserve, and giving fans and followers a trusted place to stay connected to the pulse of the scene.
If you have a story to tell, an event to share, an artist to spotlight, or simply want to be part of something that is growing with purpose — we want to hear from you.
The portal is open. Come help us build it.
