International Songwriting Competition Finalists

20.03.2026

Lena & Matti have reached the final in ISC. 13 000 participants all together and only 15 of them are in blues genre final. The song "In A Black Cadillac" has done well.
Let's hope the final result is even more unbelievable. The results are out on early May.

Lähetä linkki ystävällesi

15.10.2026	Grit'n'Grace Combo: New single out 30.10.2026
14.07.2026	UK IBBA Most Played Albums TOP 40, May and June 2026
15.05.2026	Trieux Tonic Blues, France
20.03.2026	International Songwriting Competition Finalists
31.07.2025	New Music Out 15.8.2025
14.01.2025	New line-up 1/2025
16.07.2024	Turun Sanomat 14.7.2024
16.07.2024	Caslano Blues Festival, Lugano, Switzerland 6/2024
10.07.2023	Another great review - Hookrock 2023 - backtotheroots.be
07.07.2023	Superb Review - Rootsville.eu, Hookrock Festival, Belgium 1.7.2023
	Siirry arkistoon »

"Personally, I believe—and sincerely hope—that in the near future, thisband will significantly build its international reputation and audience, andfind its way to the United States, thereby achieving full recognition. I ABSOLUTELY recommend it!!!"

Mladen Loncár (Croatian Blues Forces) 10/2026

"With "Lighthouse Blues," Lena & The Slide Brothers deliver a solid, cohesive, and deeply soulful record that confirms their standing among the most authentic European acts in the genre."

zicazic.com 9/2026 (France)

"Lighthouse Blues is more than just a blues record; it is a magnetic, deep-rooted, conceptual journey. This is a highly recommended release for great music, sharp guitars and soulful vocal's lovers."

lahoradelblues.com 7/2026 (Spain)

(Lighthouse Blues)

"They play modern blues with fresh imagination, crafting songs with the restless creativity...

Lena & The Slide Brothers provide the vigor and inspiration needed for the future."

blues21.com 6/2026

(Lighthouse Blues)

"Nostan lätyn vuoden toistaiseksi korkeimmaksi kohokohdaksi."

apulaissheriffi-blogi 6/2026 (Fin)

(Lighthouse Blues)

"...täyden levyllisen universaalia bluesmusiikkia, jolle ei toden totta tarvitse antaa kansainvälisessä vertailussa tasoituspisteitä sen suomalaisuuden johdosta."

Blues News 3/26 (Fin)

(Lighthouse Blues)

"Lena takes advantage of a voice made for singing the blues, Matti, from the outset, makes an impression by handling the slide. Madam and Monsieur complement each other wonderfully." (Live)

concertmonkey.be

(Trieux Tonic Blues Festival 2026, France)

"Lena is a wonderful bass player who carries the whole band. Her singing is flawless...

This band brings the flashiest guitar work we heard this weekend"
backtotheroots.be

(Hookrock Festival 2023, Belgium)

"THE discovery of the weekend. Steaming, energetic and all the ingredients to make it a great evening..."

"Not a single dead moment and my mouth was open in surprise... Fingerlicking good performance."

Rootsville.eu

(Hookrock Festival 2023, Belgium)

"Band namesake Lena Lindroos has a fantastic voice…. Lena has a powerful clear delivery that is very much her own. Her singing voice is reassuring; never a sour note or mis-handled phrase."

"A band calling themselves “The Slide Brothers” had better deliver some first rate slide, and these folks do."Bluesblastmagazine.com (U.S.A) 9/2019 (IV)

”Here is true quality of song writing on the album, what to me, is a first class collection of well written songs, enhanced by some superb musicianship..." Blues Matters!- Magazine (UK) 8/9-2019 (IV)

"Mightily impressive set with an individual sound, but also deeply rooted in the traditional blues." bluesinthesouth.com (UK) 10/2019 (IV)

"...Songs that immediately blow open the dusted blues doors with a fresh wind. As if they were born in the delta of the north..." Rootsville.eu (NL) 9-2019 (IV)

"Each and every song is a small pearl. I'm singing, I'm swinging, I'm digging and enjoying... a solid winner from Finland" ****** 6/6 - Blues News Norway 6/2019 (IV)

"Their music is completely nuanced and at the same time very refined and above all professionally presented. And "IV" is a really enjoyable, fully crafted piece of music." sound guardian.com (Croatia)11/2019 IV

"Lena has a very pleasant raw vocal timbre that is very easily guided by Matti Kettunen's slideguitar. Highly recommended!" (4,5 / 5) keysandchords.com (Belgium) 8/2019 (IV)

" ..A beautiful vocalist, excellent musicianship and lyrics that draw from the traditions of the blues and that are geared toward today’s crowds make “IV” a red-hot set of boogie and blues!" donandsherylsbluesmusicblog.com (U.S) 11/2019 (IV)

"Overall, this well produced CD provides original tunes that are scrumptious and well written and the musicianship top notch." Boogety Shoe Blues (U.S.A) 9/2019 (IV)

"The sounds are sonic, skillful and solid, the songwriting is well crafted and the production is expansive and sophisticated yet still with that raw edge that makes it a great blues album." -thebluesmusicblog 5.6.2019 (IV)

"...Kaikkia levyn kappaleita en tilan puutteen vuoksi ala kehumaan, vaan kehotan kuuntelemaan ne itse..." - Honey Aaltonen, Blues News 3/2019 (IV)

"Lena & The Slide Brothers on laadultaan ja monipuolisuudeltaan ainutlaatuinen Suomessa - bändi, jollaisen yleisö tarvitsee ja ansaitsee." - Blues-Finland.com 14.5.2019 (IV)

"Vaatii pokeria nimetä albuminsa yhden maailman parhaan rock- levyn kaimaksi, mutta Lena & The Slide Brothersille on annettava kiit- tävät paperit." **** 4/5 - Karjalainen 6.5.2019 (IV)

"On silti, ja aina yhtä mukavaa, todistaa vilpitöntä soittamisen riemua ja hyvää tuulta ympärilleen luovaa, ammattitaitoista ja tyylitajuista tekemistä." -Matti Rinne RIFFI (Malmitalo) 1.4.2019

"Kahden slidekitaran duetointi iski kipinää Malmitalossa" -Arto Pajukallio HS 30.3.2019

"Studiopoliittista tulivoimaa ilmentävä IV tulee varmasti listautumaan lajissaan vuoden parhaitten kärkeen." -Arto Pajukallio HS 30.3.2019

"There is a big future for this band...a consummate back to basics release." - Blues Matters Magazine UK (The Road 2016)

"A brilliant piece of work" ***** 5/6 Blues News Norway (The Road 2016)

"Very much substance" - Blues News Germany (The Road 2016)

"A Handsome creation" - Blues News Finland (The Road 2016)

"A musical Cadillac on the lane of it's own" - Blues-Finland.com(The Road 2016)

"Levy on soitannollisesti luokkaa erinomainen ja myös sävellyspuolella on näkemystä" - Riffi (The Road 2016)

"Itse asiassa koko bändi osoittautui julmetun kovatasoiseksi ja silti otsa rypyssä puurtaminen loisti poissaolollaan. Lena & The Slide Brothers osaa musisoinnin lisäksi viihdyttämisen taidon ja siitä Down Home Kiven keikka antoi vastaansanomattoman todistuksen, kymmenen plus!" - Jyrki Kallio (Rytmimusiikkia-blogi 10/2017)

"Blues av högsta klass, kan ju inte bli bättre." - Jazzklubben Sundsvall 2/2018