The Swiss Blues Challenge, organized by the Swiss Blues Society, is a competition dedicated to blues music, selecting the Swiss representative for the European Blues Challenge, the International Blues Challenge, and the Swiss Blues Tour. The 14th Final will take place on Friday, July 18, 2025, in Giumaglio, as part of the Vallemaggia Magic Blues Festival. Four finalists, chosen by the Swiss Blues Society jury, will compete live for the title of Swiss Blues Challenge winner: Amaury Faivre (Anières, Geneva), Eve Gallagher (Zurich), Noir & Gerber (La Chaux-de-Fonds) and the “ticinesi” Delta Groove Band (Lugano). Since its inception, the Swiss Blues Challenge has been a key platform for emerging Swiss blues artists. Each year, talented musicians compete for the "Best Swiss Blues Band" title, offering the audience an exciting journey through delta blues, blues rock, and contemporary sounds. Expect breathtaking solos, captivating harmonica melodies, and powerful vocals that will immerse you in the soul of the blues. An unmissable evening for blues enthusiasts and anyone looking for a deep and engaging musical experience.

FINALISTS OF THE 14° SBC 2025

Amaury Faivre, 

harmonica player, guitarist and singer, is an acoustic blues artist with a 25-year career and more than 1,000 concerts in ten countries. Born in Besançon, he discovered the harmonica at age 8 and became hooked on the blues, escaping the Spice Girls of his teens with cassettes of Robert Johnson and John Lee Hooker. After studies in musicology and jazz between France and Canada, he settled in Geneva. She won the Swiss Blues Challenge in 2017 with her duo, reaching the semifinals at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis. From electric blues to the One Man Blues Show, he released My Americana, a musical journey between blues, bluegrass and classic rock, in 2024. On stage the emotion of the blues, the freedom of jazz and the energy of punk, with a rare mastery of the harmonica, offering an intense and engaging show, capable of surprising and exciting every audience.,

Eve Gallagher,

originally from Sunderland, grew up in West Africa and has traveled all over the world. She studied theater and English literature, performing in London's West End musicals. In the 1990s she collaborated with Boy George on the hits Love Come Down and You Can Have It All, winning audiences in the US and UK. He has also worked with Ken Hensley and in 2010 founded Galacteve with longtime friend Uli Heinzler, mixing rock and electronica. In 2023 he duetted with Michael Von Der Heide on Hole In My Heart. Today, she lives in Zurich and with Heinzler and prominent musicians such as Patrick Murdoch and Roman Roth, presents the new album Roots, a blues/soul album with tracks such as Lovin' You Again, Higher and Higher, and Take My Hand that marks a new chapter in Eve Gallagher's extraordinary career. "Music is a great healer and communicator," says Eve. 

Noir & Gerber, 

Simon Gerber, after many musical collaborations of all kinds, 10 years with Sophie Hunger and since 2020 with Stephan Eicher, returns to his roots: soul and rhythm'n'blues songs. With Sophie Noir, his musical accomplice for more than 25 years, and drummer Claude Kamber, they form a trio. Two lead voices intertwine in a unique alchemy, drawing on original songs in French or English and duets from the American soul repertoire. In 2018, the entirely self-produced EP "Move On" is released, followed in 2020 by the live album "Bikini Test Sessions," recorded live at a legendary club with an intimate audience of friends. The spring of 2025 will see the release of the new album "Partout Partout," which promises to further enrich the repertoire with unreleased compositions and intense collaborations. The band is distinguished by its authentic style and crafted dedication to music. 

Delta Groove Band, 

was formed in Ticino in 2016, performing initially as a quartet with bass, drums and two guitars, reinterpreting Delta Blues. Inspired by Robert Johnson, it created a collection paying homage to his 29-song repertoire, focusing on arrangements of his unique style. Over time, the band has refined its sound through collaborations and innovations. Today, with musicians such as Matteo Frapolli (drums), Carlo Reichlin (bass), Gianluca Croci (slide guitar) and Oliver Frei (guitar and vocals), it has expanded its style to include original songs related to its Mississippi Delta roots. Active in the local music scene, they perform at prominent events, keeping alive their connection to the blues tradition. Her mission is to preserve and spread this musical heritage, bringing new generations closer to the expressive power and emotional depth of the Delta Blues.

The winners of the Swiss Blues Challenge 2024 at the Magic Blues! Baden's well-known band Rotosphere, led by guitarist Nic Niedermann (Justina Lee Brown Band), has performed at the highest level every year since 2005 at the traditional and legendary “Late Night Jam Session” at the Baden Blues Festival. Over the years, they have shared the stage with artists such as Magic Slim, Susan Tedeschi, Coco Montoya and Chicago blues harpist Matthew Skoller. Charismatic blues and soul singer Mark Slate joined as frontman in 2021, when he took the stage and enchanted both the audience and the band in the blink of an eye with his powerful, raspy voice. In his 30-year musical career, he has opened for legends like Chris de Burgh, Joe Cocker, and James Brown, while also working as a producer on various projects from Sweden to Lisbon and Los Angeles to Tokyo. He also toured for years with the Joe Cocker Tribute Show. Slate is the embodiment of raw, earthy blues. Together with Rotosphere, he brings original compositions that unleash pure energy. Anyone who has ever seen him perform live cannot resist his performances and always comes back for more. In January 2025, the band will perform at the renowned International Blues Challenge in Memphis. They are looking forward to learning more about the city of Memphis and performing on historic Beale Street (“House of Blues”). The European Blues Challenge will then take place in Split, Croatia in early April 2025. Mark Slate & the Rotosphere are looking forward to an exciting year ahead, filled with major events. Playing the blues... and much more!

As per tradition, the Vallemaggia Magic Blues hosts the winner of the previous year's Swiss Blues Challenge at each edition. Dan Mudd is a versatile artist who delights his audience with his raspy voice and precise guitar technique. After his beginnings as a street musician, his charisma, talent and skill have brought him onto major stages in Switzerland and abroad, where he now performs an intense live activity, with more than 80 concerts a year. His musical range extends from blues to soul, from rock to funk. In doing so, he moves deftly between sound experiments and traditional fingerstyle. He has also performed for US superstar Tina Turner at the Four Seasons in Florence and collaborated with well-known blues artists such as Ana Popovic and Popa Chubby. A singer, guitarist and composer, Dan Mudd is a true artist who tells stories and captivates his listeners with his music. Joining him on stage is Dominik Liechti, aka Bear Beat, who has over 15 years of experience as a live musician. A passionate percussionist, he has toured Europe with several top-tier bands and musicians. In April last year, in Braga, Portugal, they won the award for "Best European Solo/Duo" at the European Blues Challenge finals. We are confident that they will also win over the discerning Magic Blues audience.