Shake-Down features some of Europe's best blues and soul musicians.

Jim Leverton (UK), electric bass

Jim has been a sideman to the Jimi Hendrix Experience’s Noel Redding, Steve Marriot, Tom Jones, Engelbert Humperdinck and Rory Gallagher (among many, many others). He’s currently touring with British Prog-Rock legends Caravan and is writing and recording with violinist Geoffrey Richardson and drummer Andy Newmark.

Pete Pritchard (UK), double bass

Pete Pritchard (recently inducted into the International Rockabilly Hall of Fame in Jackson, Tennessee) is best known for his 22 years of bass playing with Elvis Presley’s backing musicians, The Jordanaires – Scotty Moore, D J Fontana and James Burton. For ten years, Pete also worked with the late Alvin Lee. Pete has also played bass for Eric Clapton, Ronnie Wood, Steve Cropper and Chris Isaak. See Pete's website for further details.

Christian Rannenberg (Germany), piano

In the seventies, Chris founded Germany’s longest running and most successful Blues band, Blues Company. In 1982 Chris moved to Chicago and toured and recorded with all the Blues greats, later moving to the San Francisco Bay area before finally moving back to Berlin (his current home) in the nineties. Along the way, Chris has toured and recorded with (among many others) Eddie Clearwater, J.B. Hutto, Billy Boy Arnold, Johnny Littlejohn, Jimmy Rogers, Lefty Dizz, Sam Lay, Charlie Musselwhite, Big Jay McNeely and Johnny Copeland. For many years, Chris has collaborated with Blues singer Angela Brown and often tours with her through Europe. Visit Chris’ website for further details.

Jimmy Reiter (Germany), electric guitar

Christoph “Jimmy” Reiter came up through the renowned Blues scene in Osnabrück/Germany to establish himself as the guitarist of choice for many visiting US Blues artists when they tour and record in Europe, including Doug Jay & The Blue Jays. Jimmy’s debut solo album “High Priest of Nothing” was released in 2011 and has gone on to win several awards, including National Blues Album of the Year and the German Record Critics Award, as well as receiving rave reviews. Aside from touring with his own band, Jimmy has also worked with Angela Brown, Keith Dunn, Dede Priest, Albie Donnelley’s Supercharge and Memo Gonzalez & The Bluescasters. See Jimmy's website for further details.

Kai Strauss (Germany), electric guitar

Kai is a founding member of The Bluescasters (formed in 1989). In 1995, Kai recruited USA singer and harp player Memo Gonzalez. After five albums and two decades of touring Europe and the USA, Kai left the band in 2011 to concentrate on his new project, The Kai Strauss Band. Their debut album, “This Time”, has gone on to receive critical acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic. In 2013, Kai released a solo Blues album, “Electric Blues”, featuring special guests including Sugar Ray Norcia, Darrell Nulisch and Sax Gordon. See Kai's website for further details.

Mike Thorne (UK), drums

Mike has toured or recorded with most of the guys on the British Blues scene, including The Big Town Playboys, Paul Lamb & The King Snakes, Jerimiah Marques, The Bluesonics, Big Joe Louis plus Lazy Lester, David Maxwell, Rodriguez, Geoff Achison, Delta Moon and Lisa Mills. Mike has toured all over Europe, South Africa and the west coast of the USA. Mike also owns and runs Rimshot Studios, one of the best boutique recording studios in Europe.

Raphael Wressnig (Austria), Hammond C3

Raph was recently honoured with a nomination in Downbeat magazine as Best Organ Player of the Year (2013). His soulful performances are in high demand, which means he is on the road constantly throughout Europe and the USA. Raphael has released a string of acclaimed albums under his own name featuring Alex Schultz, Enrico Crivellaro, Tad Robinson, Deitra Farr, Sax Gordon and Kirk Fletcher. Raphael has been a long time member of Larry Garner’s touring and recording bands and, as anyone who has seen him play live will attest, always gives a virtuosic yet musical performance. See Raph's website for further details.

Special guest: Danny Kyle (UK), Acoustic guitar

Danny Kyle is a master of the fingerpicking Blues acoustic-guitar style. Based in the UK, Danny tours and records under his own name and has released several highly acclaimed albums featuring his songwriting and singing. In 2013, Danny was voted one of the UK’s Best Guitarists by the writers of Blues Matters magazine. See Danny's website for further details.