08/04/2025
Well, gosh… We only went and won the thing! 😱
It’s 7am and I’m getting ready to fly home from Croatia, where my incredible team and I have only gone and come 1st at the European Blues Challenge 2025.
I had to take a day to process - I’ve never experienced anything like the number of comments and messages I’ve received. The love and support you’ve all shown is truly overwhelming. Forgive me for not responding to everyone, but I am reading every post and comment with quiet, wide-eyed joy.
It goes without saying that the other contestants were not only incredibly talented and driven musicians, but also some of the sweetest people I’ve met. I’ve made some beautiful friends and heard unique and inspiring music. The sense of community and shared passion was strong, and it was an honour to share a stage with them all. The blues isn’t just alive - it’s kicking and screaming. 👊
My team have been remarkable - both in their impeccable musicianship and in the way they’ve supported me. I’m truly blessed and humbled to be on this journey with such gifted, hilarious and patient people. I’m the luckiest girl in the world. Kev Hickman, Joshua Rigal, Olly Knight-Smith and Stevie Watts - thank you for your hard work, talent, advice, patience and kindness. So much of this would be impossible without the individual skills and soul each person brings to the group.
This show also stays on the road thanks to the dedication and support from Diane Tuppen, Peter Murray Austin, Danny DE Man and Moe Hickman.
Huge thanks to the fabulous European Blues Union for making sure the event went smoothly and for looking after us so well. It was a joy to be part of such a beautifully run event that was delivered with such enthusiasm and joyfulness.
I send love to the amazing, hilarious and loud British contingent that came all this way to support us, i.e. hug everyone, scream at the stage, and anger every photographer within a five-mile radius (you know who you are, you animals), to everyone at home who has listened to or bought the music, supported the fundraiser, or sent their love, and to Blues in Britain for championing me.
Lastly, my family have been my biggest cheerleaders, especially my beautiful and brave mummy Sarah Anderson who cares for (spoils) my furry baby Waffle 🐶 when I'm away, my step-dad Tim and my music loving daddy Chris.
For now, I am the right amount of knackered and heading home to my doggy. 💜🐶
Onwards, upwards, and probably sideways - with gratitude, joy, and very sore feet.
Love you,
A ###
