Joint Concert by Ripoff Raskolnikov Band and Roberto Luti (ITA)

The Ripoff Raskolnikov Band is one Hungary’s most sophisticated representatives of the Americana style (blues, folk, songwriting-performers from Bob Dylan to Tom Waits), led by the Austrian-born guitarist Ripoff Raskolnikov, who has been living in Hungary for thirty years. And Roberto Luti, one of Italy's most distinguished slide guitarists (typically playing an old National steel guitar) and highly respected around the world, joins Ripoff at this concert – The two of them are planning to release a joint album. The band will play a bit without him, but for most of the show they'll be on stage together to put on a real blues show.

Roberto Luti
Luti hails from a tiny village near Livorno, and came to New Orleans, ravaged by Hurricane Katrina, to play street music in the mid-2000s. With his intense, impressive guitar playing, he became one of the main symbols of the Creole Delta spirit rising after destruction. While playing street music, he accidentally met Mark Johnson, the leading figure of the Playing for Change movement, and by many other coincidences became a pillar member of the All-Stars production, which has since become a major charity. As a soloist, Luti regularly plays with Keb' Mo', Niki La Rosa, Lynn Drury, Washboard Chaz and Luke Winslow-King – with whom we have heard him at the 2023 Veszprém Blues Festival.

Ripoff Raskolnikov
Ripoff Raskolnikov set out on his way to the world at the age of 18, he also travelled around European countries as a street musician, so he and Luti soon find harmony by this common background. In the beginning, Raskolnikov was interested in European folk music, then gradually the songwriting attitude rooted in American folklore began to play an increasingly important role, which defines the music of Bob Dylan, Tom Waits or even the Rolling Stones. His iconic stage appearance was first seen by Hungarian audiences in November 1987. Since then, he has given countless concerts here, and now Hungary is one of his homes. He last released a studio album (Small World) in 2018, but his latest release is September 2023, a live album called Live, which perfectly exemplifies why you should attend this concert. Ripoff's songs cover the full spectrum of human emotions – from love, everyday worries, passion, loss, the pursuit of beauty.

Nové Soma
The first performer of the evening will be Soma Nové, who is now best known as the frontman of the MORDAI band, but this time he will take the stage solo.