Gugun Blues Shelter

Gugun Blues Shelter

Gugun Blues Shelter is a Jakarta, Indonesia-based blues power trio active since 2004. The group is led by guitarist and vocalist Gugun, and was previously known as the Bluesbug.

Style and influences

The band plays a blues-based sound that draws on rock, funk and soul. Its influences include Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Bettie Davies and Led Zeppelin.

Recordings

Under the Bluesbug name, the group releases Get the Bug and Turn It On. The latter is recognised by Rolling Stone Indonesia as one of the best Indonesian albums of 2007, and the same publication notes Gugun as one of the most promising local guitarists. Trax Magazine names Gugun the best guitar player in South East Asia in the same year. The group also records an album titled Set My Soul On Fire.

Performances and recognition

Gugun Blues Shelter gains attention beyond Indonesia through performances for expatriate audiences and later appears at Belfast Big River Blues and Jazz Festival in 2008. The group also tours the UK, playing dates in Burnley, Scarborough, Crewe, Leeds, Oxford, York and Rotherham, and performs at the Colne Great British R n' B Festival. In Asia, it plays dates in Malaysia in 2008, appears at the Singapore Art Festival, and performs at major Indonesian events including Java Jazz Festival and JakJazz Festival. It also appears at Skegness Rock and Blues Festival.