The Suitcase Brothers

THE SUITCASE BROTHERS is a dynamic country blues duo formed by two brothers: Pere Puertas, guitar and vocals, and Victor Puertas, harmonica, piano and vocals.

Pere was born on W.C Handy's birthday (November 16th) and Victor was born on Sonny Terry's birthday (October 24th), so it looks as if these two brothers have been predestined to dedicate their talent to the blues.

They have been exposed to music since an early age, because their mother used to sing Spanish songs at home with a lovely voice. Their granddad sang some different sort of Spanish and English folk tunes too.

The Suitcase Brothers have been elected by 32 Blues Experts (Radios, Blues Festivals Directors, Blues Critics, Presidents of Blues Associations and Musicians) as the Best Acoustic Blues duo to represent their country, Spain, in the first European Blues Challenge (EBC) in Berlin, Germany, in March 2011.

PERE PUERTAS, the elder brother, got his first guitar at the age of 12 although he didn't pay much attention to it until high school. He formed his first band in the mid 90's, and soon invited his 14 years old brother to play harmonica with his band. Two years later Victor was playing all Gary Primich songs and solos on harmonica.

Pere has a powerful and soulful voice, and a deep knowledge of fingerpicking guitar techniques, particularly the Pre-War and Piedmont Blues styles. His main inspiration comes basically from recordings by Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, Paul Rishell and Annie Raines and John Cephas with Phil Wiggins.

VÍCTOR PUERTAS, is a powerful harmonica player, who also plays piano, Hammond organ and guitar. Nevertheless, harmonicas are his love at the first feel, and he plays them with deep emotion and sensibility. He is one of the top five favourites in Jerry Portnoy's, Annie Raines and Joe Filisko's list.

“Thick resonant tone, perfect attack, lovely vibrato and a beautiful flow of ideas that are just right for the song you're playing. You've really got it and, by the way, your brother plays great guitar too.” Jerry Portnoy

How can two brothers who are born in Barcelona, Spain, sound like two fellows from the deep south of the USA? It is easy to understand as they have been listening to blues records all day long since they were young and they have travelled and lived in the U.S.A for a period of time. Victor lived in Washington DC, and Pere in Austin, TX. They learned their skills playing with some of the best musicians in the blues scene, such as: Jerry Portony, Joe Filisko, Gary Primich, John Cephas and Phil Wiggins, Steve James, James Harman, Paul Rishell and Annie Raines, to name a few.

When these two talented brothers get together, they create magic on the stage. Their feelings and skills generate an athmosphere of fine communication among the audience in every song they perfom, being a great experience for everyone who loves the blues.