Step into the world of Rotterdam Blues. Ruwhel and his Bigi Blues Band take you on a blues journey infused with Caribbean hip-hop.

The born Bonairian, Ruwhel Emers, grew up in Rotterdam. He demonstrated that the cards dealt to him weren’t necessarily the easiest to win with in the hyper-personal theater play “Zondes van een kind” (Sins of a Child). He also succeeded in getting entire crowds to mosh as part of the successful rap formation “Wat Wat Is” while never shying away from depth.

During a live show by Ruwhel and the Bigi Blues Band, you’ll feel as if you’re in a smoky ’50s blues café somewhere in the Caribbean. The soulful band, the seductive singer, but above all, the entertaining frontman, will momentarily transport you out of your own reality. Ruwhel proves that heavy, honest stories and parties can go hand in hand, and that blues is a much broader genre than often thought. It’s a state of mind; a feeling. Moreover, you can dance very nicely to it. The consummate entertainer never loses contact with the audience. Charismatically, he moves across the stage, directing his entire band in the process.

In 2022, the band mainly focused on their hometown Rotterdam. They gained great success and attention with performances at festivals like Rotterdam Unlimited, Get Loose, and Eendracht Festival. In between, they won the Grote Prijs van Rotterdam (Big Prize of Rotterdam). Ruwhel also made an impact with his own talent development platform, Levels.

With a solid foundation in Rotterdam, 2023 is all about conquering the rest of the Netherlands. They recently signed with On Track Agency. Together with their friends from De Likt, they recently rocked the Doornroosje venue, and in March, the band will perform at Grasnapolsky. This coming summer, the Rotterdam Blues will spread throughout the entire country.