Bay-Car Blues Festival: a flawless edition!

Live report – Bay-Car Blues Festival
📆 7 and 8 November 2025
📍 Grande-Synthe
📷 Thierry Wakx

In the town of Grande-Synthe, right next to Dunkirk, you should hurry every year to applaud a large part of the very best in today’s global blues scene. Tradition held strong, and in a packed Palais du Littoral, the team of more than 80 volunteers led by conductor Patrice Veermersch welcomed a top-level lineup.

The whole event remains highly affordable, as the festival has mastered the art of compensating for the drop in local subsidies by securing alternative funding sources to satisfy even the most demanding audiences. Once again this year, for a very modest price, faithful attendees and passionate fans enjoyed artists with a capital A…

Aside from the masterclasses in high schools and the dozen off-site concerts preceding the event, the highlight is the weekend of 7 and 8 November, offering the large audience at the Palais du Littoral festival-branded goodies, several drink and food stands, vinyl and CDs for collectors, and a merchandising space for musicians, allowing for a few brief yet privileged moments with the artists after each performance.

The Polish city of Suwalski is twinned with Grande-Synthe. Opening the first evening, the Polish Suwalski Blues Band led by Tomasz Kierejsza also handled the interludes. Their powerful and precise electric Chicago blues, made of standards and covers of the “father of Polish blues” Tadeusz Nalepa, offered energetic breaks between the main stage performances. The following day, an improvised duo brought together a few Northern French blues figures, such as guitarist-singer Norman Rosaia from the Blues Eaters and the well-known Dominique Floch on harmonica, for some soothing and welcome acoustic sets.

Friday 7 November

The Suitcase Brothers | Johnny Sansone | Miss Nickki

An excellent opening night! A varied and coherent blend of acoustic blues, New Orleans flair and explosive funk-blues…

The Suitcase Brothers are brothers Santos and Victor Puertas from Barcelona. They delivered a very pleasant moment mixing traditional blues and fine folk-blues, with humor and ease. Beautiful brotherly chemistry, immense talent on harmonica and guitar. From above, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee must have approved.

The major moment of the evening came with Johnny Sansone, a mind-blowing multi-instrumentalist (accordion, harmonica, guitar) and magnificent singer who won over the entire venue. What a pleasure to hear and see John Fohl on guitar: a true architect of the instrument, sumptuous and complete. A great rhythm section with Russ Broussard (drums) and Jeffrey Bridges (bass), splendid keyboards from Tommy Worrell… A monumental setlist drawing from Johnny Sansone’s original albums. What joy to hear “Crescent City Moon” again, twenty-eight years after its release! Exploring every facet of NOLA sounds, boogie, blues, zydeco, without forgetting rock’n’roll, and masterfully playing with nuance while fully engaging the audience, Johnny Sansone and his band delivered a generous, subtle, powerful, and inspiring concert: HUGE!

The night concluded with an explosive finale featuring four of the best representatives of the French scene: Pascal Delmas (drums), Antoine Escalier (bass), Vincent Pollet-Villard (keyboards, organ) and Florian Royo (guitar), all supporting a repertoire of blues, funk and groove led by the lively Nicole Whitlock aka Miss Nickki. The Mississippi singer gives her all, talks a lot and extends songs, but gets the audience dancing and singing while keeping a lovely smile and charming stage presence. Vocal echoes of a great-era Koko Taylor, soaring guitar solos from Florian worthy of Albert King, powerful keyboards and a killer rhythm section… a fine finale!

Saturday 8 November

McKinley James | Sean “Mack” McDonald | D.K. Harrell

A spectacular start to what would become one of the finest evenings in the festival’s twenty-five-year history…

The young artist from Rochester, NY, McKinley James, performs with his father Jason Smay (drums) and young Conrad Govrik (bass). Rock’n’roll, soul, blues in the Jimmy Reed style, pulsing with disarming ease: this prodigy of a guitarist-singer understands everything and flawlessly delivers every nuance of the genre. Incredible ease and mastery at only twenty-four, an excellent vocalist who handles high notes well, paired with a precise and creative guitarist… he has the talent, does the work, and possesses that extra spark that makes all the difference. McKinley James is an artist to follow without hesitation!

Sean “Mack” McDonald, also born in 2001, is remarkably accompanied by Fabrice Bessouat (drums), Julien Dubois (bass), Cédric Le Goff (keyboards and organ), Tejerizo Sylvain (alto sax) and Alexis Bertein (baritone sax). His set summons blues ghosts such as T-Bone Walker, Chuck Berry or Otis Rush, though the references remain occasional in favor of an original repertoire, presented for the first time on record by Sean. A stunning guitarist, intense singer, and outstanding showman: he has clearly stepped up his game, only eighteen months after his first appearance here. Complete control, sense of dynamics and improved stage presence. His tour through the audience with blazing solos and the two saxophonists didn’t hurt either. Sean “Mack” McDonald is a must-see in today’s blues world!

Then came the artist featured on the 2025 Bay-Car poster: the already great D.K. Harrell. The shadow of the late B.B. King naturally hovers over this young prodigy born in 1998, but the gestures and semi-hollow vibratos are only the visible part of a talent already well developed, ready to break free and explode at any moment. The band lives up to expectations with Brandon Jackson (drums), Andrew Ross (bass), Orlando Henry (keyboards and organ), Russ Bryant (tenor sax) and Dan Isbell (trumpet). A tremendous singer, accomplished guitarist, D.K. Harrell also has a gift for winning over the crowd. He knows what blues means, and for those who listen to him sing or speak in interviews, he shares an open-hearted message of love and resilience. A complete artist, charismatic, prolific, built for the stage and thrilling both to see and hear. He and his explosive band made the whole room dance, inviting audience members on stage, joined by a radiant Sean “Mack” McDonald for effortless guitar dialogue. An astonishing finale that further cements Bay-Car as a top-tier festival in our region…

This 2025 edition of the traditional Bay-Car lived up to all expectations. Like all great gatherings dedicated to our cherished music, the festival must be supported by local authorities, sponsors, and above all by a public that MUST find a way to renew itself. So mark down “6 and 7 November” in your 2026 calendar, especially if you’ve never been to Bay-Car: you too might catch the local “virus”, captivated by the perfect blend of irresistible blues and the XXL Northern welcome, offered with a smile to each and every visitor. That’s the best we can wish you!