Blues and Boogie-icons, Canned Heat, are returning to Notodden Blues Festival in 2023. Canned Heat remained one of the really big bands after the Woodstock festival in 1969, and their song “Going Up The Country” stuck as the very musical identity of the world’s most famous hippie festival. Canned Heat conquered world domination with the chart toppers “On The Road Aagain” and “Let’s Work Together”.

Canned Heat was formed in 1965. The band got their big break after notable performances at the famous Monterey and Woodstock festivals with the lineup Bob Hite (vocals), Alan Wilson (guitar, harmonica, vocals), Henry Vestine and later Harvey Mandel (guitar), Larry Taylor (bass) and Adolfo “Fito” de la Parra (drums).

Despite being a blues band, Canned Heat experienced enormous popularity. In the midst of all the success, the band experienced its first disaster and death when Alan Wilson died of an overdose at the age of 27, just weeks before Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin did the same.

The band continued their success, but when vocalist Bob Hite also died of an overdose in 1981, everyone thought that the time was over for Canned Heat. As with Fleetwood Mac, a dark shadow has rested over Canned Heat, but drummer “Fito” de la Parra has had a unique ability to select new members who have fitted in with the band and their very particular style of blues and boogie-rock .

There has been no band like Canned Heat. They have had a super ability to stay current, and now they are recording a new album and going on tour with Jimmy Vivino as a new member on guitar and vocals. Jimmy Vivino is known to many as orchestra leader for 26 years for the popular TV programs The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien and Late Night with Conan O’Brien. Canned Heat has played at the Notodden Blues Festival twice before, respectively in 1996 and in 2006. Don’t miss one of the most famous bands of all time when we bring Canned Heat back to Notodden one last time. Canned Heat are playing at Notodden friday 4th and Saturday august 5th.

Canned Heat, which currently consists of Adolfo “Fito” de la Parra (drums, vocals), Dave Spalding (guitar, vocals, harmonica), Jimmy Vivino (guitar, vocals) and Rick Reed (bass, guitar), will release a new album at the end of the month May, June. The record will feature new material and features contributions from Jimmy Vivino and Dale Spalding and guest artists including Joe Bonamassa, Samantha Fish, Harvey Mandel and Taj Mahal.