Award-winning Finnish guitarist and blues artist extraordinaire Erja Lyytinen is pleased to announce her 50th Anniversary Rock Blues Birthday UK Tour in October 2026.
Tickets go on sale 10am GMT on Monday February 23rd, 2026, here.
Lyytinen will celebrate her 50th Birthday by embarking on a special tour around the UK and Europe with a special celebratory setlist that will feature gems from Lyytinen’s vast repertoire since 2002. The guitar phenom will also perform songs from the latest studio album, “Smell the Roses”, along with some unexpected song choices.
UK Tour Dates 2026:
8 October 2026 – Dudley, the Lamp Tavern
9 October 2026 – Sedgefield, Parish Hall
11 October 2026 – Edinburgh, La Belle Angele
13 October 2026 – Sheffield, the Greystones
14 October 2026 – Oxford, the Bullingdon
15 October 2026 – London, Half Moon
16 October 2026 – Faverhsam, the Old Brewery Store
“I did my first tour in the UK with Blues Caravan back in 2006, so it’s been exactly twenty years now doing gigs on this music lover’s island”, reminisces Lyytinen. “I remember how exciting it was for a young girl to finally do my first UK tour back then. What I loved the most, was the fact that as native English spoken people, the audiences understood and related to my lyrics. The witty humor and friendly British people simply stole my heart”.
“This year I’m celebrating the big number of turning 50, but I still feel as that 15-year-old girl who fell in love to play electric guitar by listening to guitarists like Tony Iommi and Richie Blackmore and wanting to travel around the world to play for audiences. This year we have updated our set list with some old gems and surprise numbers, so it´s going to be a lot of fun to come to the UK for a birthday tour”!
Watch Erja’s incredible guitar playing as she performs “Stoney Creek” at the Tavastia Club in Helsinki. The standout song is featured on Lyytinen’s current album “Smell the Roses”.
Erja Lyytinen is one of the leading blues-rock guitarists on the international touring circuit. During a recording career spanning more than 20 years, the high-flying Finnish guitar phenom has released thirteen studio albums and several live albums. Lyytinen’s musical pallet is vast, encompassing the very best of contemporary blues rock whilst inspired and influenced by the blues greats of yore.
Lyytinen is known for her stellar and energetic live performances. Her live album “Diamonds on the Road” (2023) received magnificent reviews from the global music media. She celebrated her 20-year career by releasing the CD/DVD “20 Years of Blues Rock!” that was recorded at the legendary Tavastia Club in Helsinki in 2023. For this spectacular event, she brought together the rhythm sections from her studio albums to date and other guest artists.
Lyytinen has been acknowledged for her work by her fans, peers, and the industry alike with a treasure trove of accolades. This includes being ranked #2 on Total Guitar’s “10 Best Guitarists” poll as well as being awarded “Best Guitarist” at the 2017 European Blues Awards. Erja made history by becoming the first Finnish artist to be nominated for the “BB King International Artist of the Year” at the Maple Blues Awards in Canada in 2022.
She’s performed alongside world-famous guitarists including Carlos Santana, Sonny Landreth, and Jennifer Batten.
Her current studio album, “Smell the Roses”, released in March 2025, was ranked #6 on the UK’s Independent Blues Broadcasters in April. This riff-heavy laden album features Lyytinen’s mesmerizing slide guitar solo. Throughout the album, she expands her repertoire by honouring the hard rock sounds of the 60s and 70s. “Smell the Roses” has received praising reviews around the globe and has lifted Lyytinen among the best modern blues rock artists of our time.
