It’s with ingenuity, passion and a contagious energy both powerful and delicate that Kid Colling embodies the world of modern blues rock: a mix of blues rock enriched with jazzy harmonies and a groovy rhythm.
Influenced by guitarists such as BB King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Larry Carlton or Robben Ford, Colling expresses the “Roots” by the warmth and the generosity of his sound and guitar play – not without adding a jazzy touch that livens up his performance.
It’s his creative approach to music as well as the groove and the catchy melodies that make him get noticed in the world of blues rock.
"Kid Colling released his very first album which is a success in every respect. […] The 11 tracks, of which 10 are original compositions, are a pleasure to the ears, with an omnipresent and terribly efficient B3, and a blues rock repertoire that never lapses into simplicity. Icing on the cake, the guitarist has a hell of a voice that perfectly fits with the album’s overall style. […] An artist with a promising future and an excellent debut album that deserves a place in every music collection." - Alain Hiot, Blues Magazine
"Luxembourg might have the huge event Blues’n Jazz Rallye, but no internationally known blues bands. The young Kid Colling Cartel could change that.” - Dirk Föhrs, Blues News
"An extremely hot mix of blues, rock, jazz and soul." - Matthias Mineur, Classic Rock
"Kid Colling is the new star in Luxembourg’s blues scene." - Pol Schock, Luxemburger Wort
"The Kid Colling Cartel was doing more than its part to fire up the crowd at Den Atelier with […] a performance that burned with passion, polish and raw, finger-blistering talent." - Nicky Sullivan, Chronicle
: BIOGRAPHY
Kid Colling is a modern blues rock singer-songwriter and guitarist. An orphan born in Bogota (Colombia) and adopted by a Luxembourgish family, Kid Colling grew up in Europe and was, from an early age, drawn by the magical sounds of the blues, rock’n roll and the rhythm of big bands. Although he early discovered a passion for blues, it wasn’t until recently that he embarked on a professional career in music. In 2009 he decides to turn over a new leaf and to go to Paris. He studies music at the American School of Modern Music and the IMEP where he discovers jazz music and learns from greats such as Peter Giron, Rick Margitza, Manuel Rocheman and Christopher Culpo.
Taking his first steps in music in 2012, Colling founds his band “Cartel” in 2012 and releases in 2014 his debut EP Tomorrow’s Far Away, which received critical and public acclaim. Besides the Cartel, he is involved in different projects. In 2014, he went on an acoustic tour with the American folk-blues singer Ilene Barnes. Also in 2014, he won the So Blues (Europa Jazz) Award at the blues springboard of the RDV de l’Erdre Festival in Nantes (FR) as well as in 2016 the springboard of the Bagnols Blues Festival in Bagnols-sur-Cèze (FR). In 2017, he represented Luxembourg at the European Blues Challenge in Horsens (DK).
A regular on stage and at major music events, Kid Colling played shows in Luxembourg, Germany, France, Belgium, Denmark and the Baltic states, including opening for John Mayall, Aynsley Lister and Larry Carlton.
KID COLLING CARTEL
Founded in 2012, the Kid Colling Cartel (named after the frontman’s Colombian origins) is composed of Kid Colling (vocals and guitar), Vincent Charrue (keys and organ), David Franco (bass) and Florian Pons (drums). Describing their style as “Modern Blues Rock”, the band plays mostly Colling’s own compositions and ventures into different genres such as groove, funk and especially rock music – without ever giving up their blues roots.
The Kid Colling Cartel's shared love of music and their harmony on stage are undeniable and Kid Colling, although he is a guitarist first and foremost, stands out as a singer with a distinctive and adjustable voice. It is important for him to not limit the Cartel to a specific style and to address a larger audience rather than only blues devotees.
In 2017, the Kid Colling Cartel released their debut album In the Devil’s Court, with which they clearly head towards a new sound. More blues rock oriented, the album is inspired by artists such as Gary Clark Jr, Tedeschi Trucks Band or The Allman Brothers Band. Oscillating between a blues phrase and a rock guitar, In the Devil’s Court is defined by a groovy rhythm and a Hammond B3 organ that provide it with a distinctive sound.
