Cat Squirrel is the new band led by super-producer Mike Vernon. Some may remember him from Dark Season Blues in 2017, when he performed with The Mighty Combo. Vernon was looking forward to returning to Longyearbyen with his Spanish band, but was placed under a travel ban by his doctor for health reasons shortly before the festival. However, Cat Squirrel quickly decided to go ahead with the festival gigs with their own vocalist. The musicians all have extensive experience and deliver a powerful mix of new original songs and classic blues inspired by their idols, legends such as Big Bill Broonzy, Muddy Waters, Little Walter, and John Lee Hooker. The members of Cat Squirrel have each played with many well-known blues artists, from Kirk Fletcher, Monster Mike Welch, and Magic Slim and the Teardrops to \u201cour own\u201d Kid Andersen and Dark Season\u2019s John Primer and Quique Gomez. <\/p>\n\n
Guitarist Carlos Moreno, or Kid Carlos, first met Vernon ten years ago and joined his previous band The Mighty Combo. Together they put together Cat Squirrel, and they also wrote the songs for their debut album “Blues Wat Am” (2023) together. Carlos was particularly excited to be joined by what he believes is Spain’s best harmonica player, Mingo Balaguer. He’s also full of praise for the rhythm section, Oriol Fontanals (bass) and Pascual Monge (drums). They are now looking forward to their Svalbard debut at Dark Season Blues, and wish Mike Vernon a speedy recovery! <\/p>\n\n