You weren't the only annoyed music-lover last autumn, when the Himalayan Blues Festival clashed with Jazzmandu. Thankfully, we didn't have a reprise this year. But you'll still be scratching your head wondering where to head, because there is just so much blues packed into the five days of the fourth edition of the blues fest, which has actually expanded into India this year. Assuming you'll wait for the international roster of bluesmen (and women) to crawl up from India to the Valley, careful planning is required to get just the right mix of soul-warming blues into your system as the November nights begin to chill your bones.

The organisers have done an excellent job once again: we can look forward to a mix of acoustic and electric blues dished out by virtuosos on guitar, harmonica, electric bass and yes, sitar and tabla. We've got artistes from Europe, North and South America, Australia, and of course, our very own local boys. A global music for an increasingly global town? You better believe it.

Tere Estrada (Mexico)
Lady's got the blues. This guitarist knows what she's talking about, too, she's a sociologist.

Brad Cava (USA)
What's a blues fest without a harmonica man?

Baba Richie & the Raags (Sweden)
Blues and Indian classical music, only in Nepal (and Sweden).

Hans Theessink (Austria)
Bo Diddley called him "one helluva guitar player". 'Nuff said.

Jose Luis Pardo (Argentina)
If Argentinians get the blues, they go listen to some melancholy tango. Not this one.

Magnus Rosén  (Sweden)
He likes Kiss, he likes classical, he was in a heavy metal band. As an electric bassist, he's the bottom line.

Oliver Mally and Martin Gasselsberger (Austria)
We didn't know that many Austrians played the blues. Here's two, together.

Robert Owen Campbell (Australia)
"Born and raised on salted oats and tales of the savage past".

17 November, Wednesday

Blues around Town @
Attic Bar, Lazimpat. Jose Luis Pardo (Argentina/Spain)
Madz Lounge, Gairidhara. Tere Estrada (Mexico)
Lakhey, Darbar Marg. Zeke (Austria)
Bourbon Room, Lal Darbar. Oliver Mally & Martin Gasselsberger (Austria)
De la Soul, Thamel. Owen Campbell (Australia)

18 November, Thursday

Patan Museum Sessions, Patan (Rs 500). Hans Theessink (Austria), Baba Richi & The Raags (Sweden), Tere Estrada (Mexico), Zeke (Austria)
Corner Bar, Radisson Hotel, Lazimpat, Jose Luis Pardo (Argentina/Spain), Owen Campbell (Australia)

19 November, Friday

Madhuban Garden (Exclusive), Yak & Yeti, Darbar Marg (Rs 2000)
Workshop/clinic @ Nepal Music Center, Sinamangal & Kathmandu University Department of Music, Bhaktapur

20 November, Saturday

 Blues Big Bang @ 1905 Restaurant, Kantipath (Rs 500), Midnight Riders (Nepal), Robin & The New Revolution (Nepal), Aghor (Nepal), Jose Luis Pardo  (Argentina/Spain), Owen Campbell (Australia), Magnus Rosen (Sweden), Oliver Mally & Martin Gasselsberger (Austria)
Cafereena Restaurant, Darbar Marg, Tere Estrada (Mexico)
Tamas, Thamel, Baba Richi & The Raags (Sweden)

21 November, Sunday

Open Jam Sessions at Comfort Zone, Thamel

www.himalayanblues.com