Winner of the European Blues Challenge 2025

In April 2025, Alice Armstrong and her band were honoured to represent the UK at the European Blues Challenge in Split, Croatia, an annual event organised by the European Blues Union that brings together the winning blues acts from 24 participating European countries.

Following their win at the UK Blues Challenge 2024, Alice and her band were invited to perform at the three-day international event held at the Croatian National Theatre, a major arts and culture venue in Split with a rich history. Each act competing in the EBC had previously won their respective national blues challenges, making the event a showcase of some of the best blues artists working across Europe today.

Alice was joined on stage by her incredible band: Kev Hickman (drums), Joshua Rigal (bass), Olly Knight-Smith (guitar), and Stevie Watts (keys). Together, they performed a world-class set blending blues, funk, soul, and original songwriting. Their performances gained the only standing ovations for the whole event and was selected by an international panel of judges as the winning act for 2025. Alice had the following to say:

“I was genuinely shocked! The standard of talent across all the acts was incredible, so to take home the trophy was completely unexpected. I’m very proud of the team and really grateful to the UK blues community for supporting us on this journey, especially everyone who donated to the fundraiser and helped get us there. We had an amazing group of fans come to support us in Croatia and the European Blues Union really looked after all the musicians. I am so incredibly grateful!.”

This marks the first time since 2019 that the European Blues Challenge trophy has been won by an artist from the UK.

Alice would like to thank the UK Blues Federation for their support and for the opportunity to represent the country on an international stage, as well as the European Blues Union and the Croatian National Theatre for organising a welcoming and well-run event.

For upcoming shows, visit the Tour section of the site.