Some artist are seemingly spawned to strut their stuff on stage, treading those boards is a natural habitat where a musician can truly be free and express themselves in unique ways. That’s certainly the case with Erja Lyytinen, a singer, songwriter and guitarist who has illuminated stages all over Europe with a fresh take on the classic blues sound. Whilst Erja has left a trail of thirteen critically-acclaimed studio albums in her wake, it’s the live environment where she truly comes alive and her latest offering, 50th Birthday Live 2026, bottles some of that live magic and is the next best thing to having Erja Lyytinen rocking out in your living room.

50th Birthday Live 2026 works because it successfully recreates the magic and excitement of a live show. Recorded live in Finland at Helsinki’s legendary House Of Culture venue on 21st March 2026, Erja’s twin sons set the scene by announcing the band before the instrumental ‘The Road Leading Home’ increases the tension exponentially, getting the crowd in the right groove, meaning that when ‘Ball And Chain’ kicks in, it is akin to a size 10 boot appearing through your speaker. Swinging with wrecking ball force, it’s an intoxicating combination of punchy rhythm section, swirling keys and, of course, Erja’s trademark slide guitar, and sets the tone for the rest of the disc. The band are playing with the type of energy that only comes from a live show; songs such as ‘Smell The Roses’ are played just that little bit faster than their studio counterparts and with the added oomph that only a live performance can bring. Likewise, with little time wasted on between song banter, the disc replicates that live dynamism, meaning that even when the band take their foot off the accelerator, there’s no depreciable drop in power. In fact, the track list ebbs and flows perfectly with ‘Hard As Stone’ and ‘Bird’ amping up the blues factor before things are shocked back into life with ‘The One Thing I Won’t Change’ (the latter featuring a guest spot from Hanoi Rocks’ Sami Yaffa). It’s an approach that ensures this is a disc in constant motion, the different tempos constantly repositioning the listener and ensuring that things never become staid. However, the thread that stitches this album together is Erja’s guitar tone; it’s crisp and crystalline, and comes shining through whether rocking out or playing late night blues.

Released on CD, DVD and double vinyl, this package also contains an eleven track concert from the Smell The Roses tour from October 2025. 50th Birthday Live 2026 has a running time that (almost) replicates that of an actual gig, and with very little retrospective tinkering in terms of overdubs and other studio trickery, this is an authentic live document. A celebration of the blues, life, and Erja’s birthday, this album is the real deal.

• 50th Birthday Live 2026 is released on 9th October 2026 (available here).
• Official Website

Track List:

50th Birthday Live 2026 CD/DVD:

1. Introduction (by Massimo & Dante Lyytinen)

2. The Road Leading Home 

3. Ball and Chain 

4. Smell the Roses 

5. Going to Hell 

6. Hard as Stone 

7. Bird 

8. One Thing I Won’t Change (featuring Sami Yaffa)

9. Another World 

10. Torn (featuring Baskery)

11. Lullaby 

12. Nasty Weather (only appears on DVD)

13. Cherry Overdrive 

14. Don’t Let a Good Woman Down 

15. You Talk Dirty 

16. Stoney Creek 

17. The Ring 

Smell The Roses Live 2025 CD:

1. Ball and Chain 

2. Smell the Roses 

3. Dragonfly 

4. Going to Hell 

5. Abyss 

6. Stoney Creek 

7. The Ring 

8. Empty Hours 

9. Wings to Fly 

10. You Talk Dirty 

11. Wedding Day