Erja LyytinenNew Live Album: "50th Birthday Live 2026" Released October 9, 2026 Album Review
Finland´s own “Queen of the Slide Guitar” Erja Lyytinen is celebrating her 50th Birthday with a lavish live album package consisting of a double CD, double vinyl and a full-length DVD, which was recorded at the prestigious House of Culture, known as “Kultsa” in Helsinki Finland on 21st March 2026. The venue House of Culture has a long tradition as a live music locale, where renowned artists from Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Queen, and Slayer have performed.
Entitled Erja Lyytinen – 50th Birthday Live 2026, the spectacular live album is released by Tuohi Records on Friday October 9 and is available to pre-order on CD and vinyl HERE, and digitally HERE.
Joining Erja Lyytinen vocals and guitars is Harri Taittonen on Hammond and backing vocals, Heikki Saarenkunnas on bass and backing vocals and Jesse Lehto on drums.
After a short slide intro Ball And Chain explodes with it's insistent drum rhythm and Hammond adding to the depth of recording. Erja's vocal line is melodic and all builds to a big chorus. Erja's first guitar slide solo is expressive and beautifully played and after seeing her live on many occasions I can only imagine her grinning from ear to ear.
Smell The Roses eases the pace slightly across the verses and choruses until it all goes up a notch for the guitar solo with her band masters at light and space as all great musicians are.
Going To Hell sees an electric fast paced intro and I have to say the recording is so good with all instruments breathing and in the right place with everyone heard at all times. Love the big chorus and ease in pace afterwards as Erja solos alongside the keys before breaking into a melodic held notes extravaganza.
Hard As Stone sees a stop start downtuned guitar riff and Erja's vocal line matches perfectly.
Bird is a mid paced number with a rolling guitar riff and I love the way the guitar solo just unexpectedly starts and then goes onwards and upwards full of melody and a lengthy solo section that reminds you what a wonderful guitar player Erja is. Not just a slide guitar queen but a world class guitarist for everyone to marvel at.
The first single taken from Erja Lyytinen - 50th Birthday Live 2026 album is “One Thing I Won’t Change” that features glam rock and punk-legenda Sami Yaffa (Hanoi Rocks, New York Dolls, Joan Jett) on bass guitar and on backing vocals and superb it is too as you can see below.
Swedish banjo punk/blues group Baskery feature on the song “Torn” with Erja accompanying their vocals before Lullaby's short slide intro segues into Cherry Overdrive and the mid pace number has Hammond backing and lots of slide guitar.
The Ring starts on a slide guitar intro and then the band drive the song through the verse and chorus with no let up in sight and a 13 minute romp through Wedding Day ends a wonderful collection showing Erja and her band in the live setting where they excel.
With a live cd and seperate performance from 2025 on the dvd this is a perfect package for the long winter nights ahead.
And there is more with Erja touring the UK starting this week in Dudley on the 8th to celebrate with us for this release and her 50th birthday too.
50th ANNIVERSARY ROCK & BLUES BIRTHDAY
UK TOUR OCTOBER 2026
TICKETS: https://erjalyytinen.com/tour
DUDLEY, THE LAMP TAVERN
THURSDAY 8 OCTOBER 2026
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116 High St, Dudley, DY1 1QT
https://lamptavernlive.co.uk
SEDGEFIELD, PARISH HALL
FRIDAY 9 OCTOBER 2026
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Front St, Sedgefield, Stockton-on-Tees, TS21 3AT
www.ents24.com/sedgefield-events/sedgefield-parish-hall
EDINBURGH, LA BELLE ANGELE
SUNDAY 11 OCTOBER 2026
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11 Hastie's Close, Edinburgh, EH1 1JD
https://la-belleangele.com
NEW SHOW ADDED
DARLINGTON, ANGELS CUT (SOLO SHOW)
MONDAY 12 OCTOBER 2026
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39 Duke St, Darlington, DL3 7TZ
www.angelscutsales.co.uk
SHEFFIELD, THE GREYSTONES
TUESDAY 13 OCTOBER 2026
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Greystones Road, Sheffield, S11 7BS
https://www.mygreystones.co.uk
OXFORD, THE BULLINGDON
WEDNESDAY 14 OCTOBER 2026
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162 Cowley Rd, Oxford OX4 1UE
www.thebullingdon.co.uk
LONDON, HALF MOON
THURSDAY 15 OCTOBER 2026
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93 Lower Richmond Rd., London, SW15 1EU
halfmoon.co.uk
FAVERSHAM, THE OLD BREWERY STORE
FRIDAY 16 OCTOBER 2026
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Mill Place, Faversham, Kent, ME13 7DY
https://rockinrootsevents.co.uk
Photo credited and used with thanks: © Elsa Wellamo
