Fred & The Healers + Thomas Frank Hopper

Fred & The Healers

Fred and the Healers return with their new album No Escape, a collection of 13 powerful and introspective songs where the guitars sometimes whisper, sometimes rebel, exploring the inevitable themes of love, disappointment, the passage of time, and the search for redemption. Inspired by the great figures of blues and American roots music, this album blends the raw, organic sounds of old-school recording with emotional depth — a true testament to the band’s evolution since their beginnings in 1994 in the remote countryside of Maredret.

At the heart of the album lies the track The Escape, its title deliberately contradicting the album’s name. This roots ballad offers a glimmer of hope through the redemptive power of music and words, evoking the possibility of reinvention, even after losing one’s way. The band opens up in tracks like the frantic Big Bang, telling the story of a sudden breakup, the gritty Blood and Guts, where better days come at the cost of suffering and sacrifice, or the upbeat No Love for Old Men, which reveals an absurd contrast between joyful rock’n’roll and the loneliness of the elderly.

Fred Lani’s guitar playing, both powerful and delicate, adds a special dimension to the album. His unique touch — blending the raw intensity of blues with deep sensitivity — resonates perfectly with the songs’ themes.

For the first time, the band opened their creative universe to an artistic director. For No Escape, Fred and the Healers worked with Walter Broes — a compelling artist known for his solo career and work with The Seatsniffers — who brings a mix of feeling and strong knowledge of songwriting and American roots music. Walter infused a new sonic and musical layer into their work while staying true to their raw, emotional blues approach.

Following in the footsteps of Albert, BB, and Freddie King, yet with a distinctly personal style, Fred and the Healers show through this album that music remains their ultimate escape — a way to break free from anxiety and find space for hope.