Central Iowa Blues Society Blues Challenge

From CIBS

Press Release-2009 Iowa Blues Challenge

The 2009 Iowa Blues Challenge features head to head competition culminating in a four band Final round to be held Saturday, May 16^th, 2009 at the Hotel Fort Des Moines at 1000 Walnut Street in Des Moines, Iowa.

For the sixteenth year, the Central Iowa Blues Society, in cooperation with the Mississippi Valley Blues Society and Lizard Creek Blues Society, presents the 2009 Iowa Blues Challenge, an all-Iowa Blues band contest. This contest is open to any Iowa Blues band that has not been nominated for the Blues Music Awards (Handy’s).

Rounds will be held in Des Moines. Ten bands from across Iowa will compete in 2 preliminary rounds, each band performing 30-minute sets. The first round of competitors will be Cousins of Blues, The Blues Explosion, Trouble No More, The Mason Newcastle Band and At Large. Bands will start at 8 PM at Zimm's Food & Spirits on Thursday, April 9^th.

The second round will be at Blues On Grand on Thursday, April 16^th starting at 8 PM

with Bob Pace & The Blues Groove, “The Blue Law” featuring Brooke Conner, V.J.J. Groove, Matt Woods & The Thunderbolts and The Avey Brothers. Two bands from each round will advance to the Finals on Saturday, May 16^th at the Hotel Fort Des Moines starting at 8:30 PM.

The Iowa Blues Challenge features one of the finest prize packages, for a contest of this kind, in the country. Prizes are awarded to the top bands, including---cash, travel expenses, recording time, as well as spots in the Mississippi Valley Blues Festival in Davenport, IA; Simply the Blues Fest in Fort Madison, IA and the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee.

The 2009 Iowa Blues Challenge is proudly sponsored by Central Iowa Blues Society, Mississippi Blues Society, Lizard Creek Blues Society, Budweiser, Citadel Broadcasting/94.9KGGO & 98.3WOW, Junior's Motel and Rieman Music.