International Blues Challenge Winners

From our friends at Illinois Blues

EXTRA EDITION!

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NEWS FLASH

The Winners of the 2010 International Blues Challenge Are:

Bands

Winner - Grady Champion (Mississippi Delta Blues Society of Indianola)

Second Place - Karen Lovely Band (Cascade Blues Association)

Third Place - Cheryl Renee and Them Bones (Cincy Blues Society)

Solo Duet

Winner - Matt Anderson (Harvest Jazz & Blues)

2010 Best Self Produced CD Competition was a tie.

Both The Informants, "Crime Scene Queen" - Colorado Blues Society and Laurie Morvan Band, "Fire It Up!" - Santa Clarita Valley Blues Society were declared winners!

Congratulations to all the 2010 contestants!

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P.O. Box 721 Pekin, Illinois 61555 © 2007 - 2009 IllinoisBlues.com

Central Iowa Blues Society Solo and Duo Blues Challenge Finals

Press Release-2009 Iowa Solo/Duo Blues Challenge Finals

Congratulations to Midnight Dogs, Brad McCloud & His Case of the Blues, Dewey Cantrell and Dan Peart for advancing from the preliminary rounds of the 2009 Iowa Solo/ Duo Blues Challenge. The Finals will be held this Sunday, August 16, 2009 at the world famous Blues on Grand. Doors open at 4 PM with music starting at 5 PM. Each act will perform a 30-minute set in the order listed above.

For the fifth 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 Solo/Duo contest. The acts competing for the top spot earn the opportunity to travel to Memphis for the International Blues Challenge, January 21-23, 2010. (Go to www.blues.org for all of the details on the International Blues Challenge.).

The 2009 Iowa Blues Challenge is proudly sponsored by Central Iowa Blues Society, Mississippi Valley Blues Society, Lizard Creek Blues Society, Budweiser, Citadel Broadcasting/94.9KGGO & 98.3WOW.

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.

17th Annual River City Ohio Blues Competition

The Blues, Jazz & Folk Music Society of Marietta, Ohio announce their 17th annual
River City Ohio Blues Competition, the oldest and largest blues talent competition
in the state of Ohio. Last year's competition saw 18 great blues acts from all over
Ohio, West Virginia, Michigan and Pennsylvania compete for sponsorship to the
International Blues Challenge ( IBC), and this year we are expecting to showcase
an increasing amount of quality regional blues talent. A full roster of 18 blues
acts competed last year with a close finish. Last year's first place winner is Mojo
Theory from Columbus Ohio. Austin "Walkin' Cane" also placed and so will represent
BJFM in Memphis in 2009.

The first place winner of The River City Ohio Blues Competition will receive $1000
dollars in cash and BJFM sponsorship to the International Blues Challenge in Memphis
early in 2010 where they can gain valuable exposure to record label A&R
representatives and Blues industry professionals and festival promoters capable of
providing real career advancement for a serious blues musician. The second place
winner will receive $200 in cash and the third place winner will receive $100 in
cash. This year, again there will be 18 slots in competition. The big winners,
however, are the blues fans who enjoy a weekend of great blues entertainment rarely
available in Southeast Ohio at a bargain price.

Marietta, being the oldest Blues competition in Ohio has,you might say, set the
stage for the half dozen or so competitions that now exist in the state. One of the
things that makes the Marietta competition unique is that it has no geographic
restrictions and is open to serious Blues acts from anywhere. That is why The River
City Ohio Blues Competition pulls talent from a four, five or six state area and
even from overseas all hoping to win in Marietta and get their ticket punched to
Memphis. The Blues is an attitude and state of mind, not an address -- not confined
to any geographical area. Our Ohio affiliate blues societies have been
well-represented at The International Blues Challenge(s) (IBC) in Memphis. In just
the last few years, there have been several top-ten finishers and winners from the
state of Ohio. The level of talent in the IBC has risen to incredible heights from
the blues acts from all over the country (and the world) and so has the level of
talent from Ohio. Good Blues music seems to be coming from everywhere and
Ohio is no exception. Blues acts from Ohio have been top winners in both the
Solo/Duo Blues category (2006/2nd) and the Band Category (2007/1st) in recent years.

FOR BANDS WHO WANT TO PARTICIPATE: Go to
http://www.bjfm.org/Templates/competition.htm. There is a link on this page to the
rules and the application.

WHERE & WHEN: February 20 & 21, 2009, Hotel Lafayette, 101 Front Street,
Marietta OH. Show is presented by the Blues, Jazz & Folk Music Society, Inc. Smoke
free venue/cash bar.
Friday Night: 8 pm - 11 pm 1st PRELIMINARY; Feb 20, 2009 - 6 Blues Acts Compete -
2 Finalists Chosen.
Saturday Afternoon: 12 noon - 6 pm 2nd PRELIMINARY; Feb 21, 2009 - 12 Blues Acts
Compete - 4 Finalists Chosen.
Saturday Night: 8 pm - 11:30 pm THE FINALS; Feb. 21, 2009 - 6 Finalists Compete -
1st PLACE WINNER, 2nd & 3rd Chosen.

TICKETS & INFORMATION:
Tickets available after December 1, 2008
$10/$15 m/nm Friday Night 8-11pm
$10/$15 m/nm Saturday afternoon 12 noon - 6 pm
$10/$15 m/nm Saturday Night 8 pm - 11:30 pm
$25/$40 m/nm Weekend Pass
Doors open 1 hour before showtime
Information: call Steve Wells (anytime) 304- 295 - 4323 or bluesphotog@yahoo.com
Tickets/passes/info call Peg Bolen (evenings) 740- 376 - 0222 or bolen@bjfm.org
Visa/MasterCard Accepted

2008 Iowa Blues Challenge

Just got this from the old email bag! Sound like some great shows! Show up and support your local blues bands!!!

Press Release-2008 Iowa Blues Challenge

The 2008 Iowa Blues Challenge features head to head competition culminating in a three band Final round to be held Saturday, May 17^th, 2008 at the Hotel Fort Des Moines at 1000 Walnut Street in Des Moines, Iowa.

For the fifteenth year, the Central Iowa Blues Society, in cooperation with the Mississippi Valley Blues Society and Lizard Creek Blues Society, presents the 2008 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 around the state of Iowa. Ten bands from the Des Moines

area will compete in 2 preliminary rounds, each band performing 30-minute sets.

Midnight Wine, Cold Shot, Avey Brothers, Trouble No More and Kent Burnside

& New Generation will start at 8 PM at Zimm's Food & Spirits on Thursday, April 10^th.

The second round will be at Blues On Grand on Thursday, April 17^th starting at 8 PM

with Hot Tamale & the Red Hots, Double Clutch, Case of the Blues, The Blues

Bureau and The Soul Searchers. A preliminary round will also be held in the Quad

Cities area at RIBCO on Saturday, April 12^th at 8 PM featuring The Blues Explosion,

SLIM & the Bulletproof Boys, The Smokin’ Mojo Kings and Pocket Deuces Blues

Band. Two bands from Des Moines and one band from the Quad Cities will advance to

the Finals on Saturday, May 17^th at the Hotel Fort Des Moines.

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; the Nitefall on the River in Des Moines, IA; Simply the Blues Fest in Fort Madison, IA and the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee.

The 2008 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, Rieman Music and Russell Bird Foundation.

CIBS Looking For Bands For The Iowa Blues Challenge

ATTENTION

BLUES

BANDS

We are now accepting applications for the

2008 IOWA BLUES CHALLENGE!!!

Play for a prize package

that includes cash, recording time

and performance opportunities at

Mississippi Valley Blues Fest,

Simply the Blues Fest and other paid gigs,

PLUS

INTERNATIONAL BLUES CHALLENGE

In Memphis, TN.

ARE YOU READY TO TAKE THE CHALLENGE?

DON’T DELAY!!!

Information and applications are available from the

Central Iowa Blues Society at (515) 225-6638

and our website www.cibs.org

The deadline is March 8^th, 2008.

The 2008 Iowa Blues Challenge is proudly sponsored by Central Iowa Blues Society, Mississippi Valley Blues Society, Lizard Creek Blues Society, Budweiser, KGGO/98.3 WOW., Junior’s Motel, Rieman Music

Andy Coats Update

The latests from Andy Coats

Hey folks, hope everyone is well!

I just got back from Memphis, where I played two very strong sets in the semi-finals and saw old friends from Iowa and Southern California. Thanks to everyone who came to hear me play at the Beale Street Tap Room – it was a lovely surprise to see so many folks from the Central Iowa Blues Society, and I’m thrilled that they are still going so strong in Des Moines.

I wasn’t able to advance, but still had a cool experience. The performer who advanced from my group, Lionel Young, was the eventual winner of the entire competition (solo/duo), so I was definitely in good company!

It’s great to be back in NC, and we’re going to crank things up this week with the band:

Andy Coats & the Bank Walkers
Friday, Feb. 15, 9 pm - mid
The Flipside
$5 Cover Charge
408 E 2nd St
Clayton, NC 27520
(919) 553-0123
The Flipside

This is a new venue for us, but word has it that it’s quite classy and has a good sound system.

So, come on out and let’s have some fun!

Best,

Andy

www.andycoats.com

www.myspace.com/andycoats

Trampled Underfoot

Here is a video Kansas City's Trampled Underfoot performing at the IBC. I feel really old watching these guys play, because I swear they were just little kids the last time I saw them:-) Congratulations, and thanks for putting Kansas City Blues back on the map!!!!!

Winners Of The International Blues Challenge

Illinois blues has some great info on the Winners of the International Blues Challenge. What I didn't know is that I actually know the winners from Kansas City, Trampled Underfoot, except when I knew them they were little kids! I played briefly with their father the late great Bob Schnebelen during the summer 1991. Bob was a monster guitar player, and was a really great guy. I remember going over to him and his wifes house and hanging out with his family one summer afternoon. It was a great day. I also remember when I heard about his death. He died way to young, but I know that he must be very proud of his children who carried on his music, and not only did they win the contest, but his son Nick won for best guitarist!

2008 International Blues Challenge

Hey Blues Fans,

It's good to be home safe and sound after last Thursday. The 475 mile drive to Memphis in one of the worst snow and ice storms of the season was quite dramatic at times. We're talking real real white knuckle driving at a slippery 25 mph through rain, sleet, slush, ice and snow.

It was obvious that Momma Nature really had the Blues last week as the trip back was even more intense. Many cars plowed into ditches as the weather put on a repeat show but added simultaneous heavy snow and marble sized hail with lightning flashing everywhere. WOW!

But the impressive show at the 2008 International Blues Challenge (IBC) made the drive to Tennessee more than worth it.

Trampled Under Foot, an entry from the Kansas City Blues Society was the winning band. Their remarkable set in the finals earned the band first place and also earned the bands guitarist, Nick Schnebelen, the 2008 Albert King Award as the Best guitarist at the IBC.

Want to see why they won? CLICK HERE to see a video from their club performance in the semifinals.

All ten of the finalists were incredible. Second place went to Shakura S'Aida who was representing the Toronto Blues Society and third place went to Lil' Ray Neal representing the Baton Rouge Blues Society.

The solo/duo finals were also a GREAT show. The winner was a violin player from the Colorado Blues Society named Lionel Young. Yup, we are talking KILLER Blues from a fiddle! Second place went to Ben Prestage from the Blues Alliance of the Treasure Coast. We have complete pictures of all the finalists as well as many of the contestants in semifinals.

2008 IBC pictures - CLICK HERE

We wanted also to congratulate Robert Sampson from the Illinois Central Blues Club for his fine showing at the IBC! He was the only Blues piano player who made it to the solo/duo finals. Fantastic job Robert!

We encourage everyone with a passion for the Blues to support these folks. Click the links above and find out about these performers and their sponsoring Blues Societies. These folks are really "Keepin' The Blues Alive". They are the future of the Blues!

Trampled Under Foot and Linoel Young Win International Blues Challegne

Our friends at Illinois Blues have sent out an email announcing the winners of last nights International Blues Challenge in Memphis.

Hey Blues  Fans,

We are sending out this "Extra" edition of the Blues Blast from the capitol of the Blues in Memphis, Tennesee. (We wish you were here too!)

The winners of the 2008 International Blues Challenge in the band and solo/duo competition are listed below.

IllinoisBlues.com will have the complete story and pictures of the fun in next weeks Blues Blast Internet Magazine.

For further details please check the Blues Foundation website at www.Blues.org

Bob Kieser
IllinoisBlues.com

Band
First Place
Trampled Under Foot - Kansas City Blues Society
Second Place
Shakura S'Aida - Canada - Toronto Blues Society
Third Place
'Lil' Ray Neal Blues Band - Baton Rouge Blues Society

Solo/Duo
First Place
Lionel Young - Colorado Blues Society
Second Place
Ben Prestage - Blues Alliance of the Treasure Coast