The World's Largest Gathering of Blues Bands
February 4-7, 2009
Memphis, Tennessee - The program for the 25th International Blues
Challenge (IBC), set for February 4-7, 2009 in Memphis, Tennessee,
is taking shape, full information of which is posted at www.blues.org.
The 25th edition of the world’s premier Blues music competition
will feature more than 100 bands and 60 solo/duo acts from 36 states
and nine countries. Blues musicians will be attending from Australia,
Canada, France, Israel, Italy, Norway, Poland, United States and,
for the first time, Croatia. The winners receive cash prizes, professional
services and appearances at top Blues festivals. Advance tickets
are available at www.blues.org.
The
events begin Wednesday evening with the Beale Street Merchants hosting
a Meet ‘n Greet at the New Daisy Theater, the Memphis Grizzlies
presenting four IBC participants during its Blues night at the FedEx
Forum in conjunction with their NBA game against the Houston Rockets.
Following the game, a special 25th IBC Kick Off Concert, featuring
a number of top finishers from recent Challenges, including Trampled
Under Foot (2008 IBC 1st Place), Sean Carney Band (2007 1st Place),
Homemade Jamz Blues Band (2007 2nd Place), Jonn Richardson (2005
IBC 1st Place and Best Guitarist), Zac Harmon (2004 IBC 1st Place).
Friday afternoon will see the first-ever FedEx International Showcase,
featuring many of the acts from outside the United States, and the
Smokin’ Bluz Youth Showcase, featuring more than a dozen acts
whose members are under 21.
The
IBC semi-finals commence at 5:00pm Thursday evening in 16 Beale Street
clubs and continue before a different set of judges in those clubs
Friday evening. The ten band finalists will begin at 2:00pm Saturday
afternoon at The Orpheum Theatre while the six solo/duo finalists
will commence at 8:30pm Saturday night at the Orpheum. The judges
will also present a custom Gibson guitar featuring The Blues Foundation
logo to the most promising guitarist. Blues musicians Cassie Taylor
and Jason Ricci will host the band finals and Delta Groove Music’s
Randy Chortkoff will be master of ceremonies for the evening finals.
A complete list of participating acts can be found at www.blues.org.
The
weekend also features the prestigious Keeping the Blues Alive (KBA)
awards that honor the men and women, who have made significant contributions
to the Blues music world, in 22 categories such as journalism, literature
and photography and to the best clubs and festivals, as well as
managers, promoters and producers. The Blues community will recognize
its peers in a moving Saturday morning ceremony at the Downtown
Doubletree Hotel.
The
25th International Blues Challenge is sponsored by ArtsMemphis,
bandVillage, Beale Street Merchants Association, Budweiser and its
local distributor, D. Canale Beverages, FedEx, Gibson, Legendary
Rhythm & Blues Cruise, Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau,
Smokin' Bluz, Sonicbids, T. Clifton Art, Tennessee Arts Commission,
Tennessee Film, Entertainment and Music Commission and Sirius XM
Satellite Radio.
Media
Sponsors include Beale Street Caravan, Big City Rhythm and Blues,
Blues Blast, Blues Festival Guide, Blues Revue, BluesWax, Downtowner,
House of Blues Radio Hour, Living Blues, Memphis Flyer and WREG-TV
and Sirius XM Satellite Radio.
The
International Blues Challenge and Keeping the Blues Alive Awards are
produced by The Blues Foundation, a non-profit organization established
to preserve Blues history, celebrate Blues excellence, support Blues
education and ensure the future of this uniquely American art form.
The Foundation consists of a worldwide network of 165 affiliated Blues
societies and has individual memberships spanning the globe. In addition
to the, the Foundation also produces the Blues Music Awards and the
Blues Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. For more information or to
join The Blues Foundation, log onto www.blues.org.
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