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WELCOME TO THE BLUES SOCIETY OF WESTERN PA WEBSITE
  
  
We support the blues music from Pittsburgh in the Western PA area. BSWPA is on the move and it is the people that make it all happen! You can make a difference today by joining one of our committees!webmaster@bswpa.org


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 BLUES SOCIETY NEWS    
and the winner is.....

 

The winner of the 2nd Annual Youth Blues Challenge...

 

Zoe Zielinski, a seventeen year old student at Allegheny Community College and Hope Academy in East Liberty, PA. Zoe will represent the Blues Society of Western PA at the 2014 International Youth Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN during the 2014 International Blues Challenge. Zoe was chosen from a group of very talented contestants. The judges had their work cut out for them.

Congratulations, Zoe!!! 

 


2013 BSWPA BLUES CHALLENGE WINNERS ANNOUNCED

 

This year's BSWPA Blues Challenge winners are:

  • Solo/Duo: Gary Prisby & Matt Barranti.
  • Band: Billy the Kid and the Regulators.
  • Jim Weber Guitar Award: Cheryl Rinovato.

Congratulations and good luck in Memphis!!!

We thank our fans for coming out and supporting the bands and our efforts. A big thank you to all the judges and volunteers.

Stay tuned for photos and videos.

 


2nd Annual Blues Youth Challenge - New date

Youth Challenge 2013

The Blues Society of Western PA will host their 2nd Annual Blues Youth Challenge on Sunday, April 28 at the Venue at Harmony Ridge, Ambridge, PA.

Single, duo and bands are welcome to enter our Blues competition. The deadline for submissions will be March 10, 2013.

\You must still be under 21 years of age by February 10, 2014 to be eligible to enter.
What is at stake? Your act has the opportunity to win $350 and a slot to enter the 2014 Youth Showcase at the 2014 International Blues Challenge
in Memphis, TN.

Download the application >

 


9th Annual Blues Challenge

2013 Blues ChallengeThe Blues Society of Western PA is proud to announce that their 9th Annual Blues Challenge is scheduled for Saturday, April 13, 2013 at the Clarion Hotel, 401 Holiday Drive, Pittsburgh, PA (Greentree area).
2013 Blues Challenge

Applications are now being accepted. There will be fifteen slots available. The deadline for submissions will be February 10, 2013.

We challenge you to enter our competition. Once the slots are filled...and they fill early...a wait list will be started.

What is at stake? The winning band will win $1000 and a slot in the 2014 International Blues Challenge. The winning solo/duo winner will receive $500 and a slot in the 2014 International Blues Challenge. Each act will be able to introduce our members and blues fans to their music and perhaps develop new fans of their own.

Download the application >

 


2013 KBA Award winners anounced!

(Special thanks to Bob Corritore)
The Blues Foundation will honor 15 individuals and organizations with its 2013 Keeping the Blues Alive (KBA) Awards during a recognition luncheon Friday, February 1, 2013, in Memphis, Tennessee. Each year, The Blues Foundation presents the KBA Awards to individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to blues music. The KBA ceremony will be held in conjunction with the 29th International Blues Challenge (IBC), which begins January 29 and features the final rounds of the world’s largest and most prestigious blues music competition, as well as seminars, showcases, and receptions for blues societies, fans, and professionals.


The KBAs are awarded on the basis of merit by a select panel of blues professionals to those working to actively promote and document the music. Committee chair Art Tipaldi (who is also the editor of Blues Revue Magazine) states “The fifteen recipients represent an outstanding cross-section of blues boosters. We are pleased to honor these people and organizations as a tribute to the years each has given to supporting the blues."

The 2013 Keeping the Blues Alive Awards recipients are:

Affiliate – Colorado Blues Society
Art – Stan Street, Clarksdale, Mississippi
Club – Boulder Outlook Hotel, Boulder, Colorado
Education – Nat Dove, Bakersfield, California
Festival: International – Festival International du Blues De Tremblant, Mont Tremblant, Quebec, Canada
Festival: U.S. – Mount Baker Rhythm And Blues Festival, Bellingham, Washington
Historical – Shelley Ritter, Clarksdale, Mississippi
International – Vicente Zumel, Barcelona, Spain
Journalism – Bob Margolin, High Point, North Carolina
Literature – I Feel So Good: The Life and Times of Big Bill Broonzy by Bob Riesman, Chicago, Illinois
Manager – Marty Salzman, Chicago, Illinois
Print Media – Blues News, Oslo, Norway
Radio: Commercial – Gil Anthony, Dothan, Alabama
Radio: Public, Scott Mullins, Baltimore, Maryland
Record Label – Telarc, Cleveland, Ohio

Tickets to the KBA ceremony are available online at http://www.blues.org/ or by calling 901-527-2583.

 

 


9th Annual "Rhythms of Life" Fundraising Concert

 

Save the date! Our 9th Annual "Rhythms of Life" Fundraising Concert to benefit "Music Smiles"--live music in hospitals! Fab venue, top tier talent, amazing night! Be there!

Thursday, October 18, 2012
Silks Lounge, The Meadows Racetrack & Casino, Washington, PA
Doors at 6, Music at 7 pm, $25 entry
$20 advance—contact spugar@comcast.net or “Buy Advance Tickets” at www.sonnypugar.org
+21, raffle items, 50/50, door prizes, free buffet—courtesy of The Meadows
Hosted by WDVE’s Sean McDowell
 


PHOTOS FROM THE PITTSBURGH BLUES FESTIVAL

 

Check out the photos from this years Pittsburgh Blues Festival at Hartwood Acres HERE.

 


BREAKING NEWS....

 

BLUES FROM THE BURG 3 hit the blues stands Friday July 20th, 2012!!!!!

Thanks to all of the musicians who made this compilation CD possible. Want to hear what Pittsburgh has to offer....give it a listen! Great music...Pittsburgh has a treasure box full of music to share with the world. This CD is only a small representation of what we offer in Western PA! Look for details on the upcoming CD release party.

 

 


8th Annual Blues Challenge Wrap-Up

To everyone involved in the 8th Annual Blues Challenge, the Blues Society of Western PA thanks everyone for making it a great day of music.

Congratulations to the 2012 BSWPA winners: The Jimmy Adler Band (best band), Miss Freddye and Greg 'G-man' Castille (duo) and Cheryl Rinovato ( best guitarist).

Thank you to all of the outstanding musicians that shared the day. There were 15 acts that accepted our blues challenge and worked hard to hone their acts in preparation for the competition.

Thank you to all of the blues fans for their continued support.

A big thank you to the workers who worked tirelessly to prepare for this event and to those who worked the long hours yesterday to help provide a stellar challenge. 

It takes an army to make an event like this happen and be successful...

 


1st Annual BSWPA Blues Challenge - WATCH THE VIDEO


 


Video Montage of the Blues Society of Western PA's 2011 New Year's Eve Blues Bash


 

 


SUBMIT YOUR EVENTS
  1. Maintain your Google Calendar and share it with us:
    • Log into their Google calendar. Click on the Gear icon in the upper right corner of the screen. Select "Calendar Settings" from the drop down menu. The page that opens up will have four headings. Select the one marked "Calendars". There should be at least one calendar listed. To the right of the calendar should be a link:"Shared: Edit settings" Click that link. The page that opens should have three headings. Select "Calendar Details" Look for the ICAL button. Click on that and copy the link in the dialog box that opens. Paste this link in an email and send to events@bswpa.org
  2. Send emails to events@bswpa.org in the following format: 
    Band Name, Date, Start Time-End Time, Venue Name, Exact Venue Address and Phone Number.

WHY CREATE YOUR GOOGLE CALENDAR? - As you are maintaining your Google calendar, you can share that with your fans, and once you send the link to us as instructed, you will automatically share events with the BSWPA calendar. No more emails to us and your events will be posted as soon as we see them posted on your calendar.

 


Newsletter on Mobile

 Read the past BSWPA Bluesletter issues on your mobile device. Use your smartphone's Barcode Scanner app to scan the image to the left, or point your phone's browser to
http://bswpa.blogspot.com/?m=1

 


Asking Your Help with Donations Asking Your Help with Donations

The PITCH Program (Putting Instruments in the Children's Hands) would appreciate the donation of instruments in good working condition to enable the fulfillment of this program.
 

 read more ...


BLUES FROM THE BURGH - Volume 2 - NOW AVAILABLE




Listen to Samples


 


ANOTHER GREAT OPPORTUNITY THROUGH THE BSWPA ...

Recording company offering 3 hours of time for $30.
Interested? Email Don Vecchio, our VP, at: donv21@yahoo.com

 
   
      
UPCOMING BSWPA EVENTS
Move your mouse over the images to see details. Read more information about these events within the 'Where to Catch Us Next' section to the right, or click the image to read more.

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   WHERE TO CATCH US NEXT Minimize  

Annual BSWPA Membership and Election Meeting, Guitar Workshop and Blues Show
Saturday, June 8
Moondog's, Freeport Road, Blawnox, PA

Featuring:

SEAN CARNEY...
2007 INTERNATIONAL BLUES CHALLENGE WINNER

ALBERT KING GUITAR AWARD WINNER

4 PM - 6 PM   GUITAR WORKSHOP with Sean Carney
The Workshop will be a relaxed, interactional format....All ages
Sign up in advance for workshop (to enable better preparation)...not necessary but would be appreciated.
$7 for workshop and show
$3 for workshop and show for students.
Signup: 724-888-6183  or bswpa.org

Blues meeting and election at 7 pm
Blues Show at 8 pm with the guitar scorching music of  Sean Carney with the Jimmy Adler Band and a jam afterwards for all those who would like to share the stage with Sean and Jimmy.

$7 public, $5 BSWPA members

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Ladies Sing the Blues
A Blues and BBQ Event
Sunday, June 23
4 pm
RPM's
Bridgeville, PA

This will be a joint venture for the BSWPA
and the Sonny Pugar Memorial Foundation
to provide funding for music therapy projects
at children's hospital.

Stevie Wellons Band
Shari Richards Band
Ms.Freddye and her Band
Jill West & Blues Attack

~ Outdoors on the spacious deck with BBQ menu.
~ If rain, the event will move indoors to the party room.

$12 public, $10 BSWPA members
Food and beverages available throughout the event.
18 and over event.(per RPM's)

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Bikes, Bands and Brews Benefit for Wounded Warriors
July 12-14 at Midland VFW Park
The BSWPA was asked to rally bands for

Blues Saturday on July 13 ....noon - midnight.
Thanks to the following bands who will do their "tour of duty" to help those who have served us.

Bo Hogs
Shot O' Soul
The Rich Harper Band
Angel Blue and the Prophets
Rhythm Hawks
Vince Agwada
Eugene Morgan and the Nightcrawlers
Blue and Evil

$25 per person for weekend
$15 per person daily entry fee
$25 advanced sales inlcuded shirt and entry
$15 shirts at event

Order advance tickets and add shirt size to:
Midland VFW Atten. Don Smith
700 Midland Ave, Midland, PA  15059
The event includes: camping, live music, bike games, bocce tournament, cornhole tournament, bonfires and more.
Affordable food and beer provided by VFW Post 8165

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Pittsuburgh Blues Festival ... July 19, 20, 21 at Hartwood Acres
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Heritage Music Festival ... August 9, 10, 11 in Wheeling, WV
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Blues Picnic
Saturday, September 14  Hopewell Community Park
Noon - 9 pm.
Blues, Blues and more Blues, add a BBQ cookoff in a park setting
with a pavillion to make this a rain or shine event and this will be an exciting
event to finish out your summer. Added to the mix:
Handicapped parking near our pavillion, playground, fising lake,
hiking trails
Food vendors will be available all day.
FREE Event...family friendly!
Deuces Wild                                     12 pm- 1:30 pm
32.20 Blues Band                         2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Jill West and Blues Attack            4:30 pm- 6:30 pm
Billy the Kid and the Regulators   7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

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Fall Blues Cruise- September 30 Gateway Clipper
Our Blues Challenge winners: Billy the Kid & the Regulators (Band) & Gary Prisby & Matt Barantti (duo)
have been asked to join Jill West & Blues Attack on September 30 as part of their prize package for
winning the 9th Annual Blues Challenge.
More details to follow.


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Blues Goes Pink ....the Divas Return Show
October 6
Jergel's - Slade Road, Warrendale, PA

To Benefit Adagio Health for Breast and Cervical Cancer Screenings

More details to follow.

    
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IT PAYS TO BE A MEMBER
Please visit our sponsors' website.
DID YOU KNOW? - Your BSWPA membership allows you a $2 discount at all blues shows at these venues. You will also receive your discount at all Blues Society sponsered shows and on merchandise. Please be sure to bring your Blues Society Membership Card to receive your discount.

  
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