Band
1st Place: Grady Champion, Mississippi Delta Blues Society of Indianola
2nd Place: Karen Lovely Band, Cascade Blues Association
3rd Place: Cheryl Renee with Them Bones, Cincy Blues Society
Best Guitarist: Matt Kelly, Big Boy Little Band, DC Blues Society

Solo/Duo
1st Place: Matt Andersen, Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival, New Brunswick, Canada
2nd Place: Alphonso Sanders and Bill “Howl-n-Madd” Perry, Crossroads Blues Society, Rosedale, Mississippi

Wonder what it was like in Memphis at the International Blues Challenge? What can we say? We will let Candye Kane say it for us:
“THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING WEEKENDS OF MY LIFE!!! I LOVED EVERY MOMENT OF IT. I WILL BE BACK NEXT YEAR…. IT WAS JUST A TREMENDOUS HONOR TO MEET SO MANY WONDERFUL PEOPLE AND SEE THE CALIBER OF TALENT FROM AROUND THE WORLD. AND SEEING THE KIDS LOVING THIS MUSIC IS A REAL INSPIRATION…. I MUST HAVE SEEN OVER 40 BANDS ALL OF THEM WERE TERRIFIC. THANK YOU SOOO MUCH.

Greetings from Memphis, Tennessee....

Bubs McKeg and Dr. Blue put on a show last night that  was smoking. The guys did us proud. The house went crazy for their songs and their music. They brought the King's Palace to life with their rendition of "Pittsburgh Blues." Bubs also asked, adding some humor, while fixing an amp problem...' can we add a category for best hat?'

Felix and the Hurricanes gave a show to outdo most. It was tremendous. Afterwards, they said that they had fun and totally enjoyed their experience. What a show! Felix included his song that will be on Blues from the Burg CD 2.

The competition is tough down here, however, we were well represented. Both bands were hotter than hot. The crowds loved them.

Good luck to both entries.

Yours in blues,

Jonnye

reporting from the 2010 International Blues Challenge

I don't twitter, I don't text. What I do know is that there is ..."nothin' but the blues" in Memphis during the 2010 International Blues Challenge.  The people have being arriving in droves since I arrived yesterday. Many familiar faces and many hopeful bands. Headquarters is at my hotel, the Doubletree, and the Blues Foundation is giving out the bookets with the band times. I have been busy lining up my itineray for the evening to try to get to see the bands from Cleveland Blues Society, West Viginia Blues Society, Baltimore Blues Society plus all of the bands that I have talked  to in my travels while here.  What can I say....so much music and so little time. I will be cutting my Blues Challenge weekend short to join the Legendary Blues cruise that will be departing from Ft. Lauderdale on Saturday. Whew, I need some vitys to keep up the pace.

Felix and the Hurricanes  and Bubs McKeg and Dr. Blue are both registered and ready to go.  It is a sunny warm day and the music will really get the town heated up this afternoon when the competition begins at 5:00. Currently the bands are at a meeting telling them what is expected of them and what they can expect during the next three days.

Just saw Valerie and Dusty Scott manning the band check in table as they usually do. Talked with the Jay and Joe from the Blues Foundation. Bill Wax and Janinva Magness were in the lobby earlier today talking with all of the fans and the bands. The energy is starting to gain momentum here in Memphis. Soon the bands will be scurrying to their appointed venues with instruments in hands to give their best twenty minutes that they each have to offer. Whew.....what pressure.

Tommorrow, Friday, there will be a Youth Showcase. I have talked with many of the young musicians and have heard them. Wow!! Look out for the up and coming generation. There will also be a Blind Raccoon showcase tommorrow afternoon to entertain the many blues fans while waiting for the second evening of competition. Bob Corritore, Izzy and Chris and many others will be showing up for this "over the top" afternoon of blues.

Last night...there is always a meet and greet at the Daisy theater for the blues fans and the bands. There is ususally a sampling of food and drinks. There was a showcase there that started at 7:30 of all the International Bands that have come to town. The reports back were were exciting and positive. The Europeans love the blues and usually sends some wonderful and exciting bands to watch while we are here in Memphis.

I chose to do things differently last nigjt. I ran into Bob and Antoinette Marshall from Pittsburgh at the airport. They asked me to join them in Clarksdale for the 2010 pre jam to the Blues Challenge. It was only 1 3/4 drive down to Ground Zero in Clarksdale, Mississippi. Running the jam was Tas Cruz. I did chuckle at the thought that that hard working man competed in the 2007 BSWPA Blues Challenge, two months later he was playing at a Clarksdale, MS festival and now he is running pre IBC jams.Their son, Shay, a very talented young man was to appear with the Sugar Theives who were a classic act to watch in the 2009 IBC. They have a high energy 1940 blues swing concept that is engaging and off the charts. Izzy and Chris were there. They were very well received. Many musicians stopped and listened to the wholesome type of blues that Chris and Izzy provide. Davida, a past competitor and one that was competing again wowed the crowd with a romping version of St. Louis blues. Two youths were showcased. One young lady from Charleston, SC, was petite in stature but big in the talent and voice department. The other, Reese Lincoln, went lick for guitar lick with Tas Cruz, a very accomplished guitar player. Many played, many danced and many had a great time. The Jack Rice party  from West Virginia showed in full force with their band entry. Many familiar faces were there....again....it was nothin but the blues. The after jam to the pre jam was at the Bluesberry Cafe..a known juke joint in Clarksdae. The players all filed in. Rich Delgrosso and his mandelin joined the troupe of musicians. It was a "smokin good time."  As we headed back to Memphis and worked our way through heavy rains, the group was moving on to Red's.

Well, that is all for now, from this roving reporter. I am on my way to Silkys to see Barbara Blue, formerly a girl from the Burg.  Tongiht it is off to a night fillled with blues, blues and more blues. ...And then there is the afterjams at the Rum Boogie and BB Kings.  This is not a weekend for the weary. It is a weekend for those who can not get enought of....:nothin but the blues.'

Yours in blues,

Jonnye