International Blues Challenge

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The International Blues Challenge (IBC) is a music competition run by the Blues Foundation. [1]

Contents

Notable blues artists that have competed in the IBC over the years also includes Fiona Boyes, Eden Brent, Michael Burks, Tommy Castro, Sean Costello, Albert Cummings, Døvydas, Larry Garner, Zac Harmon, Homemade Jamz Blues Band, HowellDevine, Richard Johnston, Julian Fauth, Super Chikan, Susan Tedeschi, Southern Avenue, and Watermelon Slim. [2]

The 1994 event in particular had much talent as Susan Tedeschi, Michael Burks (who won the Albert King Guitar Award) and a 16-year-old Sean Costello competed, although none of them were the eventual winner.[ citation needed ]

History

The competition began in 1984, then named the Blues Amateur Talent Contest. The idea was to give amateur or up and coming musicians a chance to be discovered and get a foothold. In 1986, the event was renamed the National Amateur Talent Contest and 17 bands competed. Prior to 1993, the IBC had a rule that performers had to make less than 50% of their income from performing. This rule was dropped that year and the following year the word "Amateur" was dropped from the name of the event. In 1995, the event was renamed “The International Blues Talent Competition” to reflect the expanded demand and over 40 acts competed. No competition was held in 1999 as the timing of the event was changed from the fall during the King Biscuit Festival to the January/February time frame. In January 2000, the first International Blues Challenge was held with 50 bands competing. As the event has grown in size it was decided to split the acts into two categories, Band and Solo/Duo in 2002. Now each year more than 200 acts from around the world gather on Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee, to compete for the International Blues Challenge. [3]

Diunna Greenleaf and her backing band, Blue Mercy, won the competition in 2005. [4] In 2006, the Joey Gilmore Band won the Best Band prize. [5] The winners in 2008 were Trampled Under Foot. [6] The 2010 winner of the top Solo/Duo prize was Matt Andersen. Grady Champion and his band won the Best Band title at the 26th International Blues Challenge in 2010, [7] The 2011 winners of the Solo/Duo category were Georg Schroeter and Marc Breitfelder. [8]

The band winner in 2014 was Mr. Sipp, with the solo winner being Tim Williams. [9] In 2015, Eddie Cotton won the best band category, with Randy McQuay coming out on top in the solo/duo division. [10]

Band winners

YearBandBlues Society
1984RelianceA band from Memphis won the first Blues Amateur Talent Contest
1985RelianceReliance repeated as winners
1986Arletta NightingaleMemphis, Tennessee
1987N/K(The Blues Foundation website does not list a winner)
1988 Larry Garner & the Boogaloo Blues BandBaton Rouge, Louisiana
1989John WestonLee County, Arkansas
1990The DynamicsBloomington, Indiana
1991The Roach Thompson BandMiami, Florida
1992Piano Bob & the Snowman (Robert Wilder & Ken Minahan)Miami, Florida
1993Evil GalBoston Blues Society
1994The Hardway ConnectionWashington, D.C.
1995The MoversBoston Blues Society
1996Smilin Vic & the Soul MonkeysOklahoma Blues Society
1997Chris CameronFort Smith Blues Society
1998Abe ReidPiedmont Blues Preservation Society
1999No challenge heldMoved date from King Biscuit Fest to January/February
2000Dave Keyes BandNew York Blues Society
2001 Richard Johnston Beale Street Blues Society
2002Chef Chris & His Nairobi TrioCanada South Blues Society
2003 Delta Moon Charlotte Blues Society
2004 Zac Harmon & the Mid-South RevueSouthern California Blues Society
2005 Diunna Greenleaf and The Blue Mercy BandThe Blue Shoe Project
2006 Joey Gilmore South Florida Blues Society
2007Sean Carney BandColumbus Blues Alliance
2008 Trampled Under Foot Kansas City Blues Society
2009 J.P. Soars and the Red Hots South Florida Blues Society
2010 Grady Champion Mississippi Delta Blues Society of Indianola
2011Lionel Young BandColorado Blues Society
2012The WIRED Band!Washington Blues Society
2013 Selwyn Birchwood Suncoast Blues Society
2014 Mr. Sipp Vicksburg Blues Society
2015Eddie CottonVicksburg Blues Society
2016The Delgado BrothersVentura County Blues Society
2017 Dawn Tyler Watson Montreal Blues Society
2018Keeshae Pratt BandHouston Blues Society
2019Ms Hy-C and Fresh StartSt. Louis Blues Society
2020HOROJO Trio Ottawa Blues Society
2022The Wacky JugsFrance Blues
2023Mathias LattinHouston Blues Society
2024 Piper and the Hard Times Nashville Blues and Roots Alliance

Solo/duo winners

In 2002, the Blues Foundation split the challenge into two categories and began awarding a winner in the Solo/Duo category.

YearBandBlues Society
2002Little Toby WalkerLong Island Blues Society
2003Fiona BoyesMelbourne Blues Appreciation Society
2004Lightnin' Lee & the Upright RoosterSpa City Blues Society
2005Jimi HockingMelbourne Blues Appreciation Society
2006 Eden Brent Mississippi Delta Blues Society of Indianola
2007Nathan James and Ben HernandezBlues Lovers United of San Diego
2008Lionel YoungColorado Blues Society
2009 Little Joe McLerran Blues Society of Tulsa
2010 Matt Andersen Harvest Jazz & Blues
2011Georg Schroeter & Marc BreitfelderBaltic Blues Society
2012 Ray Bonneville Ozark Blues Society of Northwest Arkansas
2013Little G WeevilAtlanta Blues Society
2014Tim WilliamsCalgary Blues Music Association
2015Randy McQuayCape Fear Blues Society
2016Ben Hunter & Joe SeamonsWashington Blues Society
2017Al HillNashville Blues Society
2018Kevin "B.F." BurtCentral Iowa Blues Society
2019 Jon Shain Triangle Blues Society
2020Héctor AnchondoBlues Society of Omaha
2022Eric RamseyPhoenix Blues Society
2023Frank SultanaSydney Blues Society
2024Joe WatersColumbus Blues Alliance

Best Guitarist winners

2008Nick SchnebelenKansas City Blues Society
2016Joey DelgadoVentura County Blues Society
2017Ben RacineMontreal Blues Society
2018 Artur Menezes
2019Gabe StillmanBilltown Blues Society
2020 JW-Jones Ottawa Blues Society
2022T.C. CarterPiedmont Blues Preservation Society
2023Mathias LattinHouston Blues Society
2024Stephen HullParamount Music Association

Best self-produced CD award

YearBandBlues Society
2005(TIE) Robin Rogers - Crazy, Cryin’ BluesN/A
2005(TIE) Collard Greens & Gravy - Silver BirdN/A
2006Roxy Perry - Back in BluesvilleN/A
2007Mighty Lester Band - We are Mighty LesterN/A
2008Sue Palmer & Her Motel Swing Orchestra - Sophisticated LadiesN/A
2009Nathan James & Ben Hernandez - Hollerin’N/A
2010(TIE) The Informants - Crime Scene QueenColorado Blues Society
2010(TIE) Laurie Morvan - Fire It Up!N/A
2011Joe McMurrian - Get Inside This HouseCascade Blues Association
2012Dave Keller - Where I'm Coming FromRhode Island Rhythm & Blues Preservation Society
2013Steve Hill - Solo RecordingsMontreal Blues Society
2014Hank Mowery - Account To MeWest Michigan Blues Society
2015 Altered Five Blues Band - Cryin' MercyGrafton Blues Association
2016Rob Lumbard - Blues in a BottleCentral Iowa Blues Society
2017 JW-Jones - High TemperatureOttawa Blues Society
2018 Jontavious Willis - Blue MetamorphosisAtlanta Blues Society
2019Little Red Rooster Blues Band - Lock Up the LiquorCentral Delaware Blues Society
2020Moonshine Society - Sweet ThingRiver City Blues Society (VA)
2022Memphis Lightning - Borrowed TimeSuncoast Blues Society
2023Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal - Green LightBlues Society of Omaha
2024Sister Lucille - Tell the World

References

  1. ↑ "International Blues Challenge - Blues Foundation - Blues Challenge Memphis". Memphis.about.com. 2013-02-03. Archived from the original on 2014-04-13. Retrieved 2014-05-17.
  2. ↑ "2016 International Blues Challenge | The Blues Foundation". Blues.org. 2014-06-20. Archived from the original on 2015-08-13. Retrieved 2015-07-27.
  3. ↑ "A Brief History of the International Blues Challenge". makingascene.org. 2014-09-03. Retrieved 2016-01-17.
  4. ↑ "About Jonn 'Del Toro' Richardson - The Texas Bull". Deltoroblues.wordpress.com. Retrieved 2014-05-17.
  5. ↑ "Joey Gilmore | Biography & History". AllMusic . Retrieved 2015-12-17.
  6. ↑ "The Band | Trampled Under Foot". Tufkc.com. Archived from the original on 2014-05-17. Retrieved 2014-05-17.
  7. ↑ "Grady Champion's "Bootleg Whiskey" a Return to Down Home Southern Soul | American Blues Scene Magazine". Americanbluesscene.com. 2014-09-02. Retrieved 2015-07-29.
  8. ↑ "Georg Schroeter and Marc Breitfelder". Bluestour.de. 2011-05-02. Archived from the original on 2014-11-02. Retrieved 2014-05-17.
  9. ↑ "30th International Blues Challenge Winners - Memphis, Tennessee, January 25, 2014". Prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2014-05-17.
  10. ↑ "BREAKING: International Blues Challenge Winners! | American Blues Scene Magazine". Americanbluesscene.com. 2015-01-25. Retrieved 2015-07-27.
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