The Blues Foundation Readies International Blues Challenge For February 2017

February 2017

THE BLUES FOUNDATION will host its 33rd Annual INTERNATIONAL BLUES CHALLENGE in MEMPHIS in the first week of FEBRUARY, 2017. Musicians from around the globe will compete for cash, prizes and bookings as they are judged the best in IBC categories, among them Band, Solo/Duo, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Harmonica Player, and Self-Produced CD.

THE CHALLENGE’s alumni include such acclaimed musicians as SUSAN TEDESCHI, TOMMY CASTRO, DELTA MOON, TRAMPLED UNDER FOOT, SEAN COSTELLO and GRADY CHAMPION.

Historic BEALE STREET will be the site for each of the challenge rounds, opening with the International Showcase on TUESDAY, JANUARY 31st, quarter-finals on WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1st and THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2nd, and the Youth Showcase and semi-finals on FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3rd. The finals round will be held at MEMPHIS’ grand ORPHEUM THEATRE on SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4th beginning at noon.

Besides the live blues performances, the five-day-long IBC will also present a variety of lectures, seminars, workshops, film, networking events, a silent auction, affiliated blues society receptions and the KEEPING THE BLUES ALIVE AWARDS and luncheon on FEB. 3rd. As  proclaimed, “Our 2017 KEEPING THE BLUES ALIVE recipients are all wonderful examples of blues flame keepers, each working in their own sphere of influence to move the genre forward while honoring its past,”  BLUES FOUNDATION Pres./CEO BARBARA NEWMAN said.  

The 2017 Keeping the Blues Alive Awards recipients are:

1. BALTIMORE BLUES SOCIETY
2. BLUES AND SOUL RECORDS
3. KATHY BOLMER
4. BRIGGS FARM BLUES FESTIVAL
5. KYLE DEIBLER
6. GREASELAND STUDIOS
7. HIGHWAY 99 BLUES CLUB
8. JAY MILLER
9. JACQUES MORGANTINI
10. JAMES NAGEL
11. PORRETTA SOUL FESTIVAL
12. STEVE SALTER
13. EDDIE STOUT
14. SUSAN SWANSON
15. WGLT radio
16. WOLF RECORDS

More information on the INTERNATIONAL BLUES CHALLENGE can be found here. Passes to the IBC for the entire week’s events are just $100 and add-on tickets for the KEEPING THE BLUES ALIVE luncheon are available online at www.blues.org or by calling (901) 527-2583, ext. 10.

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