Winners announced for Chicago Blues Challenge - “The Finals”!
This post was written by BlackJack on November 18, 2009 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
On Sunday, November 15th the Windy City Blues Society (WCBS) crowned the winners of the Inaugural Chicago Blues Challenge (CBC) at Buddy Guy’s Legends in Chicago, Illinois. This was the final event in a series of musical competitions that determined which blues performers will represent Chicago and Blues Foundation affiliate, the Windy City Blues Society at the 2010 International Blues Challenge (IBC) in Memphis, Tennessee on January 20th to 23rd.
Please join the Windy City Blues Society in congratulating Band division winner Grana Louise & the Troublemakers, Solo/Duo division winner Matt Hendricks and Bill Curtis, and Youth division winner Will Jacobs and Dirty Deal. These three performers will travel to Memphis for the International Blues Challenge next January. The International Blues Challenge represents an international search by The Blues Foundation and its Affiliated Organizations for blues artists ready to perform on a national stage. Each participating affiliate of The Blues Foundation has the right to send a band, solo/duo, and youth act to represent the organization at the IBC Semi-Finals on Beale Street in Memphis, TN.
A fundraiser to help defer travel expenses for the winning bands will be held on Friday, January 8th at B.L.U.E.S, 2519 North Halsted Chicago, IL 60657. Winners of the solo/duo competition Matt Hendricks and Bill Curtis; and band competition winners Grana Louise will perform. (This event is temporarily on hold pending scheduling issues.)
For more information about the Windy City Blues Society please visit:
http://windycityblues.org
http://www.twitter.com/WindyCityBlues
http://www.myspace.com/windycitybluessociety
http://www.facebook.com/WindyCityBluesSociety
For information about the Blues Foundation and the IBC visit http://www.blues.org/ibc/index.php.
Reader Comments
Just wanted to thank “Uptake.com” and their blog for the following press mention prior to our Chicago Blues Challenge…
“Witness The Ultimate Blues Battle At The Chicago Blues Challenge Finals
Nov 12, 2009 10:52 - By: Rosalind Cummings-Yeates
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Catch the excitement of live Chicago blues bands competing to win the International Blues Challenge at Buddy Guy’s Legends on November 15. Over the last few months, local acts have belted out their best blues performances in four rounds of contests to represent Chicago in the International Blues Challenge, held in Memphis in January. Sponsored by the Windy City Blues Society, the event supplies a great opportunity to hear the best up and coming blues performers in one night. The line-up kicks off at 7:30PM and includes 12 acts battling to be the best in blues.
Hosted at the famous Buddy Guy’s Legends nightclub, which offers the best blues in the Loop, the club is also the headquarters for the iconic blues guitarist. Besides hearing a hot collection of new artists, there’s also the chance that Buddy will take the stage. The competition lasts until 1:30 AM and tickets are $15. The Chicago Blues Challenge gives the perfect excuse for a Chicago weekend getaway. Stay at the nearby Hotel Blake luxury boutique hotel and grab some Edwardo’s stuffed pizza down the street . Stroll a few blocks east to Millennium Park to see the Bean and several new sculptures. With that, you experience three Chicago must do experiences-blues, pizza and the lakefront, in one quick weekend.”
Thanks to Arts Warrior (www.artswarrior.com) for the following mention on their site…
“We’ve Got the Windy City Blues
Graná Louise and her band took First Place in the Windy City Blues Society’s Chicago Blues Challenge. The event took place at the famed Buddy Guy’s Legends Blues Club on Sunday, Nov. 15. Graná & her band will be heading to Memphis in January to represent the city of Chicago at the 2010 International Blues Challenge. This is the 26th year of this International competition, and the first time Chicago has had a professional entrant officially representing “Chicago Blues.” This is a high-profile event that showcases top blues talent from around the world, sponsored by the Blues Music Awards, The Blues Hall of Fame and other organizations and corporate sponsors. As the winner in Chicago, Graná wins 6 hours of recording time at the Delmark Record studios, so she’ll have a new CD coming out soon, and WCBS will help defray her travel expenses to represent our city at the International Competition! If Graná wins in Memphis, she’ll get $2000 in cash, and a headlining spot at some of the top Blues fests & venues around the world.”