The Chicago Blues Challenge is a timed, judged, and scored battle of the bands sanctioned by the Windy City Blues Society (WCBS) and backed by The Blues Foundation. 

Acts are scored on 5 weighted criteria

1) Vocal talent (X 2)

2) Instrumental Talent (X 2)

3) Stage Presence (X 2)

4) Originality (X 3)

5) Blues Content (X 4)

Judges score the acts on a scale of 1 - 10 for each category.

1-3 Typical of a beginning blues band.
4-5 Typical of a local weekend band.
6-7 Typical of an advanced local band but not yet ready to headline a major blues club.
8-9 Typical of the quality of blues artists who headline major clubs.
10 Typical of those who play the main stage at major festivals such as Chicago or King Biscuit Blues Festivals. 

Who Are the Judges ?

Record Label owners, festival promoters and talent buyers and those with decades in the blues music business.

 (Scroll Down for info on the acts) 

 The Bolingbrook Arts Council is composed of working artists, business owners, educators, and community members who are passionate about the Bolingbrook Arts Community. Under the leadership of Commission Chair, Mithra Zaucha and Vice Chair, Hilary Rosenthal, the arts council plans, develops, and executes events that raise the profile of local talented artists, encourages the public engagement in the arts, and celebrates the rich cultural diversity of the community in an effort to inspire a new generation of artists.