Events

1st Annual Blues Alliance Recital/Jam

American Legion Hall 810 US1 Fort Peirce, Fl.
Feb. 18th , 2009 7-9 PM
Admission free Featuring children from Future Generations Music Program, Ave. L., Fort Pierce.
Also, children from Helping People Succeed, Stuart.
These children are recipients of instruments from the BATC, Let Us Play Program.
Elaine Romano, VP/BATC is heading this new project.
Please come out and enjoy something only these kids can give you, music and a smile!
Light refreshments will be served.
For more information: 772-467-1851, pattivibraphone@aol.com

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ibc2009

December 4, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

25th International Blues Challenge--The World's
Largest Gathering of Blues Bands
February 4-7, 2009

Memphis, Tennessee - The program for the 25th International Blues Challenge (IBC), set for February 4-7, 2009 in Memphis, Tennessee, is taking shape, full information of which is posted at www.blues.org. The 25th edition of the world’s premier Blues music competition will feature more than 100 bands and 60 solo/duo acts from 36 states and nine countries. Blues musicians will be attending from Australia, Canada, France, Israel, Italy, Norway, Poland, United States and, for the first time, Croatia. The winners receive cash prizes, professional services and appearances at top Blues festivals. Advance tickets are available at www.blues.org.

The events begin Wednesday evening with the Beale Street Merchants hosting a Meet ‘n Greet at the New Daisy Theater, the Memphis Grizzlies presenting four IBC participants during its Blues night at the FedEx Forum in conjunction with their NBA game against the Houston Rockets. Following the game, a special 25th IBC Kick Off Concert, featuring a number of top finishers from recent Challenges, including Trampled Under Foot (2008 IBC 1st Place), Sean Carney Band (2007 1st Place), Homemade Jamz Blues Band (2007 2nd Place), Jonn Richardson (2005 IBC 1st Place and Best Guitarist), Zac Harmon (2004 IBC 1st Place). Friday afternoon will see the first-ever FedEx International Showcase, featuring many of the acts from outside the United States, and the Smokin’ Bluz Youth Showcase, featuring more than a dozen acts whose members are under 21.

The IBC semi-finals commence at 5:00pm Thursday evening in 16 Beale Street clubs and continue before a different set of judges in those clubs Friday evening. The ten band finalists will begin at 2:00pm Saturday afternoon at The Orpheum Theatre while the six solo/duo finalists will commence at 8:30pm Saturday night at the Orpheum. The judges will also present a custom Gibson guitar featuring The Blues Foundation logo to the most promising guitarist. Blues musicians Cassie Taylor and Jason Ricci will host the band finals and Delta Groove Music’s Randy Chortkoff will be master of ceremonies for the evening finals. A complete list of participating acts can be found at www.blues.org.

The weekend also features the prestigious Keeping the Blues Alive (KBA) awards that honor the men and women, who have made significant contributions to the Blues music world, in 22 categories such as journalism, literature and photography and to the best clubs and festivals, as well as managers, promoters and producers. The Blues community will recognize its peers in a moving Saturday morning ceremony at the Downtown Doubletree Hotel.

The 25th International Blues Challenge is sponsored by ArtsMemphis, bandVillage, Beale Street Merchants Association, Budweiser and its local distributor, D. Canale Beverages, FedEx, Gibson, Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise, Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau, Smokin' Bluz, Sonicbids, T. Clifton Art, Tennessee Arts Commission, Tennessee Film, Entertainment and Music Commission and Sirius XM Satellite Radio.

Media Sponsors include Beale Street Caravan, Big City Rhythm and Blues, Blues Blast, Blues Festival Guide, Blues Revue, BluesWax, Downtowner, House of Blues Radio Hour, Living Blues, Memphis Flyer and WREG-TV and Sirius XM Satellite Radio.

The International Blues Challenge and Keeping the Blues Alive Awards are produced by The Blues Foundation, a non-profit organization established to preserve Blues history, celebrate Blues excellence, support Blues education and ensure the future of this uniquely American art form. The Foundation consists of a worldwide network of 165 affiliated Blues societies and has individual memberships spanning the globe. In addition to the, the Foundation also produces the Blues Music Awards and the Blues Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. For more information or to join The Blues Foundation, log onto www.blues.org.

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CONTACT:
Jay Sieleman
Executive Director
jay@blues.org

901.527.2583 xt. 12

Subject: Flagler fest and the northwest

Bob,   I know you wanted an article about these two things so here
goes. Hopefully you can send it to the right person and use it.   If
not let me know and i will send it to them.

First was the Toyota Bike Fest under the Roosevelt bridge in Flagler
Park. The event was to raise money for special kids and Spaz from SWS
asked us if we were interested one night at one of there gigs. For us
it is nice to do any event for local community things especially since
i grew up here and feel it is my place too and love to help. The sound
was great and the crowd was even greater. For us to do anything that
has to do with helping folks right here where we are is a good feeling.
Another really giving gester by stuart Toyota, the volunteers, and all
thefolks that came and supported this community event.

The show in Idaho and Montana was a blast. Thanks to our manager Leo
who had been like a bloodhound on a raccoon, tracking us down gigs. We
have been getting some great offers and some wonderful press for the
group.   We signed with Bluzpik after the 2008 IBC and many of the out
of state venues, including the ones out west, are from contacts made
in Memphis, combined with the follow up work by Leo and Jim from
Bluzpik. We flew from Orlando to Bozeman, Montana and stayed our first
night in Three Forks. The owner of the Broken Spoke Motel gave us an
alternate route (the shortcut) to Salmon Idaho where our Friday gig was
at. The shortcut was a scenic route through a mountain pass about 7500
feet up. The road was gravel and dirt for about 40 miles and to be
honest I didn't think stuff like this still existed in the States. It
was the most beautiful drive i have ever taken. We pulled into Salmon
for our gig at the Sacajawea Center and played to the kind folks of
Salmon sharing the bill with the Lovell Sisters from Georgia. After
the show we found ourselves at the Owl Club with the locals from Salmon
we had met at the show. It was easy to find because of the giant 30
foot owl out front. We talked with folks and found out that bass man
"Mike Burney" is quite the graffiti artist. Unfortunately for me I was
caught by the bar owner redesigning one of their tables. She used the
word "defiling" but the charges were dropped after a few CD's were
signed and my masterful artistry was properly appreciated. The next
day we drove back to Montana and had some real beef on the drive to
Helena. We closed the show at the Helena Music Festival, playing to
an enthusiastic crowd. The set stopped about 15 minutes before the
noise ordinance with the crowd calling for an encore and we played a
short but slammin' encore. We ended up in a van with the guys from
another festival band "The Insomniacs". This Portland band was
nominated for a BMA last year and they had a great jump blues sound
with some Junior Watson/ Duke Robilard grit. We went to a bar that is
can't remember the name and hung with the Insomniacs and the locals
from Helena till closing time getting in arguments with the GPS lady on
the way back to the Hotel. At the Hotel each and all borrowed Rebecca
hat which seemed to turn us all into Russian Military men. A real good
time was had and we are looking forward to getting back on the road in
October. A shout goes out to all the folks out in the northwest we
met. Yall were so kind and welcoming everywhere we went and next time
we are definitely staying long enough to show you how a South Florida
boy could cast net a bear.
TNHband.com

Blues Cruise

Dear Blues Society,

Once again the South Florida Blues Society would like to present a teriffic opportunity to win a cabin for two on The Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise , leaving Ft. Lauderdale, January 13 - 20, 2008. We hope you might pass this along to your membership, or possibly might want to purchase some tickets yourself to in turn raffle off to raise some money for your own society or to use for some other type of incentive. Details are in the following offering:

Dear Fellow Blues Lovers,

Once again this year, The South Florida Blues Society is happy to present a teriffic opportunity to win a cabin for two on The Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise, leaving Ft. Lauderdale, January 13 - 20, 2007! Raffle tickets are only $20 each, and a maximum of only 500 will be sold!!! Only 500 tickets give very good odds of winning!) Last year we ended up selling 400 tickets!

The SFBS(South Florida Blues Society) is raising funds through this raffle in order to help us with the costs of producing and bringing quality events to Blues fans. We can really use your support, and hope you can get behind us in this effort. The drawing will take place at our 5 Year Anniversary Picnic in September (exact date to be announced) regardless if by that date we sell only 400 tickets or the 500 ticket maximum. Do the math! If we only sell 400 tickets, like we did last year, and you purchased 4 (four) your odds of winning are an amazing 1 in 100. Even, if hopefully we sell all 500 tickets by our picnic in September, your odds in winning if you purchase 4 tickets are still an incredible 1 in 125!!!

These tickets are worth $5,000!!!

Please don't delay, purchase your chances now!!! All the proceeds go to the SFBS. This cruise is always terrific, and always a sell out!!! So if you can't afford to spend the full purchase price to go Bluesin', here's the perfect opportunity to try your luck in winning this awesome prize for only $20!

If you want to know how great this cruise is, just ask my wife Priscilla (this will be our 3rd cruise), who say's "It's the best experience a Blues lover can ever imagine!!" (We've already booked our cabin!), or ask last year's winners, Lisa & Rick MaGill, of Pompano Beach, Florida!

You can purchase tickets, online with a credit card or E-Check securely through PayPal on our web site www.soflablues.org, or send a check for $20 for each ticket to:*

South Florida Blues Society
P.O. Box 772548
Coral Springs, FL 33077-2548

*Be sure to legibly include your name, address, phone number and email address

You can also purchase tickets from our VP, Mary Council, director Karen Ancona, or myself anytime you see us (We'll all be at the Tampa Bay Blues Festival in May).

We had a terrific response from fellow Blues society members from all over the country, last year, and hope for an equally good response this year as well!

***Please help support the South Florida Blues Society and don't miss out on this great opportunity. Only 500 tickets maximum, will be sold!!! Don't put it off!.......Don't let the opportunity get away from you! Get your raffle tickets now!!!! Your $20 will really help us in our efforts, and mission, which is to provide an outlet for Blues fans to enjoy, support and encourage, and spread the gospel of the Blues by promoting, teaching, and advancing the Blues through networking with fans and musicians, blues clubs, festivals and other venues, promoters and other organizations with the same goals in mind. Our creed is " To Preserve, Celebrate, and Support the Blues".

Bob "Bluesbobby" Weinberg

President, South Florida Blues Society

Friday, October 12^th will feature “The Best Blues Bars in Brevard”, revelers will have an evening to check out the great live music scene in Brevard County, The Beach Shack, Earls Hide a Way, The Sebastian Beach Inn and Key West Bar will all feature top notch bands for the evening, drink specials and fun.

Saturday, October 13^th is the main event, The Stephen Miller Memorial Biker & Blues Bash will feature a $100 Best Hand poker run. Then it’s off to a local bar for an After Bash Jam featuring the performers from the Blues Bash, from 10 PM to 1 AM. A North & South Poker Run are scheduled. Registration begins at 9:00 am. The North run begins at The Saints Motorcycle Clubhouse in Cocoa and the South run begins at Archie’s on A1A in Fort Pierce .

Sunday, October 14^th, from 10 AM to 2 PM, relax at the beautiful Crown Plaza in Indialantic and enjoy a Gospel Brunch on the beach featuring Eddie Scott & some of the best gospel singers and musicians from the Space Coast, They will be bringing down the house for this special musical brunch.

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2008 Blues Blast Music Awards

IllinoisBlues.com is pleased to announce the 2008 Blues Blast Music Awards. The Blues Blast Music Awards recognize excellence in Blues Music by artists worldwide. Attached is a MS Word file with a list of the nominees. This list is also available on our website at: http://www.illinoisBlues.com/bbma08.htm

The BBMA award winners will be chosen by our Blues Blast Magazine subscribers. Anyone who is a subscriber to our FREE Blues Blast Magazine is eligible to vote for their favorite Blues artists. Voting will begin on July 14, 2008.

A new website where you can listen to samples of these artist's music is planned and should be on line when voting begins on July, 14th, 2008. Further details coming soon.

For more information, please go to: http://www.illinoisBlues.com/bbma08.htm

New subscribers can sign up for FREE to vote for their favorite nominees at: http://www.illinoisblues.com/emailsignup.htm.

Bob Kieser
Publisher - Blues Blast Magazine
info@illinoisblues.com

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Punch The Dog, Get A Form.