Main Blues

By Tony Frederickson 

The Washington Blues Society’s local competitions for the 2012 International Blues Challenge in Memphis have been set! It’s time for bands and solo/duo acts to make their plans to compete. One band and one solo/duo act will represent the Washington Blues Society (WBS) in Memphis at the world’s largest gathering of blues musicians from January 31 through February 4, 2012.

For the first time, we are working with the Walla Walla Blues Society and the Inland Empire Blues Society to hold semi-finals across the state to make it easier for blues acts to participate in this great event. We will hold semi-final competitions on Friday, May 13th at the Untapped Blues and Brews Festival in Kennewick, on Sunday, May 29th in Spokane, and on Sunday, June 19th and 26th at the Highway 99 Blues Club in Seattle.

The finalists will compete on Sunday, August 21st at the Taste Of Music Festival in historic downtown Snohomish. Each competition will follow the rules of the Blues Foundation. Each set will be limited to 25 minutes, and each competitor will be allowed one 15-minute set change. Any Washington State blues act may enter, and the act must include at least one who is a member of the WBS. Membership can be established at IBC entry, using the membership form in the WBS Bluesletter. The application may be downloaded from www.wablues.org and must include the non-refundable entry fee, which pays for the backline and a PA system for events. Any excess funds will be used to defray expenses of the winning solo/duo act and band to participate in the 2012 International Blues Challenge in Memphis. Band entry fee is $30.00 and solo/duo entry fee is $15.00. Entry deadline is Sunday, May 1, 2011, and all entry forms and payments must be received by a Washington Blues Society Board member or arrive in the blues society’s Post Office Box no later than that date (Washington Blues Society, PO Box 70604, Seattle, WA 98127).

All proceeds will help with expenses for Memphis. The WBS will help winners in fund-raising, but cannot guarantee that all expenses for Memphis will be covered. Judges will evaluate each act using the Blues Foundation scoring criteria and rules. Judges will not be affiliated with the WBS Board or any competitor. Application is an initial statement of interest and not a binding agreement between the applicant and the WBS.

Make your plans to enter now! For more information, please contact Tony Frederickson, Washington Blues Society Merchandise Director, at anthonyfrederickson(at)comcast.net or Eric Steiner, Washington Blues Society President, at president(at)wablues.org.