Main Blues

The last of the Washington Blues Society's (WBS) semi-finals for the 2012 International Blues Challenge is set to take place on June 19th and 26th. 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, the WBS is 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. The first two semi-final competitions were held in Spokane and at the Untapped Blues and Brews Festival in Kennewick during May.

The June 19th semi-finals will be held at the Highway 99 blues club in downtown Seattle. The Oxford Saloon will host the June 26th event in Snohomish, Washington. The doors open at 3:00 pm, and the bands start playing at 4:00pm for both events. There is a $10 cover and all proceeds will help with expenses to send the winners to Memphis in 2012. The finalists will compete on Sunday, August 21st at the Taste Of Music Festival in historic downtown Snohomish.

Here is the list of semi-finalists that will be competing:

Sunday, June 19th
4:00-4:25 Red Hot Blues Sisters
4:40-5:05 Ray Rivera Band
5:20-5:45 Rafael Tranquilino Band
6:00-6:25 CD Woodbury Band
6:40-7:05 Randy Norris & The Full Degree
7:20-7:45 Julie Powers & The Uptown Blues Band
8:00-8:25 Mary McPage & The Assassins
8:40-9:05 Cody Rentas Band

Sunday, June 26th
4:00-4:25 Nick Vigarino’s Back Porch Stomp
4:40-5:05 Stanislove
5:20-5:45 Fulltime Dreamers
6:00-6:25 Parlor Blues
6:40-7:05 Randy Norris & Jeff Nicely
7:20-7:45 Wired!
8:00-8:25 Hot Rod’s Blues Revue
8:40-9:05 The Fabulous Roof Shakers
9:20-9:45 RJ Knapp & The 21st Century Bluzmen
10:00-10:25 James Howard Band

Come out and support Washington State's outstanding blues talent!