2013 International Blues Challenge

Final Round

February 2, 2013

Memphis, Tennessee

Photographs and Story by Marilyn Stringer

On this week’s Photo Page, Marilyn Stringer shares some thoughts and photographs of the final round of the International Blues Challenge. 

Each year the International Blues Challenge (IBC) takes over Memphis for four days. After competing throughout the year all over the world, blues societies send their best band and solo/duo acts to the IBC hoping to take home the coveted winner’s award. Every bar on Beale Street is packed with fans and bands for the quarter finals on Wednesday and Thursday. The semifinalists then compete on Friday and the everyone gathers for the finals at the Orpheum Theatre on Saturday for a day of music and schmoozing.

Every night there are showcases at different blues bars that continue until early in the morning and a star-studded jam rolls on at the Daisy Theatre. It is a great time to hear the best of the best talent just walking up and down Beale Street while catching up with old and new friends. It is just a big party with high stakes for the competitors. The final announcement, shortly after the last band plays, is pretty anticlimactic. There is no gold statue to be handed out, no backstage glitter and interviews, but there opportunities and the future become very bright for the winners of this competition and the exposure to thousands of and the networking that occurs on Beale Street cannot be beat at any other event. Congratulations to all the bands that made it to Memphis – they are all winners!

Band

1st Place: Selwyn Birchwood Band – Suncoast Blues Society

2nd Place: Michael van Merwyk & Bluesoul – German Blues Network

3rd Place: Dan Treanor’s Afrosippi Band w/ Erica Brown – Colorado Blues Society

Finalists:

Alex Wilson Band – Grafton Blues Association

Dan Treanor’s Afrosippi Band w/ Erica Brown – Colorado Blues Society

Ghost Town Blues Band – Crossroads Blues Society of Rosedale

HowellDevine – The Golden Gate Blues Society

Kevin Purcell & the Nightburners – Windy City Blues Society

Michael van Merwyk & Bluesoul – German Blues Network

Mojo Theory – West Virginia Blues Society

Mr. Sipp & Kin Folk – Vicksburg Blues Society

Solo/Duo

1st Place: Little G Weevil – Atlanta Blues Society

2nd Place: Suitcase Brothers – Barcelona Blues Society

Finalists:

Graham Guest – Edmonton Blues Society

Little G Weevil – Atlanta Blues Society

Robbert Fossen & Peter Struijk – Dutch Blues Foundation

Robert Sampson – Illinois Central Blues Club

Salt & Pepper – Spa City Blues Society

Steve Balkun – Connecticut Blues Society

Suitcase Brothers – Barcelona Blues Society

Suzie Vinnick – Toronto Blues Society

Another event that occurs on Friday morning is the Keeping The Blues Alive Award ceremony. This is a very prestigious award given to those individuals and groups who have made substantial contributions over the years to the blues community. The awards were presented to the following:

Affiliate – Colorado Blues Society

Art – Stan Street, Clarksdale, Mississippi

Education – Nat Dove, Bakersfield, California

Festival: International – Festival International du Blues De Tremblant, Mont Tremblant, Quebec, Canada

Festival: U.S. – Mount Baker Rhythm And Blues Festival, Bellingham, Washington

Historical – Shelley Ritter, Clarksdale, Mississippi

International – Vicente Zumel, Barcelona, Spain

Literature – I Feel So Good: The Life and Times of Big Bill Broonzy by Bob Riesman, Chicago, Illinois

Manager – Marty Salzman, Chicago, Illinois

Radio: Commercial – Gil Anthony, Dothan, Alabama

Radio: Public, Scott Mullins, Baltimore, Maryland

Record Label – Telarc, Cleveland, Ohio

More information on all the events, winners – past and present, and other blues news can be found on the Blues Foundation’s website: https://blues.org.