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| The Barnburners return to the International Blues Challenge by Joe McGaha  Southland blues band The Barnburners will perform live at the International Blues Challenge on Wednesday, October 5, 2005 from 8:00 pm - 8:30 pm at Cozy's Bar & Grill in Sherman Oaks, California. This performance is the second entry for The Barnburners. "This is the first time that we are entering with all-original songs" says Eddie "Blue Note" Taska (Guitarist for The Barnburners), "we are hopeful that we'll make a lasting impression with the judges."Formed in 1997 in Yorba Linda, California, The Barnburners have performed in major venues across Southern California including The Coach House (San Juan Capistrano), The Galaxy Theater (Costa Mesa), B.B. King’s (Universal City), and many more. They have performed on the same bill with many Blues artists including Greg Serrato, Finis Tasby, Robben Ford, Teresa Russell & Cocobilli, BB Chung King & The Buddha Heads, etc . The band has performed in music festivals throughout Southern California, everywhere from Leona Valley to Yorba Linda. You can find Barnburners recordings on radio stations throughout the United States, as well as in Europe and Latin America. The band is in the process of recording a c.d. of original music entitled "The Big Town", set for release in the Fall of 2005. The band’s first c.d., Workin’ Overtime, is available for purchase at www.dwmmusic.com. Most recently, the Barnburners kicked off the Irvine Lake Blues Festival 2005 in Silverado, California. The International Blues Challenge will be entering its 22nd year in 2006. This largest gathering of blues bands in the world is set for January 26-28, 2006. As the IBC enters its 22nd edition, it has evolved into the nation’s biggest and most respected showcase for Blues musicians ready to take their act to the national stage. The IBC is a judged “Battle of the Bands” in which competitors take the stage and play a short set for a panel of judges. The acts are judged based on an established set of criteria. The IBC represents an international search by The Blues Foundation and its Affiliated Organizations (mostly blues societies) for the Blues Band and Solo/Duo Blues Act ready to perform on a national stage, but just need that extra break. Each Affiliate of The Blues Foundation has the right to send a band and solo/duo act to represent the organization at the IBC Semi-Finals on Beale Street in Memphis, TN. Most Affiliates stage a regional preliminary IBC competition, with the winner of that competition representing the organization in the Memphis international competition. Usually, these preliminary rounds are held in clubs as part of a fundraiser or simply an excitement-building event. Each organization is free to structure the preliminary round as it sees fit, as long as a single band and/or solo/duo act is identified. However, since The Blues Foundation scoring criteria will determine the ultimate winner, we strongly encourage our Affiliates to use the same system in the preliminary competitions. The list of blues greats that have competed in the IBC over the years is impressive indeed: Slick Ballinger, Michael Burks, Tommy Castro, Albert Cummings, Delta Moon, Larry Garner, Diunna Greenleaf, Zac Harmon, Richard Johnston, Matthew Skoller, Susan Tedeschi, John Weston and Michelle Wilson. The IBC Southern California Regional Competitions will be held on consecutive Wednesday nights during the month of October at Cozy's Bar & Grill located at 14058 Ventura Blvd. in Sherman Oaks. The competition is open to the public. For more information, visithttp://www.blues.org write your comments about the article :: © 2005 Jazz News :: home page |