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| Nine Acts Ready to Do Battle in the Detroit Blues Challenge Finals All nine of the preliminary rounds are now complete for the 2007 Detroit Blues Challenge and the nine finalists are prepared to do battle this coming Sunday, November 25, 2007. The nine preliminary rounds make the Detroit Blues Challenge the largest regional competition of its type in the world. The Detroit Blues Society is proud to sponsor and host these prestigious competitions each and every year. The finalists that will be competing in the two categories of the “Big Dance” are as follows: SOLO/DUO CATEGORY Mike Espy and Yakety Yak from Flint, Michigan; LL Blues from Romeo, Michigan; Al Lukas from Windsor, Ontario; Dusty from Windsor, Ontario. BAND CATEGORY - Sweet Claudette and Friends; Reverend Robert Sexton's All Star Band; Justine Blazer Band; Michael May and the Messarounds; Front Street Blues Band. These bands will be competing for the opportunity to represent Detroit at The Blues Foundation International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee on January 31- February 2, 2008, and travel expenses from the Detroit Blues Society as well as prizes donated by XM Satellite Radio/Bluesville, Porchboard Bass, No Cover Productions, Alibi's, Magic Bag, Bluesfest International, CanadaSouth Blues Society, Mannino Photography, and others. Acts play a short set for a panel of judges who score them on an established set of criteria. Blues acts may not enter the challenge directly but rather each of The Blues Foundation's 165 affiliates has the right to sponsor one band and one solo/duo act. Accordingly, those who make it to Memphis are already the best of the best. For the 24th year, Blues musicians from around the world will compete for cash, prizes, and industry recognition as The Blues Foundation presents the International Blues Challenge (IBC) beginning January 31 and continuing February 1-2, 2008 in Memphis, TN. The world's largest gathering of Blues acts represents an international search by The Blues Foundation and its affiliated organizations for the Blues band and Blues solo/duo most deserving of taking their act to the international stage. In 2007, over 90 bands and 60 solo/duo acts from 34 states and 8 countries competed. Even greater participation is expected in 2008, as musicians and fans fill the clubs up and down Beale Street beginning at5:00 pm for the semi-finals on Thursday and Friday and at the Band finals (1:00 pm) and the Solo/Duo finals (7:30 pm) at the Orpheum Theater on Saturday. write your comments about the article :: © 2007 Jazz News :: home page |