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24th International Blues Challenge

The Blues Foundation

January 30-February 3, 2008

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For the 24th year, Blues musicians from around the world will compete for cash, prizes, and industry recognition as The Blues Foundation presents the 24th International Blues Challenge 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 Solo/Duo Blues Act ready to take their act to the international stage. More than 90 bands and 60 solo/duo acts will participate, filling the clubs up and down Beale Street for the semi-finals on Thursday and Friday and the finals at the Orpheum Theater on Saturday. The weekend's events kick off Wednesday night with a Meet & Greet hosted by the Beale Street Merchants Association at the New Daisy Theater and the performance of multiple IBC participants at the FedEx Forum during the Memphis Grizzlies v. Denver Nuggests NBA game. In addition to the evening Blues competition, the days are filled with seminars and workshops and topped off in a moving Saturday morning brunch in which the Blues community will honor its own with the prestigious Keeping the Blues Alive (KBA) awards that honor the men and women, who have made significant contributions to the Blues music world, in 20 categories such as journalism, literature and photography and to the best clubs and festivals, as well as managers, promoters and producers.

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  Tickets: $150 for total weekend package
  $70 for semi-finals and finals

  Info Phone: 901.527.2583

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• Dates & Times

  Dates:
  January 30-February 3, 2008

  Times:
  IBC Semi-finals begin as early as 5:00pm in some Beale Street clubs on Thursday and Friday. Band finals are at 2:00pm and Solo/Duo finals are at 8:30pm at the Orpheum Theater.

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  • Event Name: 24th International Blues Challenge
    "Better than any Festival"
    Review posted by: Eddie Bagwell, Vice-President, Tulsa Blues Society from Tulsa, OK, Aug 19, 2008
    

    "This was my first year attending the International Blues Challenge and it was better than any festival I have ever attended."

    "This was my first year attending the International Blues Challenge and it was better than any festival I have ever attended."

  • Event Name: 24th International Blues Challenge
    "IBC is incredible"
    Review posted by: Mike Dew from Union Mills, NC, Aug 19, 2008
    

    "I continue to be amazed at how well an event this big comes off. I heard the comment over and over that win or lose, the experience and meeting so many other people in the buisness is the real prize.... Expand

    "I continue to be amazed at how well an event this big comes off. I heard the comment over and over that win or lose, the experience and meeting so many other people in the buisness is the real prize. The ones that walk away unhappy have missed the whole point of the event in my opinion. To me I see year after year bands evolving from hobby bands to professional bands and a lot of the evolution comes from networking and learning at this event. The big fish from the little ponds learn if they can swim in the big pond." Collapse