Annual TBS Blues Challenge
2011 TBS Blues Challenge Winners
Winner Solo / Duo Acts  Th' Bullfrog Willard McGhee |
Winning Band  E-Train and the Rusted Rails |
2011 TBS Blues Challenge
Select image to view larger version. Printable PDF of the poster |
2011 TBS Blues Challenge Saturday, October 1, 2011 Volume 11 Tavern 658 Maywood Ave. Raleigh, NC 27603 Map TBS is proud to announce that the 2011 TBS Blues Challenge will be held downtown Raleigh, NC at Volume 11 Tavern . This is a qualifying event for the Blues Foundation's International Blues Challenge (IBC)) in Memphis, TN. Winners in the band and solo/duo categories will be eligible to compete in the IBC (Feb. 1-4, 2012). The TBS Blues Challenge is a professionally judged competition open to North Carolina blues acts. Solo / Duo Acts Dustin Tise Rev. Sam Stevenson Spider Mike Bochey Th' Bullfrog Willard McGhee and Tad Walters Bands Chickenhead Drew Questell and the Express E-Train and the Rusted Rails Bobby Frost Blues Band The Danny Cowan Band Peak City Blues Project C.C. Mullins and Rude Mood |
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Eligibility and Rules
- Acts must be from North Carolina. More than half (51 percent) of the performers must be legal residents of the state of North Carolina as of the time of appearance at the Challenge.
- Acts must play blues music. All styles of blues are acceptable from the most traditional Mississippi delta blues to soul/blues and rock/blues.
- Entering acts must fill out this application and deliver it and the $25 application fee to a TBS official by September 17, 2011. Mailed applications and fees must be postmarked no later than September 16, 2011. Along with the application and fee you must include:
- Photo of your act that you have all rights to (for the TBS website and promotional materials).
- Short description and biography of your band (for promotional use).
- Samples of your music – CD/DVD, MP3 via email, or link to online recordings of your music.
- All entrants must be eligible to compete in the 2012 Blues Foundation's International Blues Challenge (IBC). You can view the IBC official rules at http://www.blues.org/ibc/rules.php#ref=ibc_rules . Please read the IBC rules carefully.
- Acts compete as either a Solo/Duo act or as a Band. Individual performers can compete in one category only.
- Previous winners of the TBS Blues Challenge are ineligible to compete again for one year. Individual members of a previous winning TBS act may compete with a new act, providing more than half of the new acts members are not members of the previous winning act.
- Acts will refrain from indecent, lewd, and disruptive behavior on stage and when other acts are playing. Violation of this rule will result in disqualification.
- Good sportsmanship is a basic expectation of contestants. Overt acts of poor sportsmanship during or after the event can result in bans from future TBS Challenges and other TBS events.
- Due to the number of musicians involved, TBS cannot offer a guest list. Only participating musicians get in free. All others pay admission.
- Musicians under the age of 18 must be accompanied by their own parent or legal guardian. Parents or legal guardians must remain on premises at all times with their own minor child.
- Application to TBS does not guarantee a slot in the Challenge (e.g. there may be more applicants than available slots). All decisions by TBS regarding Acts chosen to compete are final. Acts chosen to compete will be notified by Sept. 20, 2011 or earlier. Acts not chosen to compete will have their application fee refunded.
2010 TBS Blues Challenge Results Are In.
The 2010 TBS Blues Challenge was held downtown Raleigh, NC at the historic Berkeley Cafe Saturday, Sept. 25, 2010. Rick Tobey (www.chickenheadblues.com) of Hampstead, NC won the solo competition and The Harvey Dalton Arnold Blues Band (www.myspace.com/hdabb) from Burlington, NC won the band competition.
| Solo Category Results Rick Tobey - 1st Place Blu Boy - 1st Runner Up Spider Mike Bochey - 2nd Runner Up |
 Rick Tobey solo winner. |
| Blues Band Category Results The Harvey Dalton Arnold Blues Band - 1st Place E-Train and The Express - 1st Runner Up Phung Shway - 2nd Runner Up |
 The Harvey Dalton Arnold Blues Band - winner band category. | Select picture above to see larger photo. |
This is a qualifying event for the Blues Foundation's International Blues Challenge (IBC) in Memphis, TN. Winners in the band and solo/duo categories will be eligible to compete in the IBC (Feb. 2011) and will play at one of the 2011 Bull Durham Blues Festival events.
Our Sponsors:
Bullfrog and Fat Bastard Blues Band Win the 2009 TBS Blues Challenge!
Congratulations to the winners of the 2009 TBS Blues Challenge! Bullfrog was the solo/duo champion and Fat Bastard Blues Band was the top band. These two blues act are now eligible to compete in the 2010 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN. View photos from the 2009 TBS Blues Challenge.
The 2009 TBS NC Blues Challenge was held 8:00 pm, Saturday, June 13, 2009 at the Berkeley Cafe in downtown Raleigh, NC. The blues challenge is a professionally judged competition open to North Carolina blues acts that qualifies the winners to compete in the 2010 International Blues Challenge (IBC) and other prizes. The winner also will play in the 2010 Bull Durham Blues Festival.
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| Bullfrog 2009 TBS Challenge Winner (solo/duo). | Fat Bastard Blues Band, 2009 TBS Blues Challenge champions (band). |
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Competing in this years Blues Challenge were:
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Solo/Duo Bullfrog Drew Questell E-Train & Mississippi Mike Steve Jack & David Burke |
Bands Chickenhead Blues Band Cool Change Blues Band Fat Bastard Blues Band Good Rocking Sam Hard Travelin' Wheels of Fire |
Sponsors
2112 Percussion, Inc. www.2112online.com
Bull Durham Blues Festival www.bulldurhamblues.org
Conn-Signment Music 308 Parham St., Raleigh, NC 27601 919-459-2320
DataPros Web Design www.datapros.ws
Deep South Entertainment www.deepsouthentertainment.com
Fat Sound Guitars www.fatsoundguitars.com
Giant Guitars www.myspace.com/giantguitars
Jazz Entertainment Booking Agency www.jazzentertainmentonline.com
Jewelsmithe 223 NE Broad St., Southern Pines, NC 28387 910-692-9543
The Robert Cray Band www.robertcray.com
2008 Blues Challenge Winners
The winners of the 2008 TBS Blues Challenge, Jon Shain and F.J. Ventre (Solo/duo category) and Valentino & the Piedmont Sheiks (Band category) represented TBS and the Triangle in Memphis, TN at the IBC. TBS Congratulates Jon Shain and F. J. Ventre who were one of just six solo/duo acts to advance to the finals.
JON SHAIN & F.J. VENTRE
Two of the finest roots musicians in NC have joined forces to create a house rockin' blues duo. Singer-songwriter- guitarist Jon Shain travels the country as a solo artist and performs regionally as the cornerstone of both his trio and band. Thoughtful and picture-painting lyrics never fail to transport you to the places of which he sings. www.myspace.com/jonshain or www.jonshain.com
F.J. Ventre, bassist and vocalist, is that doghouse bass thumper holding the line for multiple top NC acts, including Edsel 500, The Buzzkills and The Swang Brothers. A frequent Guest Mojo with Mel Melton & the Wicked Mojos and Hi-Tone with Rebecca & the Hi-Tones, you can't swing a blues cat without happily hitting him. www.myspace.com/fjventre
VALENTINO & THE PIEDMONT SHEIKS
This act is what happens when each individual member so excels at what they do that the combined effect hits you like the freight train that they'll make you hear a' coming.
Valentino (harp, vocals), either born 40 years too late or reincarnated from days gone by, has wailed on blues harp since small childhood. Chris "C-Bone" Berry (guitar, vocals ) never met a guitar or style he couldn't play right down to the smallest nuance. Ed "Rhythm King" Mezynski (drums, vocals) is just your average three-armed drummer who also knows when less is more. Tracy Wiebeck (bass, vocals), having played behind, to name a few, Rod Piazza, Big Joe Turner, Junior Watson and Walter Trout, makes it look easy to pull it all together. Separately, they're formidable. Together, they're the perfect vintage blues storm. www.myspace.com/thesheiks
