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Upcoming Blues Society Events

International Blues Challenge, February 1-4, Memphis, TN
Regular Board Meeting, February 13, 6:30 pm @ Café Bene, St Paul

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The Innocent Sons @ Wet Willie's

Got the Blues in Memphis

Dreary Friday, Competitors Recoup

After two long nights of competition at the International Blues Challenge, the two Minnesota acts will have a chance to relax today and reflect on their experiences so far in Memphis. Niether Annie Mack or Javier & the Innocent Sons were selected to advance to the semi-final rounds of the competition, but hopefully everyone enjoyed their time on stage and were able to network with fellow musicians and music business people.

Trent Romens

After a very strong performance at Wet Willie's on Wednesday night, Javier & the Innocent Sons experienced some sound problems on Thursday night which probably hurt their chances for advancement to the semi-finals. Annie Mack & Tom Kochie performed well both nights at the Westin Lobby Bar against tough competition from Canada, Croatia as well as the United States.

Trent Romens performed Thursday afternoon at the Superior on Beale St as part of a showcase organized by Blind Raccoon. Trent performed with Elisa Wright on violin and John Wright on bass. The performance was enthusiastically received by audience.

Annie Mack & Tom Kochie

Trent performed solo this afternoon at Silky O' Sullivan's on Beale St as part of the IBC Youth Showcase. Trent also took second place, for $100, in the Youth Blues Knowledge Bowl.

As an added attraction, Davina & the Vagabonds once again are participating in the events surrounding the IBC. Thursday afternoon they performed at the Blues Hall and they also will be appearing at King's Palace and Rum Boogie Café.

Davina & the Vagaonds
Davina & the Vagabonds @ Blues Hall

Memphis during IBC week is the place to be if you want to rub shoulders with hundreds of musicians, eat fried food and BBQ and hear almost non-stop blues music.

Tomorrow the finals will be held at the Orpheum Theater to bring the week to a close. It's always interesting to try to guess who the judges will ultimately pick.

(02/03/12)

Trent & Annie
Trent Romens & Annie Mack on Beale St

Minnesotans Arrive
In Memphis

IBC Competition Starts Tonight

Partly cloudy, 69 degrees. Everyone seems to be checking in. Annie Mack & Tom Kochie are here. Trent Romens is here. I've heard that Javier & the Innocent Sons are here. A handful of the usual IBC junkies are here and more are on the way. Annie Mack is up first at the Westin Lobby Bar at 8:40 pm. Javier & the Innocent Sons are the last act at Wet Willies tonight at 10:15 pm. Davina & the Vagabonds are playing in Clarksdale, MS tonight but will doing a showcase at the Blues Hall tomorrow. — from Jake Jacobson

(02/01/12)

Dave "Cool Breeze" Brown

Senders Swing, Dancers Swoon

Friday, February 3 @ Blues Saloon

Dave "Cool Breeze" Brown and Bill Black lead the Senders to the stage at Wilebski's Blues Saloon this Friday, February 3. The Senders feature a full horn section, keyboard, drums and bass along with Cool Breeze on guitar and vocals. Dancers love this band and they've played a few times at the Thursday night street dances during the summer at Landmark Center in St Paul. This Friday will offer a great opportunity to those of you who like to dance and may not be acquainted with the new Wilebski's Blues Saloon on North Rice St. Music begins at 7 pm. Happy Hour with free appetizers begins at 5 pm. — from Wilebski's Blues Saloon

(01/29/12)

Applications Now Being Accepted For
2012 Youth Showcase

The Minnesota Blues Society is pleased to announce our first Youth Showcase audition for musicians under the age of 21 with Band/Solo/Duo acts interested in participating in the Youth Showcase at the 2013 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN. Please see 2012 Youth Showcase Announcement for complete details. Deadline for submission of audition videos is March 1, 2012.

Nominations For 2012
Mn Blues Hall of Fame
Now Being Accepted

The Minnesota Blues Society Hall of Fame Committee is excited to announce a request for nominations for the 2012 Blues Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame was created by the Minnesota Blues Society to honor those who have made significant contributions to the Blues in the State of Minnesota. Past recipients have included Mojo Buford, Willie Murphy, Lazy Bill Lucas, Spider John Koerner, Dave Ray, Tony Glover, Bruce McCabe, Pat Hayes, Paulie Testa, Curtis Blake and more.

Categories are:

Performer(s) Celebrates the contribution to the Blues of an individual artist, duo, trio or a band.
Sideman Award to a musician, primarily performing in the Blues genre other than as the leader or featured artist of the act(s) or group(s).
Supportive of the Blues (Non-Performer) Includes but is not limited to agents, broadcasters (radio or television), historians, media outlets, music stores, promoters, radio stations, sponsors, teachers/educators, venues, and other industry professionals.
Blues Art, Literature and Media Includes but is not limited to artists (sculpture, paintings, and photographs), books/authors, journalists, music publishers, photographers, films, videos, any person involved in the graphic design process, the writing of liner notes, cover art, instructional material and printed or electronic media such as news publications, columns, magazines and websites.
Blues Recording Award to a compilation of songs published and distributed as an album, CD, record or tape.
Blues Song Award to the performer(s) and/or songwriter(s) of a song that was published and distributed on an album, CD, record or tape.

Nominations and the supporting documentation must be received or postmarked between January 15 and March 15 to be considered for this year's MBHOF ballot. Minnesota Blues Society members and the public at large are eligible to submit nominations. Nominees are not required to be members of the Minnesota Blues Society. No one may nominate themselves or their own "work".

The form is available at Minnesota Blues Hall of Fame Nominations Form and may be submitted online or printed, filled out and sent by regular mail. Please follow the nomination guidelines carefully.

(01/15/12)

Join or Renew Your Minnesota Blues Society Membership Online Now!
New & Renewing Memberships Now Good Through 12/31/2012.

Get your tees, mugs, sweats, and lots of other GTCBMS merchandise and support your local blues society and the local bands that they support.

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