[The Event]
[The Announcement] [The Happening]
John Franken
at the Tap Room
THE TRIP TO MEMPHIS: BLUESFIRST, KBA, & THE IBC
Cook
& Franken made their trip to Memphis to participate in the Solo/Duo Category
of the International Blues Challenge (IBC) January 29-31. The Road to Memphis
started last October when we chose Joe & John as the duo to sponsor at the
IBC. There were three fund raisers (Viking, Neumann's and Famous Dave's) to
help the guys "Get Out of Town." Blues fans and corporate friends donated
enough cash to pay for the bulk of their trip. Thank you Floyd's, Neumann's,
Mill City Music, Viking, and MusicTech College for cash donations.
Joe Cook
at the Tap Room
Lightnin' Lee & the Upright Rooster, sponsored by the Spa City Blues Society (Arkansas) took first place - solo/duo. I know Joe & John had fun as they performed at the Tap Room on Beale Street and the audience loved their music!
The guys also received a warm reception at the all night jam that took place at the New Daisy Theater Friday night. GREAT MUSIC, JOE & JOHN!!!
For the musicians, the weekend was all about networking. You never knew who was going to pop in to listen to your music with festival owners, record label owners, distributors, film makers, producers, managers, agents, journalists, editors, and media mingling amongst the society members and musicians.
John, Joe & jammers
at the New Daisy
Society members Judy and Roz attended BluesFirst workshops and also networked. Workshop topics included Societies & the Foundation; Festival Promotion; Websites; and Making a Blues Society Work. The Friday night's Blues & BBQ Dinner included music by Joe Bonamassa. Joe also gave a Blues in the Schools presentation Saturday.
Minnesota Contingent
Chris, Joe, Judy, John & Roz
Saturday morning the Foundation held a recognition brunch at the Gibson Lounge. Keeping the Blues Alive Awards were presented to 17 recipients, including Chris Mackey. Chris got the 'Promoter Award' in recognition of his dedication to blues with the Bayfront Blues Festivals since 1989. A big congratulations to Chris!
Roz Goldberg
Winner of Scavenger Hunt
Roz won first place in the scavanger hunt Saturday. During the band winning announcements at the New Daisy Theater (early Sunday morning), Roz was recognized on stage and received a plaque plus a basket full of nice prizes. Roz earned her prizes as she had to run Beale Street to search out answers to some pretty challenging questions.
IBC ROAD TO MEMPHIS-BANDS The GTCBMS will hold the Road to Memphis Gathering for Bands during the month of June at Floyd's Bar to select a band to sponsor at the 2005 IBC. We have three Sunday afternoons set aside to listen to and judge bands: June 13, 20, and 27. Depending upon the number of applications that we get, we may have bands play semi-finals on the 13th and 20th with finals on the 27th. If bands want to submit an application for the Road to Memphis Gathering for Bands, get ahold of the Society by telephone or by email and we'll get you an application. Bands must deliver or postmark their mailed applications by Friday, April 30th in order for the band to participate. If we need to add more dates for the competition we will make those arrangements in May.
THE TRIP TO MEMPHIS 2003:
A huge thank you to the following corporations who made a cash donation to help Joe & John get out of town:
- Viking Bar, Minneapolis' West Bank
- Musictech College, 19 Exchange Street in St. Paul
- Floyd's in Victoria
- Mill City Music
- Neumann's Bar & Grill
- Famous Dave's
and for the support of:
- KFAI Radio, especially Jackson Buck
- Famous Dave's
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page last updated:
Wednesday, December 2, 2020
