Winners Declared in the 2009 The Detroit Blues Challenge Finals
The seven (7) finalists were prepared to do battle Sunday, October 18, 2009 and brought their “A-Game” to do so. The Finals culminated what is the largest regional competition of it type, anywhere in the world. The Detroit Blues Society is proud to sponsor and host this prestigious series of competitions each and every year, for the past 7 years.
On October 11, 2009, a Youth Competition was also held to find a winner in the under 21 age group.
All of the winners in the Youth division, Solo/Duo division, and Band division have earned the opportunity to represent Detroit at The Blues Foundation International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN on January 20-23, 2010. The Detroit Blues Society will provide travel expenses for the trip to Memphis to the winners. The winners in each division will also each receive a superb prize package donated by Mannino Photography, Just Roots PR, No Cover Productions, Callahan’s, and Groovedaddy Graphics.
The judges listened to and scored 5 Youth acts, 2 Solo/Duo acts and 5 Bands acts to determine an overall winner in each category. Each of the acts had 20 minutes to throw down their very best original songs and the competition was fierce.
The Judges obviously struggled to find a suitable winner in each division because the scoring was so close. In the end, the Judges were able to determine a winner in each of the categories and they were:
Solo/Duo Division - John Latini
Band Division - Crossroads Blues Band
Youth Division – Jake Bishop Band
About the International Blues Challenge
This annual event is the world's largest gathering of Blues acts representing 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. In 2009, 100 bands and 60 solo/duo acts entered, 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. For more information visit www.blues.org.
About the Detroit Blues Society
The Detroit Blues Society (DBS) is a registered federal 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of the blues tradition. It has as its primary goals to promote a wider appreciation for the blues by the general public and to serve the members of the Society. DBS provides members with the monthly newsletter Blues Notes. This serves to inform members and the general public regarding relevant news, schedules of upcoming events and profiles on our members. DBS schedules free blues jam sessions, usually on the first Sunday of each month, arranges discounts on merchant sponsored merchandise and administers an educational program. For more information visit www.detroitbluessociety.org.
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