Ha Ha! Now that I got your attention you can stop looking at your shoes! What I am hoping you will see when you look down is this week's HUGE amount of news. You will find the full announcement for our upcoming Blues Challenge as well as the link to booking your room if you are heading to the IBC in Memphis in January. We also are highlighting some killer concerts coming up in NWA including Little Joe McLarren this weekend at the Walmart World Room and The Rick Gibson Band coming in from KC on September 2nd. And last but not least a report from blues fest roving member Boyce Wofford on his visit to one of the nation's premier festivals. Which one? Like I said....look down and read on!
Finally, I am getting more and more emails with gig information and suggestions for articles for the newsletter. Keep it coming! I would still like to build a list of bands and venues that you want to be
sure I include. Let me know your thoughts.
You know the deal, e-mail me anytime at smccann7@sbcglobal.net
~Sandy McCann
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This Saturday
August 22
Little Joe McLerran
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Full Information
for the
Ozark Blues Society
2015 Blues Challenge
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The press release went out this week.
Check it out below!
August 20, 2015
Contact: Leah R. Spears-Blackmon, Event Coordinator / Ozark Blues Society of Northwest Arkansas
Lrs100676@gmail.com 479.871.5212
CALLING ALL BLUES MUSICIANS!
OZARK BLUES SOCIETY OF NWA’S ANNUAL “BLUES CHALLENGE”
What: Blues Challenge, a competition sponsored by the Ozark Blues Society of Northwest Arkansas in affiliation with the International Blues Challenge presented each year by the Blues Foundation
When: Wednesday, October 14, 2015– 6:00 pm -11:30 pm
Where: Fayetteville, Arkansas at George’s Majestic Lounge, 519 W. Dickson Street
DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES: September 16, 2015
On October 14, 2016, the Ozark Blues Society of Northwest Arkansas will host its Annual Blues Challenge at George’s Majestic Lounge on Dickson Street in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The society is seeking submissions from Blues bands and solo/duo artists to compete in this event.
The acts entered in the challenge will each perform a 20-minute set in a randomly chosen order, which will be announced just prior to the start of the competition. There will be two winners announced on the night of the competition -- one band and one solo/duo act. Winners will then be eligible to compete at the four-day 32nd International Blues Challenge on Beale Street in Memphis on January 26 through January 30, 2016.
The Ozark Blues Society of Northwest Arkansas will sponsor and reserve the following IBC lodging accommodations for our Blues Challenge winners (no cash value):
- Solo/Duo Act: 1 Hotel room (4 nights) located near the Beale Street Entertainment District
- Band Act: 2 Hotel rooms (4 nights) located near the Beale Street Entertainment District
The October 14th competition will be judged by professionals in the blues music business, such as professional musicians, music media writers, music promoters, blues radio show hosts, and/or officers from other blues societies surrounding Northwest Arkansas.
Important Criteria: Registration for the Blues Challenge is open to all members of The Ozark Blues Society of Northwest Arkansas. At least one member of each act entering the challenge needs to be a current member of the society. Not a member? Register from this website's home page before submitting your blues challenge application.
Application fees to enter the Blues Challenge are $25 for a solo/duo act and $50 for a band. Blues Challenge Submissions must be received by Wednesday, September 16, 2015.
Questions about the blues challenge can also be sent by email to: lrs100676@gmail.com.
Past winners of this local challenge include Brick Fields and the Chosen Ones, Lucious Spiller, Leah & the Mojo Doctors, Nathan A & Max RPM, Ray Bonneville, Kory Montgomery, The Eoff Brothers, Adam Posnak, Scott Leeper, Isayah Warford, and Buddy Shute, among others.
Our 2013 solo/duo winner, Lucious Spiller, went on to take second place at the 2014 International Blues Challenge and, Ray Bonneville, our local winner in the solo/duo category in 2011, went on to take first place in the International Blues Challenge solo/duo category in 2012.
The 2016 International Blues Challenge in Memphis will be the 32nd year that Blues musicians from around the world will compete for cash, prizes, and industry recognition. This is the world's largest gathering of Blues acts and is produced by The Blues Foundation and its Affiliated Organizations. At the 2015 competition earlier this year, 255 acts were entered, filling the clubs up and down Beale Street for the quarter finals on Wednesday and Thursday, the semi-finals on Friday and the finals at the Orpheum Theater on Saturday. There will be at least that many artists competing in 2016.
More information about the Ozark Blues Society of Northwest Arkansas’ Blues Challenge can be found at http://www.ozarkbluessociety.org/Blues_Challenge.html. Information about the Blues Foundation and the 2015 International Blues Challenge information can be found at the Blues Foundation’s website http://www.blues.org.
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One to Catch!
The Rick Gibson Band
September 2, 2015
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Rick describes himself as a "life long student of guitar, always learning. It's like water, I have to have it to live." His bio offers that he was "born and raised in the heart of the Missouri Ozarks, Rick is now a transplant in Kansas City...
(Rick is) a journeyman musician with a resume including studio, concert, festival and local club work. As a guitaist/songwriter Rick is a blues
jazz artist with a gospel influence."
We hear he put on a killer show at The Big Chill and now he has his sights set on knocking you dead at George's Majestic Lounge in Fayetteville on September 2nd!
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Report from the Portland Safeway Waterfront Blues Fest in Portland, OR.
By Boyce Wofford
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Report from the Portland Safeway Waterfront Blues Fest in Portland, OR.
A few weeks ago Sandy noted that one of the best fireworks displays in the country was at the Waterfront Blues Fest in Portland, OR.
We happened to be there that weekend and I can say that it is, in fact, one of the best out there, especially when you consider that it is part of possibly the best blues fest in the country. We have been lucky enough to attend twice in the last 4 years and hope to return many times. The festival this year featured Greg Allman and his new band as the opening day headliner. His show was preceded by first Jaimoe’s Jaz Band, led by the former Allman Brothers drummer, and then by Devon Allman. To close the night they were all onstage in the jam to end all jams! If you get a chance to hear Greg’s new band, don’t pass it up. They could have shut down the festival that night and it would have been awesome, but it went on for 3 more days culminating with the legendary Mr. Buddy Guy!
The Portland festival has two main stages on either end of the waterfront park. Like clockwork when one band ends the next stage fires up. You just turn your chair. And if that isn’t enough, there are two other stages! There are workshops, demonstrations, album sales where you can usually meet the artist, and a half mile of food and beverage vendors selling Portland’s finest, and all of that followed by at least two after parties at nearby hotels. And also several blues cruises on the Willamette River.
There is so much more to do in the Portland area also, including approx. 300 of the best wineries in the world in the Willamette Valley, craft breweries, great food, jet boat rides, magnificent scenery everywhere you look. You’re less than an hour from the scenic Oregon coast one way and the Columbia River Gorge and Mount Hood the other. Put it on your Blues Bucket List!
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It's That Time Already!
Bookings For IBC Hotels Have Begun
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The 32nd (2016) International Blues Challenge will be held January 26-30, 2016 in Downtown Memphis, Tennessee in the Beale Street Historic District.
To book your rooms at the special IBC rates visit The Blues Foundation website: Blues.org.
Remember, Rates apply until deadlines stated by each participating Hotel or until rooms are sold out. Rates may or may not be available after deadline.
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Music Calendar
08/21-08/29
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8.21
- Full House and Joe Giles and the Homewreckers for Happy Hour at Georges Majestic Lounge in Fayetteville
- Dawn Cate and the Rhythm Kings at Kingfish in Fayetteville
- Left of Center at Jose's in Fayetteville
- Alex Lewis Jazz at Greenhouse Grille in Fayetteville
- Jed Clampit at Tontitown Winery in Tontitown
- Mark Bokun and Buddy Shute at Low Gap Cafe in Ponca
8.22
- Jim Mills and the Hellbenders at On The Mark in Fayetteville
- Richard Burnett at Foghorns in Springdale
- Little Joe McLerran for the Play it Forward Concert Series at The Walmart World Room/Walmart Museum in Bentonville
- Keith Nicholson at JJ's Grill in Prairie Creek
- Ocie Fisher and Matt Smith at Chelsea's Cafe in Eureka Springs
- Blew Reed and the Flatheads at The New Delhi Cafe in Eureka Springs
- Left of Center at The Rockin Pig in Eureka Springs
8.23
- Leah and the Mojo Doctors Trio at Table on the Hill in Fayetteville
- Claudia Burson Trio at Copelands Famous New Orleans Restaurant in Rogers
8.25
- Jed Clampit at Pesto Cafe in Fayetteville
- "R&P" (Richard and Paul) and friends at the Chancellor in Fayetteville
- Isayah Warford at Foghorns in Springdale
- Uncrowned Kings at Jose's in Springdale
- NWA Blues Jam at The Big Chill in Rogers
8.26
- Blues Therapy with Brick Fields and Friends at Bear's Place in Fayetteville
- Open Mic at Foghorns in Fayetteville
- Keith NIcholson at JJ's Grill and Chill in Bella Vista
8.27
- Isayah Warford at Foghorns in Fayetteville
- Fayetteville Roots Festival at Georges Majestic Lounge and Kingfish Bar in Fayetteville
- "R&P" (Richard and Paul) and friends at the Chancellor in Fayetteville
8.28
- Earl and Them and Flashback for Happy Hour at Georges Majestic Lounge in Fayetteville
- Fayetteville Roots Festival at Georges Majestic Lounge and Kingfish Bar in Fayetteville
- Bill Dollar and Loose Change at Foghorn's in Springdale
- Jim Mills at JJ's Grill and Chill in Prairie Creek
8.29
- Fayetteville Roots Festival at Georges Majestic Lounge and Kingfish Bar in Fayetteville
- Amanda Rey at Foghorns in Springdale
- Dawn Cate and the Rhythm Kings at The Big Chill in Rogers
- Jim Mills at JJs Grill and Chill in Rogers
- Chris Cameron Band at The Founders Room in Alma
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In this issue: 08/21/2015
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On this day
in Blues History
August 21
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Today’s show features music performed by Lonnie Johnson and Sam & Dave
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" The Blues are the true facts of life expressed in words and song, inspiration, feeling, and understanding."
Willie Dixon
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Check Out these regular local radio programs
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"The Generic Blues Show" hosted by Paul Kelso airs every Friday night at 9pm on KUAF 91.3FM
Rockin' Hog Radio presents "Sunday Morning Blues" from 8am to 10am every Sunday
LINK
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Get Involved with the Ozark Blues Society
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Annual membership levels begin at $15 and give you so much in return, including meeting new friends while enjoying the best blues artists in the area.
By being a member of The Ozark Blues Society of Northwest Arkansas, you are helping to support the Arts and to preserve the Original American Art Form known as The Blues.
Membership Benefits Include:
Weekly E-newsletter
Opportunities to win tickets to events
VIP seating at events (when available)
Discounts on OBS merchandise
Social networking – meeting other people who also love the blues
Opportunities to volunteer on OBS committees and at events
Ability to attend board meetings and vote on upcoming organizational issues and elections
Visit our Website to renew or join! Ozarkbluessociety.org
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