The Challengers!

 

 Bio: James and Jeffrey "Fej" Cumpston have been playing music together on and off since they were teenagers. The current act consists of James on bass and Fej on guitar and vocals. They have always played a mixture of original and cover tunes and Brother James continues this format. Fej has competed in the challenge previously with JCBC, a duo act with long-time OBS member Bob Coleman. JCBC represented OBS in Memphis two times. 
 Bio: The Dennis Brothers are two brothers (Dalton and Dryden) who started playing music together in high school in Clearwater, Florida. They had an early passion for the blues and performed regularly on the boardwalk in Clearwater, Florida. Dryden plays a signature style of old blues Harmonica and modern licks reminiscent of John Popper. Dalton plays acoustic guitar that often features a Delta steel slide sound accompanied with soulful vocals. After they graduated high school, they began wrestling at the University of Oklahoma. Despite committing a lot of time to school and athletics they find plenty of time to write music and perform regularly. They currently perform at bars and festivals across the state. 
 

 
 Bio: Arkansas born singer/songwriter and blues guitar player with a passion for blues music from the American Art form's beginning, to it's current evolutionary status. Always growing up with music as a staple of life either from the radio, old records and tapes, or church, Garrett was drawn in to the piano at a young age. Tinkering around on a family members keyboard caused a fire to be lit. The black and white of the piano made sense, and it sounded good. It felt good. But, it wasn't until he began playing a century-old folk guitar at 13 that his grandfather bought for him at an auction, that the flame really started to do more than just flicker. A short time later, after discovering the Pentatonic Scale, a musical seed of blues feeling was delivered into another young soul. It has not been an easily acceptable way to go in choosing the guitar over some other career, as family, friends, teachers, and mentors have advised throughout the years. Different jobs have came and went in all the meantime. Same with friends. Still, Garrett believes in remaining true to one's genuine self and living through artistic expressions to make the world a better place.
 
 
Bio:  Scale House is an acoustic duo, which focuses primarily on traditional Blues and the history and evolution of the Blues from its beginnings to today. The act consists of a mix of historical information presented along with musical examples representing the styles, regions, and/or musicians being discussed; and original material.
 

Bio: I'm a singer/songwriter recently returned to NWA, having been away 35 years. I write in a variety of genres, with a blues tinge to many things I do. I released a CD, "Big Fat Moon," in 2014, just before moving to Arkansas from Denver. Since moving back, I've gathered friends for a loose-knit group called "Walter Schmidt and Arkansas Chowder" which, depending on who shows up that night, can be an acoustic act or electric, in which case it's "Electric Chowder."

Bio: Original and classic blues. Legendary bluesman Buddy Shute leads a line-up of veteran musicians playing a mix of Buddy's original compositions and some classic blues with an "Ozark Blues" spin. Real blues that will make you happy!
 
Bio: Divas on Fire is a super-group unlike any other -- a unique collaboration of ten of the most successful women blues artists in their respective region who have come together to create a powerhouse sound. The group's live performances give audiences no relief as their show ignites and burns red hot from first to final note. Their collective history includes a Memphis Sun Studios recording artist, several Northwest Arkansas Music Awards winners, several Arkansas competition winners for the International Blues Competition, an Arkansas Blues Hall of Famer. And yet a few others have more recently started their musical journey while quickly collecting awards, accolades, and fan loyalty. The name Divas on Fire is more of a tongue-in-cheek reference to the fact that they have all been called musical divas, but in reality each puts the music and each other first.
 
Bio:  Formed in 2013, The Old Fashioned are from Fayetteville, Arkansas and play blues and soul standards.
 
 
Bio:  Arkansas' music scene has a new voice: The one and only Tara Norwood. This sultry siren is equipped with drop dead stares, cool croons and a swinging band. Backed by guitarist Mike Rickard, drummer Matt Norwood and upright bassist Frankie Cadillac, The Silvershakers are here with their brand of Americana. They're talented, brassy, and bursting with an energy that defies the modern day standard of music. Beyond musical capabilities, The Silvershakers are rebels. Defining their own sound as rhythm and blues artists, The Silvershakers performances are marked by electrifying on-stage antics, ostentatious hip shaking, singing while dancing and gyrating madly. Nowadays, plenty of bands out there are adapting the sounds of classic 1950's rhythm and blues with modern pop, rock or jazz, but not many of them have as big a voice as singer Tara Norwood. With a rich, booming vocal style that recalls the talents of Big Mama Thornton, Ruth Brown and Mahalia Jackson, Tara channels that early rhythm n' blues sound.
 
 
 
Bio:  Amanda Rey and West Street Blues Band are back to take another run at the IBC, following their performances at last year's event. Along with Amanda and long-time bassist Bruce Bennett, there are a few new faces to the WSBB line-up for this contest - Nate Hancock (guitar), Mike Hanna (drums) and Daryl Brooks (vocals, percussion) to bring a new twist to WSBB 2.0...

 

* Entries for the Best Self-Produced CD are permitted by affiliated blues societies only.

* Each affiliate is permitted one entry.

* The CD entered does not have to be performed by the band entered in the 2016 International Blues Challenge.

* Compilations are not eligible.

* The eligibility period is the same as for the Blues Music Awards-the CD must have been released during November 1, 2014 - October 31, 2015 time frame.

* If an affiliate does not conduct a competition to determine who it will sponsor but instead appoints a CD, that CD may not include a board member or officer.

*A performer who has previously been nominated for a Blues Music Award (formerly the W.C. Handy Blues Award) shall not be eligible for this competition. A CD issued in the name of an otherwise eligible performer which also includes the contributions of a Blues Music Award nominee may be ineligible, depending on the extent of the contribution.

*A CD on a record label that has been previously nominated for a Blues Music Award (formerly the W.C. Handy Blues Award) shall not be eligible for this competition.

* Recordings with established or "known" producers within the industry are eligible as long as the recording is on the artist's independent label and NOT on an established blues label.

* Singer, band, society or local producer may produce the actual CD as long as the performer is a singer, band or other individual entity.

* Judging will be in three stages. There will be two rounds of judging by radio/print people leading to the final judging.

 

Downhome Jubilee

 

 

10/02-10/10