2018 Iowa Blues Challenge Finals- Fairfield

The Southeast Iowa Blues Society is hosting a Preliminary Round of the Iowa Blues Challenge at the Depot Brewery in Fairfield, Iowa.  The John-Paul Jones Group will be performing at this event.  Please feel free to support us.  We would like to get to Memphis, but we first have to show a strong performance at this preliminary, having our friends attend will be most appreciated.

RULES OF THE SHOWCASE:

For the 24^th year, the Central Iowa Blues Society (CIBS), in association with the Mississippi Valley Blues Society and Southeast Iowa Blues Society, presents the Iowa Blues Challenge (IABC), a multiple-round live music competition in two categories – Band and Solo/Duo – open to all Iowa-based Blues acts.

Preliminary round competitions will be held in Des Moines, Fairfield and Davenport during August, with the winners of each in both categories advancing to the Iowa Blues Challenge Finals on Saturday, September 8, 2018 at the Des Moines Social Club.

• FAIRFIELD BAND & SOLO/DUO PRELIM
  Saturday, August 18 @ Depot Brewery


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Participating acts will be vying for a prize package which includes cash, recording time, opportunities for paid gigs (including, but not limited to the 2019 Winter Blues Fest) and entry into and travel expense stipend for the 2019 International Blues Challenge (IBC) in Memphis, Tennessee, presented by the Blues Foundation.

Sponsors of the 2018 Iowa Blues Challenge: Budweiser, Exile Brewing, Iowa Public Radio, Junior’s Motel, Rieman Music, VividPix & Design, Des Moines Social Club, Mississippi Valley Blues Society, Southeast Iowa Blues Society and Central Iowa Blues Society.

The 2017 Iowa Blues Challenge Solo/Duo champion, Kevin B.F. Burt, went on to win the 2018 International Blues Challenge Solo/Duo championship, as well as winning the Lee Oskar Harmonica award and the Cigar Box Guitar award.  This was Kevin’s 2^nd opportunity to participate in the IBC.  In 1995, he and his band, the Blues Instigators won the Iowa Blues Challenge and represented CIBS in Memphis.  2017 Iowa Blues Challenge Band champion, the Avey Grouws Band, were semifinalists at the IBC.  235 acts from around the world participated in the 2018 International Blues Challenge.

PLEASE CONSIDER DONATING TO GET US TO MEMPHIS, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT TO SHOW UP AND HELP US GET THAT ENERGY WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE.