| road_to_memphis_2025_competition_rules_and_regulations.pdf |
GLENN MARAIS from Newmarket!
2025 Grand River Blues Society representing
Solo Act from our Road to Memphis Competition
at The Polish Hall, Brantford on June, 9th 2024.
The talent on that little stage from this genuinely talented guitarist,
harp player, singer and songwriter was top shelf
as were all the phenomenal 6 other Solo/Duo Acts.
The five esteemed judges had again the difficult task
in scoring the acts. Thank You!
A big shout out to the dedicated Blues Fans who
cheered on all the acts to support by offsetting
some of Glenn's travel expenses to Memphis TN
in early January 2025. Glenn will be joined by
Big Dan Jeffares in the Band category.
Watch for upcoming
Fund Raisers at a venue near you.
2025 Grand River Blues Society representing
Solo Act from our Road to Memphis Competition
at The Polish Hall, Brantford on June, 9th 2024.
The talent on that little stage from this genuinely talented guitarist,
harp player, singer and songwriter was top shelf
as were all the phenomenal 6 other Solo/Duo Acts.
The five esteemed judges had again the difficult task
in scoring the acts. Thank You!
A big shout out to the dedicated Blues Fans who
cheered on all the acts to support by offsetting
some of Glenn's travel expenses to Memphis TN
in early January 2025. Glenn will be joined by
Big Dan Jeffares in the Band category.
Watch for upcoming
Fund Raisers at a venue near you.
The 2025 Grand River Blues Society representing Band from our Road to Memphis Competition at The Edelweiss Tavern in Kitchener is BIG DAN JEFARRES! The talent on stage from this 4-piece band was over the top as were all the phenomenal 6 other bands. The 5 esteemed judges had a difficult task in scoring the acts.
A big thank you to the sold-out blues fans who cheered on all the acts to support the travel expenses to Memphis TN in 2025. The Edelweiss staff were run off their feet for 5 hours and deserve appreciation as well as all the volunteers, Judges and MC Chris Arsenault who all pitched in to keep the show from not going off the rails.
Here is what BIG DAN has to say " WOW!!! We are going to The International Blues Challenge in 2025!!!! We are so proud and honoured to be representing the Grand River Blues Society. It was a fantastic afternoon of great bands. Thank You Bruce Hall and Christian Arsenault, you are great hosts and MC's. A very special thank you to some fantastic Band members, Toshihiro Otani, Jerry McLaren and Don Ray....I hope we will have great times, great gigs and make fantastic memories this year.
A big thank you to the sold-out blues fans who cheered on all the acts to support the travel expenses to Memphis TN in 2025. The Edelweiss staff were run off their feet for 5 hours and deserve appreciation as well as all the volunteers, Judges and MC Chris Arsenault who all pitched in to keep the show from not going off the rails.
Here is what BIG DAN has to say " WOW!!! We are going to The International Blues Challenge in 2025!!!! We are so proud and honoured to be representing the Grand River Blues Society. It was a fantastic afternoon of great bands. Thank You Bruce Hall and Christian Arsenault, you are great hosts and MC's. A very special thank you to some fantastic Band members, Toshihiro Otani, Jerry McLaren and Don Ray....I hope we will have great times, great gigs and make fantastic memories this year.
Keep an eye out
for upcoming shows
and fundraisers!!!
for upcoming shows
and fundraisers!!!
Every year, Blues Societies
from around the world hold
competitions to select
blues groups, solos,
and duos to the International
Blues Challenge in Memphis.
From the IBC website:
"The International Blues Challenge
represents the worldwide search
for those Blues Bands and Solo/Duo
Blues Acts ready to perform on the
international stage, yet just needing
that extra big break. Each Affiliate of
The Blues Foundation has the
right to send a band and a solo/duo
act to represent its organization
at the IBC.
The IBC is judged by blues
professionals from across the
world who have years of experience
in listening to, producing, and
creating blues music.
The Blues Foundation has
established a set of criteria
by which all acts are evaluated
throughout the five days of the IBC.
Affiliated organizations are required
to stage a regional preliminary
IBC competition, with the
winner of that event
representing the organization in the
International Blues Challenge
held annually in
Memphis Tennessee
along historic Beale Street.
While Affilated Organizations
are encouraged to follow
The Blues Foundation’s
structure and rules during
their local challenges,
each organization is free to
structure its preliminary
rounds as it sees fit, as long as
a true challenge between
multiple acts takes place resulting
in a single band and or
solo/duo act being identified."
- Road to Memphis Competition Rules and Regulations
- 1. At least one member of each act entering the competition MUST be a Grand River Blues Society member.
- 2. All winning participants in the 'Road to Memphis' Competition must hold a valid Canadian passport (with more than 6 months to expiration).
- 3. All winning participants must be able to enter the United States of America to compete.
- 4. All entries must not have competed in another IBC contest for Jan 2023.
- 5. Winning Solo/Duo and Band acts must represent the Grand River Blues Society at the International Blues Challenge in the same configuration that won the competition. • substitution of any member must have a valid reason (for example – a medical problem that stops you from attending) and must be approved by the IBC Committee.
- 6. The financial support will be awarded at The Grand River Blues Society's discretion and after the Society's official fundraiser. The awarding of an act to represent The Grand River Blues Society in Memphis accepts that this is not an all-expenses-paid competition. Acts are encouraged to do additional fundraising to help fund their own act travel expenses.
- 7. The funds raised at The Grand River Blues Society's official fund-raiser will be divided equally between the number of musicians of each act traveling to Memphis.
- 8. All artists that are competing must be available to go to Memphis, Tennessee from Tuesday, January 24, 2023, to Saturday, January 28, 2023, inclusive.
- 9. Winners will be expected to stay in Memphis for the duration of the competition, arriving on Tuesday of Competition week and departing on Sunday. • exceptions must be presented before travel to the IBC Committee.
- 10. Winners must be available for promotional work in conjunction with the Grand River Blues Society efforts.
- 11. In the event any of the governing Local Rules and Bylaws or Competition Rules found at blues.org are violated, the second-place Solo/Duo or Band will be promoted and sent to represent the Grand River Blues Society in Memphis.
- 12. Deadline for receiving entries is Monday, February 28, 2022.
