| road_to_memphis_2025_competition_rules_and_regulations.pdf |
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.
