Mile High Blues Society

You're going to Memphis!

Band: Johnny and the Mongrels
Solo / Duo: Jeffrey Marshall
Youth Showcase: Alfonzo and Friends, Take 2

MHBS 2020 International Blues Challenge Winners

We are now accepting Best Self Produced CD submissions.
This is different than the Blues Foundation's BMA Awards.
Details on both are below

BEST SELF PRODUCED CD:

How to Submit:

Mail (or hand deliver) 4 copies of your self produced CD, abiding by the criteria from the Blues Foundation, found below. You may also hand deliver 4 copies to Mark "Doc" Brown to the MHBS Sunday Night Blues Jam at Rockabillies BEFORE September 23rd. If you hand deliver, be sure to personally hand them to Doc, not any bar staff.

Submissions MAILED TO MHBS MUST be POST MARKED no later than September 23, 2019 and mailed to the following address:

MHBS
P. O. Box 12464
Denver, CO 80212-2464

The MHBS Winning CD will be announced in October, then forwarded on to the Blues Foundation for consideration.

About Best Self Produced CD:

In 2005, The Blues Foundation established an award for the Best Self-Produced CD, given out at the International Blues Challenge, as part of our mission to celebrate blues recording and to ensure the future of this uniquely American art form. Unlike our celebration of blues recordings and performances at the Blues Music Awards, or our recognition of up-and-coming musician performance via The International Blues Challenge, this award was created to recognize excellence in independent Blues recordings.

Best Self-Produced Official Rules (with MHBS comments):

Entries for the Best Self-Produced CD are permitted by Blues Foundation Affiliated Organizations only. (That will be us, MHBS)
Each Affiliate is permitted one entry. (From the winning CD as determined by the MHBS judging panel)
The CD entered may be recorded and performed by an act other than is entered in the current year’s International Blues Challenge.
Compilations are not eligible.
Only CDs released between November 1, 2018 and October 31, 2019 are eligible for consideration as the 2020 Best Self-Produced CD. (Yes, we know this October date is after the date we, MHBS, require the CD's. It's always been this way by the Blues Foundation, for some reason.)
While we encourage a competition at the Affiliate level to determine the CD it will sponsor for Best Self-Produced CD, we do not require one. 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 of the sponsoring Affiliated organization. (MHBS uses a qualified judging panel to choose the winning CD based on the Blues Foundations criteria.)
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. Please contact The Blues Foundation directly to confirm eligibility.
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.
Judging will take place in three rounds. Judges will remain anonymous in order to protect them from outside influences and represent a cross-section of professionals from the blues radio and print industry. The final results will be announced at the finals of the 36th International Blues Challenge on Saturday, February 1, 2020 held at the historic Orpheum Theatre in Memphis, TN.
The finalists will be announced prior to The International Blues Challenge with the winner revealed during the IBC Finals on Saturday, February 1, 2020. Finalists are NOT required to attend International Blues Challenge. (The MHBS winning CD will be announced in October then forwarded on to Memphis by their deadline)

THE BMA'S - BLUES MUSIC AWARDS - MAY 7, 2020 IN MEMPHIS

This event brings together Blues performers, industry representatives, and fans from all over the world to celebrate the best in Blues recordings and performances from the previous year. The BMAs are generally recognized as the highest honor given to blues musicians and are awarded by vote of Blues Foundation members.

All musicians are invited to submit their recordings for Blues Music Award consideration.

The 41st Blues Music Awards submission process is now open.

Submission Deadlines

August 1 – August 31, 2019 – $155 USD per submission
September 1 – September 30, 2019 – $180 USD per submission
October 1 – October 15, 2019 – $225 USD per submission

For additional details go to the Blues Foundation's website at https://blues.org/blues-music-awards/#submission

All musicians are invited to submit their Blues recordings for consideration. Blues music released between November 1, 2018 and October 31, 2019 is eligible for consideration for a 2020 Blues Music Award Nomination.

INSTRUCTIONS

You may now formally submit your album for consideration via our online service.

Your complete album music must be uploaded as a WAV file with album artwork uploaded as a JPEG or PDF file. If you need assistance with uploading your music, album artwork, and/or liner notes, please contact Joe Whitmer at joe@blues.org.

Submission fees and deadlines:

Now until August 31, 2019 - $155 per submission
September 1 – September 30, 2019 - $180 per submission
October 1 – October 15, 2019 - $225 per submission

The submission process officially closes on October 15, 2019. You must upload your music and artwork and complete payment for your submission transaction no later than OCTOBER 15TH to be considered for a Blues Music Award nomination.

CATEGORY SELECTION

As you prepare to submit your music, please also be ready to choose the category in which you feel your music best falls. These choices include Acoustic Blues, Blues Rock, Contemporary Blues, Soul Blues, and Traditional Blues. If you feel that your recording represents your work as an emerging blues artist, you may also choose that category for consideration. Please note: for your album to be considered for Best Emerging Artist Album, you may have no more than two previous album releases prior to the album you wish to submit. With each full album recording submission, you will be required to include one song from that album for consideration as Song of the Year. In addition, please be prepared to list the names of all contributing musicians for consideration in BMA instrumentalist categories. All music will be screened ahead of ballots going to our nominators to ensure that your music does indeed fall into the category that you have chosen and that at least 51% of your recording constitutes blues music. The Blues Foundation reserves the right to move your music into a different category based upon our definitions, as follows:

Acoustic Blues Album: That album released during the eligibility period that best represents acoustic blues, in which non-electric/amplified instruments are prominently featured on at least 75% of the tracks.

Blues Rock Album: That album released to the public during the eligibility period with a majority of songs that best portrays the Rock Blues genre, that hybrid that combines elements of blues with elements of rock, generally employing heavy amplification and driving rhythms, and which may employ non-traditional blues song structures.

Contemporary Blues Album: That album released to the public during the eligibility period that best portrays Blues in which elements other than those traditionally found in Blues are part of the mix, e.g., different rhythms, different harmonies, more elaborate production values, etc. and which may offer a different approach to sounds, lyrics, instrumentation, arrangements, etc.

Soul Blues Album: That album released to the public during the eligibility period that best portrays Southern soul blues, a type of soul music that emerged from the Southern United States. The music originates from a combination of styles including blues (both 12 bar and jump) with a strong gospel influence.

Traditional Blues Album: That album released to the public during the eligibility period with a majority of songs that best portrays traditional electric blues employing traditional blues song structures, harmonic structures and rhythms, and which may also employ instruments such as electric guitar, piano, organ, amplified harmonica, electric bass, and drums. This category includes subgenres such as jump/swing blues and Chicago blues.

As you release future recordings, we encourage you to send at least one copy of your CD to: The Blues Foundation, 421 South Main, Memphis, TN 38103-4464. The earlier you do this the better. It informs The Blues Foundation staff that your CD has been released and allows us to log it for future BMA related communications.

Welcome to The Mile High Blues Society!

We Support Live Local Blues
We are musicians, fans, venues, and media committed to enjoying and sustaining Denver's blues music scene.
Become a member today!

We are in our Annual Membership Drive / Renewal Campaign - so if your membership has expired please consider renewing to help us keep the Blues alive in Colorado. You can renew from the link below or via the instructions if your receive our renewal email notice!

Thank you for supporting live blues!
JOIN the MHBS

This MHBS Sunday Blues Jam

at Rockabillies 12363 West 64th Avenue (64th & Ward Road) Arvada, CO 80004

Open 11:00 a.m.
Signup for the jam as early as 6:00p.m.
Jam starts at 7:00p.m.
ALL AGES UNTIL 9PM AFTER 9PM OVER 21 ONLY

Hosted alternately by Doc Brown's Blues Band and MHBS Member Bands

Join us! Full backline and PA provided. Feel free to bring your own amps and pedals.

Signup as early as 6pm. Jam starts at 7:00pm

Hosts:
This Sunday - Mother's Day - Doc Brown's Blues Band

Sponsored Ads

SPONSORED ADS
(Contact us at ads@MileHighBluesSociety.com to have your ad here!
You may purchase your ad through our STORE link)

BANDS - REMEMBER!!!
Your MHBS Membership gets you FREE show posting in the newsletter and on our website!
Send your posters and show notices to shows@MileHighBluesSociety.com

2019 is a special year for Swallow Hill Music… We’re turning 40! The past four decades have been incredible. Stay tuned for an anniversary concert series, archival footage from years gone by, and so much more! Thanks for being a part of the Swallow Hill community as we look forward to many more years of bringing the joy of music to life every day.

Double Headliner CD Release with Kerry Pastine & Cass Clayton

Cass and Kerry have a double CD release party this Friday at Dazzle! They’ve been hard at work in their respective studios this year, culminating in the release of PLAY NICE (Cass Clayton Band) and CITY OF LOVE (Kerry Pastine and the Crime Scene). “This has been a year of intense and fulfilling collaboration,” says Cass. "Kerry and I came together with women in the music community to create SHE-EO, which supports women in music in fulfilling their dreams and overcoming business challenges.” Said Kerry, “It felt right for us to do our CD release party together. When we come together to release art into the world, it’s exponentially more joyful than doing it alone. We want other artists to know we’re genuine about the our love for the community.”

Show Details: Dazzle Denver, Doors 6:30, Double Show starting at 7:30pm. Tickets at www.dazzledenver.com.

JASCO @ West End Lounge
Thursday - September 12 - 6 to 8pm
Flamingo for gringos!

TONESHAKERS are at Trea 39
6:30-10:30 THIS FRIDAY THE 13th
15821 E. Centretech Cir Aurora, CO 80011

STOMP-IT
Two Shows
September 13 & 14 - 9pm to 1a @ Chillers Bar in Loveland

Saturday, Sept 28th, 5:00 - 8:30 pm
Deborah Stafford & The State of Affairs
Brews, Blues & BBQ with Buddy Guy!
Thunder Mountain Amphitheater
4250 Byrd Dr., Loveland, CO
The Taylor Scott Band and The Blues DoGs!, and Deborah Stafford and the State of Affairs
Opening acts for Blues legend, Buddy Guy!

Every Friday - Open Mic 7pm to 10pm

Scott "SHACK" Hackler will be playing solo EVERY MONDAY NIGHT
at Morrison Holiday Bar, 6:00-10:00. This will run until football season.

The Custom Shop Band

Lincoln Station, Lonetree, Colorado

THE MILE HIGH BLUES SOCIETY MAILING ADDRESS
Mile High Blues Society

P. O. Box 12464

Denver, Colorado 80212-2464

THE BLUES STORE IS OPEN - MHBS T-SHIRTS ARE HERE

The Mile High Blues Society Store is Open for Business! You can order one of our very cool, high quality MHBS T-shirts. Prompt shipment via USPS Priority Mail. Show your colors; visit the store HERE.

MHBS GIG ZONE
Are you a blues player looking for a gig, or a band looking for a player? Post a message in the Gig Zone! It's the best way to get hooked up with the right people in the Denver blues scene. Check it out.

SIGN UP NOW! SUPPORT LIVE LOCAL BLUES

Membership has its benefits! You will receive the "Blues Insider" newsletter, with news and reviews. Members get a discount on tickets to shows and invitations to members-only events presented by The Mile High Blues Society, among other perks. As a MHBS member you will be a strong supporter and advocate for local blues.

Membership starts at only $15, Please click here to get started.