Mile High Blues Society

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The Mile High Blues Society - 2019 International Blues Challenge

A chance to compete in the 2019 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee is the prize!

January 22-26, 2019 - The 35th International Blues Challenge
Beale Street - Memphis, TN

We will follow the rules as closely as possible to the Blues Foundation Rules used in Memphis for the IBC.
www.Blues.org

The Blues Children on Stage (BCOS) 2018

Sunday October 21, 2018
Moved to Rockabillies in Arvada, 64th & Ward Road and with a date change to avoid the Denver Bronco schedule!
2pm load in / set up / sign up
BCOS Jam starts at 3pm

This is a FREE event and All Ages Are Welcome!

The Mile High Blues Society, Blues Children On Stage (BCOS)

A Mile High Blues Society Special Event. Blues Children on Stage - A youth showcase of musicians and singers under 21! A positive musical experience for children. Provide youth musicians & singers with an environment conducive to establishing an interest in performing live blues music. Open to all Musicians / Singers under 21 Participating instructors / teachers / mentors may also support their students on stage.

No entry fee – free for everyone – all ages welcome! Full back line will be provided. Each group will be put together during the event, just as done in a blues jam setting. Each group will play 4 or 5 songs per set and the number of sets will be based on the number of participants.

Learn as many of these songs as you can – you may be able to perform more than one set! Types of music to learn: Blues Shuffle – Jimmy Reed Country Blues Jump blues / swing Delta Blues Chicago Blues Blues Rock Slow Blues Shuffle Sample song list: Big Boss Man Crossroads Cross Cut Saw The Thrill is Gone Got My Mojo Working I’m ready Kansas City Key to the Highway Rock Me Baby Stormy Monday Shake Your Moneymaker Sweet Home Chicago Every Day I Have the Blues

Mer Sal, of The Symbols, our 2018 MHBS IBC Band, was featured in a Bass Magazine, "BassMusician - The Face of Bass"! How cool is that!

https://bassmusicianmagazine.com/2018/02/interview-bassist-mer-sal/

NEWS FROM THE BLUES FOUNDATION

WWW.BLUES.ORG

Our Mission: To preserve blues heritage, celebrate blues recording and performance, expand worldwide awareness of the blues, and ensure the future of this uniquely American art form.

Greetings from Barbara

Hello Blues Friends,
January was such a busy month that my head is spinning a bit and I'm not sure where to begin. I cannot believe that February is already here. I guess the saying really is true - "time sure flies when you're having fun." And boy, are we having fun while we are working hard for this genre at The Blues Foundation.

We are now just a few weeks past the International Blues Challenge and there is still a lot of work to be done as we complete our post-production and debriefing work. Further down in this Newsletter, you can enjoy some highlights from the week.

Please allow me to congratulate not only our winners, Keeshea Pratt Band and Kevin "B.F." Burt, but also our runners up, Fuzzy Jeffries and the Kings of Memphis, Artur Menezes, and Daniel Eriksen along with our Best Self-Produced CD Winner, Jontavious Willis, our Gibson Guitar Winner, Artur Menezes, and our Solo/Duo Cigar Box Guitar winner and Lee Oskar Harmonica Winner - Kevin "B.F." Burt. Now that these musicians have been internationally discovered via the IBC, watch for them at festivals and clubs around the world and listen for them on radio. I think we will be hearing a lot more from them in the future. Even as they are celebrating their IBC successes, I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge every single musician who represented their local blues society in Memphis in mid-January, and we are talking about over 800 musicians in total. Each one of you who put yourself out there to compete at the local level and then won the right to stand on a Beale Street stage and perform your heart out is a winner in my book. You are investing your time and your energy to create music that matters and to share your song with music lovers who you inspire. I hope you will use your experiences at the 2018 IBC to continue developing your craft with great hopes for the future of the blues.

The IBC is a true labor of love and takes more than just a village to pull it off - it takes hard working and dedicated volunteers the world over to descend upon Memphis in the midst of snow, ice, and cold to make sure that musicians are checked-in, venues run on time, bands are judged fairly, scores get to the scorekeepers, passes are picked up, merchandise and cds are sold, panels and workshops offer valuable information, films are screened, memorabilia is shared, and guests are warmly welcomed. There are just too many volunteers to thank you all individually, so please allow me to publicly send a huge THANKS to everyone who gave of themselves to ensure that the IBC went off without a hitch. The names I can and will share are The Blues Foundation Staff: Joe Whitmer, Elizabeth Montgomery Brown, Addison Hare, and Stephen Whitney, who braved the weather, denied themselves sleep, and gave 110% of themselves to ensure a successful IBC for all. I know that my three hours of sleep each night were sound because of my trust in these four individuals. They are my rocks and I hope that each of you will thank them directly when you get the chance. Nothing that happens at The Blues Foundation would happen without them. So from me to my staff - BIG THANKS!

This is also a good time to let you know that after 5 years as an intern, production assistant, and our Membership Coordinator, Stephen Whitney has decided to use the skills he developed at The Blues Foundation to move on to new opportunities. Having recently been selected as one of The Memphis Flyer's "20 under 30," Stephen has just begun to make an impact on our community and we wish him well. His shoes will be hard to fill, but I hope to have a replacement for him in the next few weeks, and as soon as we know who our new Membership Coordinator will be, we will send out an announcement to welcome him or her. In the meantime, if you have any membership needs, we ask that you be patient during this transition and we will be there to assist you as soon as possible. Of course, I am always just an email away if you have an urgent request.

Just a few days ago, The GRAMMYs® announced their big winners. On behalf of The Blues Foundation, I send words of congratulations to Taj Mahal and Keb' Mo' on winning Best Contemporary Blues Album for TajMo, and to The Rolling Stones on their win for Best Traditional Blues Album for Blue and Lonesome. Big congrats go out, as well, to all of the nominees in each category. For details and the full list of GRAMMY® blues nominees and winners, please scroll down further in this Newsletter.

And now, with the calendar turning to February, we turn our attention to the Blues Music Awards. The nominees were announced in early January and the ballot has gone out to members. If you are not yet a member of The Blues Foundation, it is not too late to have a voice in who receives a BMA on May 10th. For as little at $25 per year, you can become a member, support the mission of The Blues Foundation, and receive a 2018 ballot. If you are a member, and have not yet voted, all you need is your login credentials and password. And if you have already voted - thank you for being a part of the process. BMA tickets are now available on The Blues Foundation's website and there are links in this Newsletter as well. You do not have to be a nominee or a member of the blues industry to attend. The BMAs are open to all and we encourage you to join us for the biggest night of blues music and celebration of the year. I hope I'll see you in Memphis on May 10th.

Best Regards,

Barbara Newman

Congratulations to all musicians, producers, engineers, and record labels for making such stellar music this past year!

Join The Blues Foundation in Downtown Memphis on Thursday May 10th at the Cook Convention Center for a night of the best in blues!

Individual Tickets - $150 per person
Regular Tables for 10 - $1,500
Premium Tables for 10 - $1,800 - SOLD OUT!

Our host hotel for the Blues Music Awards is the Sheraton Memphis Downtown Hotel, conveniently located across the street from the Cook Convention Center where the BMA Ceremony takes place.

The room block at the Sheraton with discounted rates for BMA attendees is now open. The room discount is available until April 17, 2018.

Click to book your room!

The nominees for the 39th Blues Music Awards are:

Acoustic Album
Catfish Keith - Mississippi River Blues
Doug MacLeod - Break The Chain
Guy Davis & Fabrizio Poggi - Sonny and Brownie's Last Train
Harrison Kennedy - Who U Tellin ?
Mitch Woods - Friends Along The Way
Rory Block - Keepin' Outta Trouble

Acoustic Artist
Guy Davis
Harrison Kennedy
Taj Mahal
Doug MacLeod
Rory Block

Album
Don Bryant - Don't Give Up on Love
Monster Mike Welch and Mike Ledbetter - Right Place, Right Time
Rick Estrin & The Nightcats - Groovin' In Greaseland
TajMo - TajMo
Wee Willie Walker & The Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra - After A While

B.B. King Entertainer
Bobby Rush
Michael Ledbetter
Rick Estrin
Sugaray Rayford
Taj Mahal

Band
The Cash Box Kings
Monster Mike Welch and Mike Ledbetter
Nick Moss Band
North Mississippi All-Stars
Rick Estrin & the Nightcats

Best Emerging Artist Album
Altered Five Blues Band - Charmed & Dangerous
Larkin Poe - Peach
Miss Freddye - Lady Of The Blues
R.L. Boyce - Roll and Tumble
Southern Avenue - Southern Avenue
Tas Cru - Simmered & Stewed

Contemporary Blues Album
Beth Hart - Fire On The Floor
Corey Dennison Band - Night After Night
Ronnie Baker Brooks - Times Have Changed
Selwyn Birchwood - Pick Your Poison
TajMo - TajMo

Contemporary Blues Female Artist
Beth Hart
Karen Lovely
Samantha Fish
Shemekia Copeland
Vanessa Collier

Contemporary Blues Male Artist
Keb' Mo'
Michael Ledbetter
Ronnie Baker Brooks
Selwyn Birchwood
Toronzo Cannon

Historical Album
Jimmy Reed, Mr Luck: The Complete Vee-Jay Singles (Craft Recordings)
John Lee Hooker, King of the Boogie(Craft Recordings)
Luther ALlison, A Legend Never Dies
(Ruf Records)
The Paul deLay Band, Live at Notodden ’97 (Little Village Foundation)
Various, American Epic: The Collection (Sony Legacy)

Instrumentalist - Bass
Benny Turner
Bob Stroger
Larry Fulcher
Michael "Mudcat" Ward
Patrick Rynn

Instrumentalist - Drums
Jimi Bott
June Core
Kenny Smith
Tom Hambridge
Tony Braunagel

Instrumentalist - Guitar
Anson Funderburgh
Chris Cain
Christoffer "Kid" Andersen
Monster Mike Welch
Ronnie Earl

Instrumentalist - Harmonica
Billy Branch
Dennis Gruenling
Jason Ricci
Kim Wilson
Rick Estrin

Instrumentalist - Horn
Al Basile
Jimmy Carpenter
Nancy Wright
Trombone Shorty
Vanessa Collier

Pinetop Perkins Piano Player
Anthony Geraci
Henry Gray
Jim Pugh
Mitch Woods
Victor Wainright

Instrumentalist - Vocals
Beth Hart
Don Bryant
John Németh
Michael Ledbetter
Sugaray Rayford
Wee Willie Walker

Rock Blues Album
Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band - Lay It On Down
Mike Zito - Make Blues Not War
North Mississippi Allstars - Prayer For Peace
Savoy Brown - Witchy Feelin'
Walter Trout - We're All In This Together

Rock Blues Artist
Eric Gales
Jason Ricci
Kenny Wayne Shepherd
Mike Zito
Walter Trout

Song
"Don't Give Up on Love" - written by Don Bryant and Scott Bomar
"Don't Leave Me Here" - written by Kevin R. Moore, Taj Mahal, and Gary Nicholson
"Hate Take A Holiday" - written by Wee Willie Walker, Anthony Paule, and Eugene Williams
"Prayer For Peace" - written by Luther Dickinson, Cody Dickinson, and Oteil Burbridge
"The Blues Ain't Going Nowhere" - written by Rick Estrin

Soul Blues Album
Don Bryant - Don't Give Up on Love
Johnny Rawls - Waiting For The Train
Robert Cray & Hi Rhythm - Robert Cray & Hi Rhythm
Sugaray Rayford - The World That We Live In
Wee Willie Walker &The Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra - After A While

Soul Blues Female Artist
Bettye LaVette
Denise LaSalle
Mavis Staples
Trudy Lynn
Vaneese Thomas

Soul Blues Male Artist
Curtis Salgado
Don Bryant
Johnny Rawls
Sugaray Rayford
Wee Willie Walker
William Bell

Traditional Blues Album
The Cash Box Kings - Royal Mint
Elvin Bishop's Big Fun Trio - Elvin Bishop's Big Fun Trio
Kim Wilson - Blues and Boogie Vol. 1
Monster Mike Welch and Mike Ledbetter - Right Place, Right Time
Rick Estrin & The Nightcats - Groovin' In Greaseland
Various Artists - Howlin' At Greaseland

Traditional Blues Female Artist
Annika Chambers
Diunna Greenleaf
Janiva Magness
Miss Freddye
Ruthie Foster

Traditional Blues Male Artist
John Primer
Kim Wilson
Lurrie Bell
R.L.Boyce
Rick Estrin

2018 Blues Blast Music Award Submissions Are Now Open

The Blues Blast Music Awards honor contemporary Blues artists and their recordings. Artists with major labels and indie artists are eligible to be considered.

The eligibility period for specific recordings is music released from May 1, 2017 to April 30, 2018. Categories such as Male Blues Artist, Female Blues Artist, Blues Band and the Rising Star Award are not tied to these specific dates but instead are based on our nominators recent observations of performances of touring artists over the past year.

For Complete information on submitting your music for consideration click HERE

NOMINATION CATEGORIES

Contemporary Blues Album	Traditional Blues Album
Soul Blues Album	Rock Blues Album
Acoustic Blues Album	Live Recording Of The Year
New Artist Debut Album	Historical or Vintage Recording
Male Blues Artist Of The Year	Female Blues Artist Of The Year
Blues Band Of The Year	Sean Costello Rising Star Award

BLUES NEWS:

Award-winning artist, Cary Morin, is on fire in 2018! Cary recently took home The 2018 Independent Music Award for Best Blues CD for Cradle to the Grave, and performed for the ceremony at The Lincoln Center in NYC.

Cary performed at The 2017 Philadelphia Folk Festival where he played a solo set and was joined onstage by the legendary David Bromberg. Cary performed official showcases at The 2017 Far-West Folk Alliance, in Nashville at The 2017 Americana Conference & Festival, & Folk Alliance International in 2018. You may read Cary’s latest review in the Bluegrass Situation here.

Business Members

303 Blues Project

FLIPSIDE MUSIC
www.Flipside-Music.com

9360 Station St. #175,
Lone Tree, Colorado 80124

The Oriental Theater

3355 South Wadsworth Blvd
Lakewood, CO 80227

(303) 980-6200

http://www.the-rusty-bucket.com

https://www.danniks.com

Jim Drake Guitars

Swallow Hill / Arvada Center

Woodward Productions

http://www.monkeybarrelbar.com

DrumCity - GuitarLand
9225 W. 44th. Ave.
Wheat Ridge, Colorado USA 80033
Phone: 303-421-4515, 303-424-9393

Lil Devils
http://www.lildevilslounge.com

Westminster Brewing Company

Ziggies Presents

Memphis IBC

Alex Maryol - 2017 Solo Winner

Deep Pocket Thieves - 2017 Band Winner

2016

50 Shades of Blue - 2016 Duo Winner

Michael Hornbuckle Band - 2016 Band Winner

REACH OUT TO THE DENVER BLUES COMMUNITY!

Do you want to promote your business or event to the Denver blues scene? You can place display ads in The Blues Insider newsletter and here on the MHBS website for as little as $20 per month for active MHBS members. Reach thousands of devoted local blues fans. Contact us at ads@milehighbluessociety.com to get started.

Mile High Blues Society

BLUES NEWS:

Sponsored Ads

Business Members

9360 Station St. #175,
Lone Tree, Colorado 80124

3355 South Wadsworth Blvd
Lakewood, CO 80227

(303) 980-6200

Memphis IBC

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Mile High Blues Society

BLUES NEWS:

Sponsored Ads

Business Members

9360 Station St. #175,Lone Tree, Colorado 80124

3355 South Wadsworth BlvdLakewood, CO 80227

(303) 980-6200

Enter your email address to get The Blues Insider weekly newsletter.

9360 Station St. #175,
Lone Tree, Colorado 80124

3355 South Wadsworth Blvd
Lakewood, CO 80227