Mile High Blues Society

Welcome to the Mile High Blues Society

MHBS Mission Statement:
To nurture appreciation for blues music through blues performances, youth blues education, as well as sponsoring local and international blues challenge competitions.

MHBS Best Self Produced CD

submitted to the Blues Foundation in Memphis

for consideration!

WE HAVE THE PARTIES SCHEDULED - The times may vary a little as we're working out details. But get these dates on your calendar! The MHBS IBC Winners - Benefits and Fund Raisers. We need your donations of auction quality items!

All 3 MHBS IBC winning acts will perform at each event!

Solo/Duo - Jeffrey Marshall

Band - West Side Joe and the Men of Soul

Youth Showcase - Alfonzo and Friends

FRIDAY - DECEMBER 13 - DENVER BARFLY--ALAMO DRAFT HOUSE - 6pm

SATURDAY - DECEMBER 28 - PROST BREWERY IN FORT COLLINS - 8pm

SATURDAY - JANUARY 18 - SEND OFF PARTY AT
THE RUSTY BUCKET IN LAKEWOOD - 2pm

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Representing MHBS in the Memphis, 2020 International Blues Challenge January 28 - February 1, 2020

Westside Joe and the Men of Soul

(Joe Schicke, Taylor Tester, Steve Amedee)
West Side Joe and the Men of Soul. Joe Schicke began playing the blues at a young age. Raised in Memphis, he refined his performing, recording, arranging, and songwriting skills through collaborations with many different artists. A few years after moving to Colorado in 2007, Joe began working with Steve Amedee, originally from just outside New Orleans, LA, and Taylor Tesler, originally from Rochester, NY. The band's been inspiring local Colorado audiences ever since with big rhythms, fat guitar licks, and singin' you can dig your heart into. To play the blues takes soul, and these men got it.

Solo / Duo: Jeffrey Marshall
Jeffrey Marshall, who was born with a severe disability, has no arms and is confined to a wheelchair, is breathing life into the music industry one fan at a time. He plays harmonica, and guitar with his feet, while belting out his feelings vocally, sharing his musical emotion. His musical journey began as a teenager in Nashville and has taken him around the world where he has performed in nearly a dozen countries. Jeffrey‘s only desire in life is to share his talent with anyone willing to listen and experience his life through his art. His music is raw, infectious and genuine to its core.

Youth Showcase: Alfonzo and Friends
(Alfred Dworak, Aidan Debie, Aidan Roberts, Charlie Chilson)
Well beyond his years and hailed as a “real bluesman” Alfonzo brings music that transcends boundaries while taking you on an emotional ride from the Delta to Chicago and then into unexplored territory. As a performer, songwriter, producer and multi instrumentalist from Colorado, Alfonzo with his soul, blues and funk collective provides the stories of a thousand different cities. For the 2020 IBC Alfonzo will be backed by bassist, Charlie Chilson, guitarist, Aidan Roberts and drummer Aidan Debie. Together they put on a fully immersive stage performance that leaves the audience begging for more!

Representing MHBS in the Memphis, 2020 International Blues Challenge January 28 - February 1, 2020

MHBS IBC Fundraiser / Benefits to support these fine musicians going to Memphis.

FRIDAY - DECEMBER 13 - DENVER BARFLY / ALAMO DRAFT HOUSE - 6pm

SATURDAY - DECEMBER 28 - PROST BREWERY IN FORT COLLINS - 8pm

SATURDAY - JANUARY 18 - SEND OFF PARTY AT RUSTY BUCKET IN LAKEWOOD - 2pm

If you're planning to go to Memphis for the IBC in late January 2020, remember that the IBC member blocks of discounted hotel accommodation opens October 1st and they go really fast! Check out the Blues.org (Blues Foundation) website for more details. Below is a letter from Barbara Newman, President of the Blues Foundation in Memphis.

Greetings from Barbara

Hello Blues Friends,
Happy Halloween with hopes for lots of treats and no tricks today. All of us in The Blues Foundation offices are very excited by our recent treat - the arrival of our newest team member, Director of Development, Matt Uhler, who joined us in Memphis last week. Matt will be leading our efforts to better connect with our members and donors and to create effective and worthwhile partnerships for sponsors and supporters. He'll also open doors to greater grant opportunities to build our programs and expand the reach of the blues. Please join me in welcoming Matt to the blues community.

Today is our Bricks for the Blues deadline to complete your brick donation and inscription details for the next installation of our famed brick walk. All fully completed transactions as of today will be installed for your IBC arrival this January. There will be future opportunities to add your message to our Blues Foundation offices and Blues Hall of Fame entrance, but we encourage you to donate now to become a part of the growing number of blues supporters on our outdoor walkway marquee.

Last week, we sent an International Blues Challenge update to your inbox with information about our growing schedule, unique IBC merchandise, and other IBC offers to include a special journey between the Folk Alliance Conference in New Orleans and Memphis in time for our International Blues Challenge kickoff on January 28th. Downtown Memphis hotel rooms are quickly selling out for IBC week with the Holiday Inn and Hampton Inn already full, so do not delay in getting your passes and booking your travel. There will be more fun and surprises to come, so make sure to open future emails from us so you don't miss any IBC updates and news.

I know many of you are eager to find out who our 2020 Keeping the Blues Alive Award recipients are. We'll be announcing those honorees early the second week of November, at which time we can all offer our congratulations. Make sure to purchase your KBA Awards ceremony and brunch tickets when you buy your IBC passes. Seating is limited and I'm sure we'll have another sell-out crowd on Friday, January 31st.

I'd like to welcome our 2019 -2020 Board of Directors, newly elected and beginning their term of office this month. Congratulations to Michael Freeman on stepping up as our new Board Chair with special thanks to Jeff Syracuse for his leadership these past two years. Please also let me congratulate Rick Booth and Intrepid Artists on their upcoming 25th Anniversary Celebration in Charlotte, NC on November 8th and 9th, with all net proceeds from their anniversary parties going straight to the HART Fund to support musician health and well-being. I'll be heading to Charlotte on the 9th to congratulate the Intrepid team in person before heading to Europe for the Lucerne Blues Festival where I am eager to connect with the European blues community.

Our next newsletter will arrive after the Thanksgiving holiday, so I will close with my own thanks for the blues and with best wishes to each of you for lots of sweets in your baskets tonight and many opportunities for joy with friends, family, and blues music!

Best regards,
Barbara Newman

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