Attention:

IBC 2021 UPDATE The Blues Foundation’s Board of Directors recently voted to suspend all IBC 2021 activities, including the Keeping the Blues Alive Awards, and postpone the event to 2022. Sadly, we do not feel it would be safe for our community to come together in large crowds until the COVID-19 pandemic is under control and large gatherings are once again safe. NEWLY UPDATED! Please save the date for IBC Week 2022 – January 18th – January 22nd  We look forward to seeing you in Memphis then!

Washington Blues Society

Washington Blues Society  Local Competitions for

 International Blues Challenge

Washington Blues Society Contacts:

The Washington Blues Society’s local competitions for the 2021 International Blues Challenge in Memphis.

One band and one solo/duo act will represent the Washington Blues Society (WBS) in Memphis at the world’s largest gathering of blues musicians in January of 2022 on Memphis’ fabled Beale Street.

The Washington Blues Society’s local competitions for the 2022 International Blues Challenge in Memphis have been set! It’s time for bands and solo/duo acts to make their plans to compete. One band and one solo/duo act will represent the Washington Blues Society (WBS) in Memphis at the world’s largest gathering of blues musicians.

Each competition will follow the rules of the Blues Foundation. Each set will be limited to 25 minutes, and each competitor will be allowed one 15-minute set change. Any blues act that in resides in WA, OR, ID, MT, BC or ALB, may enter, and the act must include at least one who is a Blues Society member of an associated Greater Pacific Northwest Blues Society must be verified as part of the IBC entry. The contest entry application may be downloaded from www.wablues.org, or in the April and May edition of the WBS Bluesletter and must include the non-refundable entry fee, which pays for the backline and a PA system. Each winner will be required to perform at a minimum of two fundraisers in 2020 and one fundraiser in 2021 at no charge. Proceeds from these events and fees, will be deposited into a WBS fund to help defray expenses to get each winning act to and from Memphis, but we cannot guarantee an “all-expense paid” trip. Band entry fee is $30; solo duo entry fee is $15. Applications and entry fees must be received no later than Friday, May 15^th.

All proceeds will help with expenses for Memphis. The WBS will help winners in fundraising, but cannot guarantee that all expenses for Memphis will be covered. Judges will evaluate each act using the Blues Foundation scoring criteria (www.blues.org/ibc/scoring.php) and rules (www.blues.org/ibc/rules.php).  Acts may not be affiliated the WBS Board upon application. IBC rules also prohibit any act from competing three consecutive years at the IBC (www.blues.org/ibc/rules.php).  Application is an initial statement of interest and not a binding agreement between the applicant and the WBS.  Make your plans to enter now! Applications and entry fees must be received no later than Friday, May15^th.

Competitions are subject to change :

Each competition will follow the rules of the Blues Foundation. Each set will be limited to 25 minutes, and each competitor will be allowed one 15-minute set change. Any blues act that resides in WA, OR, ID, MT, BC or ALB, may enter, and the act must include at least one who is a member of the WBS. Membership can be established at IBC entry, using the membership form in the WBS Bluesletter or online at vvww.wablues.org. Please note: membership in WWBS for acts competing in Wenatchee or membership in IEBS for acts competing in Spokane is required in place of the WBS membership requirement. The contest entry application may be downloaded from wvvw.wablues.orq, or in the April and May edition of the WBS Bluesletter, or the Inland Empire’s Blues Notes, and must include the non-refundable entry fee, which pays for the backline and a PA system. Each winner will be required to perform at a minimum of two fundraisers in 2020 and one fundraiser in 2021 at no charge. Proceeds from these events and fees will be deposited into a WBS fund to help defray expenses to get each winning act to and from Memphis, but we cannot guarantee an “all-expense paid” trip. Band entry fee is $30; the solo duo entry fee is $15.

All proceeds will help with expenses for Memphis. The WBS will help winners in fundraising, but cannot guarantee that all expenses for Memphis will be covered.

Judges will evaluate each act using the Blues Foundation scoring criteria (www.blues.org/ibc/scoring.php) and rules (www.blues.orq/ibc/rules.php). Acts may not be affiliated with the WBS Board or act upon the application.

IBC rules also prohibit any act from competing three consecutive years at the IBC https://blues.org/international-blues-challenge/

https://blues.org/ibc-rules-guidelines-local-affiliate-challenges/

The application is an initial statement of interest and not a binding agreement between the applicant and the WBS.

Make your plans to enter now!

DOWNLOAD AN APPLICATION on pages 30 and 31 of the April blues letter//pr HERE : https://wablues.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/2021-IBC-Entry-Form-and-Instuction-Sheet.pdf

Best Self-Produced CD Contest

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.

Best Self-Produced Official Rules:
Entries for the Best Self-Produced CD are permitted by Blues Foundation Affiliated Organizations only.
Each Affiliate is permitted one entry.
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.
While the foundation encourages competition at the Affiliate level to determine the CD it will sponsor for Best Self-Produced CD, it does not require one. As an Affiliate, The Washington Blues Society conducts a competition to determine who it will sponsor, overseen by the executive board.

The CD may not include a board member or officer of the sponsoring Affiliated organization.
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.
WBS Judging will take place in October. 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 International Blues Challenge on Saturday,of IBC week held at the historic Orpheum Theatre in Memphis, TN.

Evaluation Criteria:
Judges will evaluate each submitted CD on the following characteristics. The criteria considered are listed in order of importance.

(1) Blues Content
(2) Musical Performance
(3) Audio Quality and Production Value of the Recording
(4) Professionalism and Visual Appearance of Cover Art and Design
(5) Credits and Liner Note Information.