PRESS RELEASE
2012 INTERNATIONAL BLUES CHALLENGE
CANADIAN SHOWCASE
The Ottawa Blues Society and Montreal Blues Society are pleased to announce a joint undertaking in organizing a showcase for Canadian blues acts registered to participate in the 2012 International Blues Challenge (IBC) in Memphis, Tennessee. The event will be hosted by Johnny Max.
In addition to the official IBC activities, this showcase, entitled “The First Great Canadian Polar Bear Blues Showcase”, will provide another opportunity specifically for Canadian bands and solo/duo acts to demonstrate their talents and promote their careers.
International Blues Challenge
The IBC competition, which is organized by the Blues Foundation (www.blues.org) , is the premier gathering of the worldwide Blues community offering developing blues musicians a unique opportunity to demonstrate their talent and make professional contacts to further their musical careers.
According to the 2011 program, the IBC involves approximately 100 bands and 80 solo/duo acts, 30 youth acts, 700 musicians and 510 performances representing 40 states and 13 countries
Canadian Showcase
The Canadian showcase is scheduled for 12:00 PM Thursday, February 2, 2012 at the Kooky Canuck restaurant located at 97 S. Second Street in Memphis.
The first 150 people will receive gift bags containing CDs from Canadian artists and other Canadian promotional material including a voucher for a complimentary “Canadian” beverage.
See below for the participating band and solo/duo acts.
Contact:
Gary Paradis (Ottawa Blues Society)
Phone: 613-739-9484
E-mail: garvic.paradis@sympatico.ca
Irene Ippersiel (Montreal Blues Society)
E-mail: i.ippersiel@bluesmontreal.com
PARTICIPATING BANDS & SOLO/DUO ACTS
Bands:
Fraser Melvin Blues Band - Collingwood Jazz and Blues Society
Jimmy and the Sleepers - Edmonton Blues Society
Conor Gains Band - Grand River Blues Society
Robbie Antone’s Blues Machine - Great Lakes Blues Society
The Kim Pollard Band - Loyal Blues Fellowship
Terry Gillespie Trio - Ottawa Blues Society
The 24th Street Wailers - Toronto Blues Society
Solo/Duo:
Kevin Marcus Dillon - Collingwood Jazz and Blues Society
Breezy Brian Gregg - Edmonton Blues Society
Ross Neilsen - Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival
The Roper Show - Loyal Blues Fellowship
Dawn Tyler Watson & Paul Deslauriers - Montreal Blues Society
Kelly Prescott & Anders Drerup - Ottawa Blues Society
David “Boxcar” Gates - White Rock Blues Society
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