This was one huge 9 hour Competition for both Bands and Solo/Duo Artists.  Last year's winner, "THE ALAN WRIGHT BAND" opened the event and the Master of Ceremonies for the event was Michael John, our 2005 BOB Winner who ended up in the "World's Top 10" at the 2006 IBC in Memphis.

What a great event this was!  Filled with the Best Blues you could ever ask for, top of the line Blues Artists, Great Food, Good Friends and loads of fun!

"ARTWORK JAMAL & THE ACID BLUES" walked off with the title of "Best Blues Band" and "THELONIUS JAMES & GREGOR WALNUM" was crowned "Best Duo Artist".  Good job, guys!!  We're really proud to have you all represent our Society at the upcoming International Blues Challenge in Memphis.

2nd Place Band went to "LAURIE MORVAN BAND" and 2nd Place Solo/Duo went to "BARRY CULLISON", who also had incredible performances....our Judges had a very difficult time this year....so many great acts to choose from!!

Thanks to the beautiful huge SAGEBRUSH CANTINA in Calabasas for letting us have our competition there this year.

There will be a Winter Fundraiser at Cozy's Blues Club on Dec. 5th
to raise funds for sending our Artists to Memphis to compete against the World's Best.  Stay tuned for upcoming information.  If you have never been to the International Blues Challenge and would like to go to Memphis and here 3 full days and nights of the Best Blues of your Life - Check out The Blues Foundation's website at www.blues.org for information on the event and discounted hotels, IBC Tshirts, tickets, etc.

Again, thanks to all our Blues Lovers for supporting our Society Events.

            
2008 BEST BLUES BAND

 "ALAN WRIGHT BAND"

2008 BEST SOLO ARTIST

       "BRYAN CHAN"

 2007 BEST BLUES BAND
"LAURIE MORVAN BAND"

In the Memphis IBC Finals, they finished in the "TOP 10 IN THE WORLD"!!

Their CD, "CURES WHAT AILS YA" made it to the "TOP 5" in the Blues Foundation's "Best Self Produced CD contest and they also sold the HIGHEST number of CDs during the 4 day IBC event in Memphis in 2008.

2007 BEST SOLO ARTIST
      "CODY LEPOW"




















Competing Bands:  Blues Label, Boilerhouse Blues, Laurie Morvan Band, The Moxie Blues Band, Mojo Filter Blues, Toni Dodd & Southbound Blues

Competing Solo/Duo Artists:  Doug Moon, Bryan Chan & Peter Lovio, Cody LePow

Semi Finals and Finals Competition Host Bands: John Parker & Forced Call, Fat Danny & Hard Tymz, Michael John & the Bottom Line, The Jeff Jensen Band

COMPETING BANDS: 
The Jeff Jensen Band, Toni Dodd & Southbound Blues, Fat Danny & Hard Tymz, Mojo Filter Blues, The Kyle Culkin Band, Boiler House Blues.

COMPETING SOLO/DUO ARTISTS: 
Rizorkestra, Cody LePow, Mike & Corissa Dill, Brian Brazil, Bill Watson, Sharonmarie Fisher, Tom Ciancio.

HOST BANDS:
Parker-Jensen Band, Moxie Blues Band, John Parker & Forced Call

Also, Congratulations are in order to our SCV members Mikey Mo, Michael John and Chuck Lee and their win at the Santa Barbara Blues Society's 2007 IBC "Battle of the Bands" with "The Mikey Mo Band".

Michael John & The Bottom Line go to the Finals in Memphis!

Congratulations to Michael John & The Bottom Line for their success at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, January 26th - 28th, 2006. The band won their venue - The New Daisy Theater and then competed in the finals. While they didn't win the whole event, they did a great job with a flawless performance. Those of you who have witnessed the IBC know that the competition is quite stiff. Thank you to the band for representing our Society with professionalism and a damn fine performance. It was great!

There were three bands in the finals that were from Southern California. They were Michael John & The Bottom Line from Santa Clarita Valley Blues Society, The Forty Fours from Southern California Blues Society and Aunt Kizzy's Boyz from Blues Lovers United of San Diego. With all the great bands in the country, this shows you the depth of the talent in Southern California. It's been said we have the best "gene pool" of Blues musicians in the country...no, in the world! Keep the Blues alive and keep on playing the Blues!

The 2006 Winner of the International Blues Challenge was Joey Gilmore from South Florida Blues Society, 2nd was Aunt Kizzy's Boyz from Blues Lovers United of San Diego and 3rd was Jill West & Blues Attack from Blues Society of Western PA. Congratulations to the winners and all of the bands that made it to the finals. This was the best competition ever.

IBC Solo Competition Winner

Rizorkestra competed in the Solo/Duo competition at the The Pig on Beale Street. He put on quite a show for the crowd. He has a very unique set with kazoo, vocals and some damn fine finger pickin'. He wowed the crowd with many finger gymnastics coupled with tasty tempo changes. We're very proud to have had Riz represent the Society at the competition. While he didn't win the competition, he won the hearts and admiration of the Blues fans and fellow musicians alike. Thank you, Riz, for a extraordinarily fine performance.


More IBC News

The Jeff Jensen Band from our Society won 2nd place in our Battle of the Bands and was chosen to represent the Pinetop Perkins Blues Society of LaPorte, Indiana. They competed at Alfred's on Beale Street against some really good bands. They played exceptionally well, probably never better than that night. Congratulations, guys, on such a great showing.

• Band Competition:
  
  Forced Call, Mojo Filter Blues, The Jeff Jensen Band, The Kathryn Grimm Band, Michael John & the Bottom Line, The Moxie Blues Band, Toni Dodd & Southbound Blues, Blues Dawg
  
  Solo/Duo Competition:
  
  Riz, Bill Guthrie