The International Blues Challenge (IBC) represents the worldwide search for blues bands and solo/duo blues performers ready for the international stage, yet just needing that extra big break. The world’s largest gathering of blues musicians takes place each year on Beale Street, with over 20 clubs hosting the challengers and fans.

In addition to featuring these final rounds of the prestigious blues music competition, the IBC event week offers seminars, showcases, master classes, film screenings, networking events, book signings, and receptions for blues societies, fans, and professionals.

 

Battle of the Bands

Each year, the SCV BLues Society holds the Battle of the Bands to select which local blues band will be sent to Memphis to compete at the International Blues Challenge (IBC).

Each year, a Battle of the Bands is held to choose and help finance our International Blues Competition (IBC) winner’s trip to Memphis. The winning band will receive a minimum of $3,000 in addition to the chance to compete with some of the best blues bands in the country at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN.                                 

This year’s SCV Battle of the Bands will be October 13th  from 1:00 P.M. to 4:45 P.M. at the Newhall American Legion Hall Post 507, 24527 Spruce Street, Newhall.  Competition may include up to 6 bands. 

 

Ticket Sales

Tickets will be sold at the door for $20.00 General Admission. $10 for active, current Blues Society Members. Non-members may opt to sign up as a new member and get in for the cost of becoming a member. (No door charge).  Based on past experience, this event is the highlight of the year, featuring a full afternoon of the best blues bands in the area.

 

Band Entries

If you have a blues band and would like to enter the Battle of the Bands, we welcome you to join us! All band leaders must be current members of the Santa Clarita Valley Blues Society to compete in the Battle of the Bands.  Membership applications are available on our website at http://www.scvblues.com/membership.  Note: Each member of the winning band must also belong to or become an SCVBS member to qualify for the IBC competition in Memphis. The entry fee for the 2024 event will be $100 per band.

To submit your application, please click here

BATTLE OF THE BANDS RULES AND ENTRY FORM

 


2024

Santa Clarita was proudly represented at the  2024 International Blues Challenge by the winners of the December 2023 Battle of the Bands, the Bootleggers.  

Although we sponsored a great Blues band for the 2024 competition, they were elimiated in earlycompetition. 

In this world wide competition for  the BEST Blues band one can hold their heads up high just getting to Memphis.

The Bootleggers Band did us proud. 

 

 


2023

For the Santa Clarita Valley Blues Society the 2021 IBC competition is in the books. We had two super talened groups representing us in Memphis: The Sandy Haley Band, and the duo group Celso Salim and Darryl Carriere.

With all of the talent and skills possessed by these amazing artists we could not break the semi finals. 

The competition in Memphis is incredible and getting to the semi finals puts you side by side with the world’s finest players. Please extend a very “welcome back home” to our Blues representatives.

 

 


2021

Five bands and two single/duo players put

their skills and talents to the test in our

local contest in order to win over the judges.

The winning band:   Sandy Haley

The winning single/duo:  Celso Salim and Darryl Carriere

 


2019

The Celso Salim Band took third place in the Band Category and

Darryl Carriere (Harmonica) won the Lee Oskar

Harmonica Player award.

 

 

 

 

 

2018

Our 2018 International Blues Challenge (#34) representatives:  Artur Menezes, Gui Bodi, Bianca Richardson, Renny Goh and Matthew Mitchell

……The  Artur Menezes Band.

 

They took: Third place in the band category. World wide competition………WOW

 

And Artur won the Albert King Award for Best Guitarist.

 

 

 

 

 

JT Butler also  entered the 2018 Challenge in Memphis as our Solo/Duo winner!

 

 

 

 


2016/2017

Artur Menezes  2016 Winner of the “Battle Of The Blues Bands” and 2017 Representative at the IBC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mr. So and So 2017 Solo/Duo Performers

 


2014/2015

014 / 2015 WINNERS OF THE SCVBS BEST BLUES BAND AWARD
 

CHUCK STRONG AND SRBQ

2015 and 2016 Memphis Competitors


2009/2010

WINNER OF THE 2010 INTERNATIONAL BLUES CHALLENGE AWARD FOR THE WORLD’S BEST SELF PRODUCED CD, “FIRE IT UP”
 

THE LAURIE MORVAN BAND