We Will Survive

We Will Survive

We Will Survive

We Will Survive

The best message I could find, musically, appeared ahead of this message. BB King’s “I’ll Survive.” Because that’s what we do here in Florida.

It’s been a rough two weeks for all of us. Most lost power, some had some flooding, and unfortunately a few lost homes. Our venues took a hit, and our musicians are going to be out of work.

But we came together. In traveling between my home and my mom’s home frequently in the days following Milton (and how long before I can again listen to Little Milton?) I witnessed many acts of human kindness – people helping each other.

Of course, the music schedule is a mess. Known is that Camping With The Blues was cancelled. Florida Sands Music took a large hit from the storm and will need time to recover. This message was issued on Facebook:

We are sad to say, the Florida Sand Music Ranch has suffered quite a bit of damage due to Milton. They went through Helene with few issues. This time, however, there is a lot of flooding, more trees and power lines down. They currently have no power.

Unfortunately, the 2024 Camping with the Blues has been cancelled.

Best to check with any venue before you head out to a show. So, in the near term, your newsletter is not going to publish events in our Current Happenings section.

Stay Safe, be well. And we’ll be together before you know it.

Scott Morris

President, Suncoast Blues Society

 

 

Suncoast Blues 2024 IBC Regional Challenge Review

Suncoast Blues 2024 IBC Regional Challenge Review

Suncoast Blues 2024 IBC Regional Challenge Review

Suncoast Blues 2024 IBC Regional Challenge Review

 

Sunday September 15th brought a full house out to Bayboro Brewery in St Petersburg for the Suncoast Blues Society International Blues Challenge Regional Competition.

Artists competed in both the solo/duo and band categories. The four hours of music, fun, and friendship left your society with two worthy champions to represent us in Memphis!

In the solo/duo category, Mike Davis kicked off the show and put in a stellar performance. Mike built an early lead in the judges’ scoring and this proved to be insurmountable, even though Harold Davis, Swamp Blues, and Phil Coale performed entertaining and crowd-pleasing sets. Congratulations to Mike, and we look forward to Mike’s forthcoming January appearance at the IBC Challenge in Memphis.

The band competition resulted in one of the closet scoring outcomes in memory. So close that a ballot recount was necessary. On their way to Memphis representing our region is Stoney Brooks Band. This quartet left the stage to a standing ovation. Musicians Stoney Brooks (vocals and harmonica), Skyler Saufley (an amazing young guitarist that bears watching), Pete Maier (drums), and Josh Minucci (groovin’ on upright bass) are well prepared to present their brand of blues to the audience in Memphis.


Also competing in the band category were Nightbumpers, and Black Snake Bayou.

Congratulations to all artists who performed on this Sunday in St Petersburg. New friendships formed, a gig opportunity or two developed, and the best part is that each artist had fun.

And so did the audience.

Thanks to all who came out and supported the artists, Bayboro Brewery, and Suncoast Blues Society.

 

 

 

 

 

Become a Suncoast Blues Society Member

Go to our Membership sign up page and choose your Membership! 

Click Here
Suncoast Blues Society Donates

Suncoast Blues Society Donates

Suncoast Blues Society Donates

Suncoast Blues Society Donates

The Palladium in St Petersburg has a rich history of bringing music to our community. The non-profit foundation at the venue has started a restoration campaign that will reimagine this important venue.

Prior to the Southern Hospitality show, on behalf of our membership your board of directors, represented by Cheryl Spradling and Scott Morris, presented a donation to The Palladium executive director Paul Wilborn.

You can read, and hear, more about this $10 million dollar makeover at this link. Within the presentation, our own Selwyn Birchwood explains what The Palladium means to him.

And if you can do so, Paul Wilborn will appreciate any additional donation. Many of us have fond memories of shows at The Palladium. Let’s help to make new memories inside of a world-class venue.

Message from your President 2024

Message from your President 2024

Message from your President 2024

 

Suncoast Blues Society Events Calendar

(Or, Where is my show?)

While this message is primarily for our local artists, members may find interest in better understanding how events find their way to the Suncoast Blues Society event calendar SBS Events Calendar, and sometimes into the newsletter.

Being an all-volunteer organization, your board of directors does not have the time to maintain a calendar. Anyway, there is a better option called GoTonight.

GoTonight (GTN) is a wonderful partner with Suncoast Blues Society, and without going deep into the technology details GTN sends SBS a calendar of local blues events which populates the calendar on the website. And from there it’s a manual process to transpose the shows into the newsletter. Time consuming for sure; prone to errors as well. But given the volunteer staff, or lack of, it’s the best that we can do for our members

There are two ways that shows do not make it to the SBS calendar. The most prevalent issue is the shows not making it into GTN. Venues and artists can populate their calendar on GTN – and many do. But not all take advantage of the GTN calendar and GTN relies on some of their own volunteers to fill in many of the gaps.

If you are interested in participating, or need more information on GTN’s features, reach out to GTN at  Contact GTN.

The second issue arises with the cut off time for the calendar load to SBS. To help solve this problem GTN and SBS have agreed to a 1:00 PM cutoff time on Monday’s for shows to be in the calendar. We realize that event bookings can be fluid but to get our newsletter out on time we do need to put a stake in the ground, and if a show does not make the cutoff day and time, it may not make the calendar or newsletter.

SBS members find the event data valuable. We know this because the event page is the one that receives the most visits to the website. However, here is one instance where it really does take a village for all to benefit. If you are interested in helping make the event data complete, and a better experienced for all members, reach out to GTN at the above link, or send an email to volunteer@suncoastblues.org

Scott Morris, President Suncoast Blues Society.

 

THE INTERNATIONAL BLUES CHALLENGE – 2024

THE INTERNATIONAL BLUES CHALLENGE – 2024

THE INTERNATIONAL BLUES CHALLENGE – 2024

This year’s International Blues Challenge will be held on Beale Street in Memphis, TN from January 7-11, 2025. The tickets will be available starting October 1, 2024.

THE INTERNATIONAL BLUES CHALLENGE

From International Blues Foundation website:https://blues.org/international-blues-challenge/ The International Blues Challenge 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 will take place 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 will offer seminars, highlights, master classes, film screenings, networking events, book signings, and receptions for blues societies, fans, and professionals.

MUSICIANS: WE NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU

Your Suncoast Blues Society is considering hosting a regional IBC competition. We are calling for Blues musicians to state their intention to compete before June 1,2024.

If there is enough local interest in competing your society will move forward with hosting the competition.

Please review the rules for entry https://blues.org/ibc-rules-guidelines-local-affiliate-challenges/. It is important that your music contains some original blues music. Any winning act(s) from the competition will go on to represent us in Memphis!

There are so many Blues musicians in our area with amazing talent and we would love to sponsor a band and/or solo/duo act to represent Suncoast Blues Society.

If you are a blues musician in our area, we encourage you to state your interest in competing by emailing president@suncoastblues.org before June 1. The board of Suncoast Blues society will decide on June 2nd on whether there is enough interest to move forward with a competition.

 

 

Become a Suncoast Blues Society Member

Go to our Membership sign up page and choose your Membership!
Click Here