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
Suncoast Blues Society members can purchase pre-sales tickets to blues legend Buddy Guy

Suncoast Blues Society members can purchase pre-sales tickets to blues legend Buddy Guy

Suncoast Blues Society members can purchase pre-sales tickets to blues legend Buddy Guy

NOTE: All SBS members in good standing (paid membership) have the right to this offer. Follow instructions below to get access to the SBS discounted tickets! 

Special SBS Members Only Benefit
Tickets are available May 16th 4:00PM

 

Your Suncoast Blues Society board of directors has been working with Ruth Eckerd Hall, and we are proud to announce a special members-only ticket sale benefit.

On May  16th,  Suncoast Blues Society members can purchase pre-sales tickets to blues legend Buddy Guy and his Damn Right Farewell Tour! The tour comes to Ruth Eckerd Hall on September 14th, and Suncoast Blues Society members can purchase their seats before this show goes on sale to the public.

Appearing with Buddy Guy are two standouts in the blues world: Bobby Rush – an 18-time Blues Music Award winner; and musician, producer, songwriter extraordinaire – the 4-time Grammy Award winner Tom Hambridge.

You will want to take advantage of this wonderful offer before the best seats are gone, and the tickets go on sale to the public.

About the show:

BUDDY GUY

WITH SPECIAL GUESTS BOBBY RUSH & TOM HAMBRIDGE

GRAMMY® award winner and Rock ‘N’ Roll Hall of Famer, Buddy Guy, returns to Ruth Eckerd Hall for the Damn Right Farewell Tour! Buddy Guy is one of the most celebrated blues guitarists of his generation, possessing a sound and style that embodies the traditions of classic Chicago blues while also embracing the fire and flash of rock & roll. Guy began his recording career in 1959 and scored his first hit in 1960 with First Time I Met the Blue. Buddy’s time came in 1991 with the breakthrough of Damn Right, I’ve Got the Blues, the first of his many albums to reach the Billboard charts. If his last few decades have proven anything, it’s that a ticket to a Buddy Guy concert isn’t simply a tour through blues history, but an opportunity to see a genre’s foremost practitioner still at the top of his game, with as much to say as ever has. Don’t miss Buddy Guy’s return to Clearwater with special guests Bobby Rush and Tom Hambridge only at Ruth Eckerd Hall!

Buddy Guy at Ruth Eckerd Hall

NOTE: You have to be logged into to get the promotional code. See instructions below.

DETERMINE IF YOU ARE A CURRENT SBS MEMBER

If you not sure if you are a current member, go to the SBS website – www.suncoastblues.org

  • Go to the SHOP option in the Main Menu at the top.
  • Select the MY ACCOUNT option.
  • Fill out the form with your email and your password.
  • If you forgot your password, you can reset it with the LOST YOUR PASSWORD link.
  • You will receive a link to create a new password via email.
  • NOTE: If you do NOT receive your Reset Password email, check your email SPAM folder.

YOU HAVE AN ACCOUNT

  • Once you are able to get in via the MY ACCOUNT option, look on the left side for MY MEMBERSHIP.
  • Click on MANAGE (left side) and you will see the status of your membership (ACTIVE or EXPIRED)
  • If your membership has EXPIRED, you can press the RENEW button.
  • You will see a form which you need to update (as needed).
  • Then you will be asked to use PayPal to do your renewal order (you can use a PayPal account OR your own credit card).

 

AFTER YOU LOG IN – CLICK HERE – TO BE TAKEN TO THE CODE PAGE

Become a Suncoast Blues Society Member

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

Click Here
Everybody Having a Ball – Billy Price Band

Everybody Having a Ball – Billy Price Band

Everybody Having a Ball – Billy Price Band

Everybody Having a Ball

Billy Price Band @ Cottonmouth southern Soul Kitchen 

On March 29th 2024, Billy Price and his band made their debut in Bradenton’s Village of the Arts and put on one of the best shows seen to date at the venue.

The band set the tone for the evening when kicked off the show playing The Temptation’s classic Can’t Get Next to You, followed by Chuck Berry’s You Never Can Tell. Billy came to the stage and launched a wonderful set of music pulled from this extensive catalogue, and sprinkled in some new material that is forthcoming this fall.

Billy’s band on this tour (Dave Dodd, drums; Tom Valentine, bass; Lenny Smith, guitar; Jim Britton, keyboard; and a horn section with flugelhorn and sax ) expertly backed Billy as he launched into two sets of enjoyable rhythm & blues, blues, and soul. Beginning with I Keep Holding On Billy captured the audience and showed why he is a wonderful entertainer. Billy got the crowd moving by delivering his “signature” song, the Carl Sims classic It Ain’t a Juke Joint Without The Blues.

Billy spoke respectfully about his time touring with Roy Buchannan and performed Nickle and a Nail; and then visited the 2019 recording “Dog Eat Dog” for Lose My Number. What followed next was a highlight. His performance of Mercy from the forthcoming release “Person of Interest” was a powerful, poignant, and memorable performance. This is one beautiful song that touches the heart, and on this night and during this song was Billly at his best.

A standard in Billy’s show is Can I Change My Mind, and tonight was no different. By this time, the audience was beginning to turn Cottonmouth into a dance hall, setting the stage for what to come during the second set. Tyrone Davis songs fit Billy well, and this former number one on Billboards Hot R&B Chart is no exception. The first set concluded with 39 Steps, giving both band and audience a chance to collect their breaths.

Often, between sets in Florida the audience will start to thin out. Tonight, that was not the case. The sold-out show  was packed tight. But that did not deter them – they wanted to dance to Billy Price Band and dance they did.

From the start of the second set  – which featured the band without Billy performing So Sharp, famously recorded by J. Geils Band – the audience was on their feet, moving and swaying to the beat. And they did not retreat to their seats for the remainder of the night. I’ve seen a lot of shows at Cottonmouth, but never have I witnessed the entire audience up and dancing for an entire set.

The songs during set two included: She Checks All The Boxes, Real Time, the wonderful Crying at The Stoplight, and revisiting Roy Buchanan with Can I Make You Change Your Mind. By this time, the kitchen staff joined in the fun and dancing hit a fever pitch to Tyrone Davis’s s Turn Back The Hands of Time and continued with Be Thankful for What You Got. The band wrapped up the set with Expert Witness.

The audience was not ready to release the band, and Billy accommodated with a two-song encore, First, the full band performed Person of Interest. Billy then asked all but keyboardist Jim Britton to leave the stage and the two concluded a wonderful night with a stirring version of Toussaint McAll’s. Nothing Takes The Place of You. A spectacular evening of music by The Billy Price Band.

 

  • Scott Morris, Suncoast Blues Society
  • Photo’s courtesy of Jim Hartzell

 

Become a Suncoast Blues Society Member

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

Click Here
Helping the Mississippi John Hurt Museum

Helping the Mississippi John Hurt Museum

Helping the Mississippi John Hurt Museum

Helping the Mississippi John Hurt Museum

In late February, the Mississippi John Hurt Museum in Avalon, Mississippi suffered a devastating fire, one that destroyed the museum and the historical artifacts within. To help with the reconstruction and to continue our mission of preserving the Blues and its traditions, the Suncoast Blues Society Board of Directors has donated to the Mississippi John Hurt Foundation on behalf of our membership.

Mississippi John Hurt is one of the more influential Blues and folk artists of all time. So important an artist was Mississippi John, that in 1964 The Library of Congress recorded him. Although Mississippi John passed away in 1966, his music lives on through recordings by Bob Dylan, Jerry Garcia, Taj Mahal, and our own Damon Fowler, who recorded and frequently performs I Shall Not Be Moved.

You can learn more about the efforts of the Mississippi John Hurt Foundation and donate at their GoFundMe page: Mississippi John Hurt’s Legacy Will Rise.

To learn more about the Suncoast Blues Society mission statement, visit our website Suncoast Blues Society

 

 

Become a Suncoast Blues Society Member

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

Click Here
Youth Day at Tampa Bay Blues Festival 2024

Youth Day at Tampa Bay Blues Festival 2024

Youth Day at Tampa Bay Blues Festival 2024


Youth Day at Tampa Bay Blues Festival
Sunday, April 14th, 2024

The Tampa Bay Blues Festival (TBBF) is a 3-Day event held in beautiful
Vinoy Waterfront Park, St Petersburg, Florida, April 12-14, 2024.
Some of the world’s preeminent Blues Music artists will perform.

Blues is the foundation of American Music, from Gospel to Jazz, from
Rock-n-Roll to Hip Hop. Blues music is the springboard that launched it all.

Suncoast Blues Society and TBBF are committed to introducing youth to this historic form.
We are making a special offer to our next generation of Blues music lovers…

Youth up to age 18 and a chaperone can receive a
Free Complimentary Pass!!

  1. The TBBF promoter has also arranged for one of the performing artists to meet with our “young guests”. He will announce it from the stage Sunday April 14th. 
  2. To receive your Complimentary Pass for Sunday’s festival, everyone attending must supply their names to jamesrandolph@verizon.net by March 24, 2024.
  3. Your Pass will be available at the ‘Will Call’ ticket booth under your names on Sunday, April 14th. School age youth and chaperone must present ID (school ID, drivers license, etc.) to claim “comp pass”. (No youth or adult info will be used for marketing or shared with any other organizations.)
  1. Neither TBBF nor SBS accepts any liability for youth and adults accepting this free offer (regular ticket price for this day is $70!) to attend Sunday’s festival Chaperones are responsible for youth behavior.

Sunday’s lineup features:

ALLY VENABLE

BERNARD ALLISON

ANSON FUNDERBURGH & THE ROCKETS

COCO MONTOYA

TAB BENOIT

Become a Suncoast Blues Society Member

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

Click Here
4th Annual Bradenton Cigar Box Fest

4th Annual Bradenton Cigar Box Fest

4th Annual Bradenton Cigar Box Fest

4th Annual Bradenton Cigar Box Fest

A spectacular weather day greeted fans for the 4th edition of Bradenton’s Cigar box Guitar Festival. The fest is becoming a “must attend” annual event. Noticeable was the large increase in attendance throughout the four venues hosting the event in Bradenton’s Village of The Arts.

Vendor booths selling Cigar box guitars and merchandise experienced a busy sales day, and many of the fans attended the fest with their newly purchased cigar box guitars.

This review will focus on acts at the largest venue of the four, Birdrock Taco Shack. In addition to David Shiplett’s “Shack,” other shows were at Cottonmouth southern Soul Kitchen, Chef Gaetono’s Ortygia, and The Dude and Mary’s.

While some of the acts were not strictly blues, all played numerous blues or blues-themed songs. This was clear from the opening act, Applebutter Express. A fan favorite, this band is known for their wonderful vocal harmonies. The large crowd in attendance for the 1 PM start time witnessed superb musicianship and a wide range of musical styles. Fronted by Kyle Biss and his non-stop Ukulele playing, Shannon Biss contributes vocals, Jason Baker also sings and plays a mean fiddle; and Zach Rodgers who normally plays upright bass but today sported a Cigarbox bass guitar.

The enthusiastic crowd thoroughly enjoyed the show which contained originals such as “Riley”,“Start a Fire”, and some originals which contain edgier and quirky but thoughtful lyrics. Their range was apparent when they played a bluegrass version of Alice Cooper’s “No More Mister Nice Guy.” Also performed was “Eleanor Rigby.” No wonder this band has played at fests like Wanee.

Next up, local musician Trevor Bystrom brought his Project to the stage. Much like Apple butter Express, Trevor has a large local fan base. “Stone Crab” Steve Arvey, being a part of the project, helped to increase the crowd size. This helped to ensure a close to capacity crowd at Birdrock. The Project {James Hershey, drums; Dominic Santini, bass) joined Trevor and his collection of cigar box guitars and one funky homemade guitar that was made from a goat skin covering and fishing line for the strings.

Trevor has a reggae vibe to his music, which when mixed with blues standards is quite unique and interesting. Trevor’s Anna Maria Island roots infuse his music  and the band delivered some deep cut blues, including from Reverend Gary Davis. Steve joined in for some standard blues issued from his 6-string cigar box guitar.

As expected, the vibe of the festival took a dramatic turn as arriving on the stage was Stumpy Joe (Joe Sweckard) and his ever-present companion, Farney. For those unfamiliar with the Cigarbox community, Farney is Stumpy’s single string bass. From the bottom up, the bass sits on a washtub, has a canoe paddle for the fretboard, and the string is industrial strength weed whacker string. If any instrument best describes what the cigar box community is about, it’s Farney. Stumpy Joe has built an entire sub-culture from his creation.

But do not kid yourself; Stumpy Joe is a fine musician, and frankly, could have a career as a stand-up comic if he chose to do so. Roadside stories appear throughout the act; many are side-splittingly funny, edgy and for adult-only consumption.

Taking the stage with Stumpy was Devin Williams on resonator guitar, with James Hershey on drums. This was my first-time seeing Devin, and  what a player he is. Devin’s finger-picking style classically fits his style of music. Steeped in the blues, Devin performed an excellent version of Keb Mo’s “Am I Wrong.”

Billed as a Pro-Jam, it was not surprising to see Steve Arvey back on stage. With Miguel on harmonica, the group cranked out a serious set of blues based Cigarbox music. Most moving was Steve’s version of “Amazing Grace,” which he dedicated to fellow Chicago blues artist and friend Kraig Kenning.

Closing the show was RB Stone and his unique trans-genre music. Joining RB, it was so good to see Pedro Arevalo (mostly) on bass, with Brent Winner on drums. The former Dickey Betts Band bassist did not disappoint as Pedro and RB played off each other during the opening part of the set, and more so when Trevor Bystrom and Stumpy Joe joined for a jam.

Creativity resulted when Stumpy told a story, that, well, in the spirit of keeping it clean, all that I can say is that I can never listen to Prince’s “Purple Rain” the same way ever again. Capitalizing on the story, RB and Stumpy created an on-the-fly song titled “The High Beams Boogie.” So ended a most memorable and enjoyable Bradenton Cigar Box Festival.

Scott Morris, former Treasurer, Suncoast Blues Society

(photos by Scott Morris)