South Sound Blues Association to host local blues competition

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BATTLE OF THE BLUES. The best and brightest local blues talents including the Mary McPage Band (above) will be competing for a slot at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis at Jazzbones June 7.

The South Sound Blues Association (SSBA) will be holding its fifth annual “Back to Beale Street” blues competition on June 7 in conjunction with the International Blues Challenge, and it will be teeming with the best blues acts in the area trying to get their group on a stage in Memphis in 2010.

Every year, blues associations from around the country head to Memphis for the competition, sending the bands that are voted the best in their area. The event title “Back to Beale Street” came as a result of the competition being held on Beale Street in the historic blues town. In 2005 when the first competition was held with the SSBA, the event was called “Journey to Memphis,” but after board member Ron Hanshaw suggested the newly fitting title, the organization never turned back.

Over the years, many well-recognized local acts have traveled to Memphis to compete on behalf of the City of Destiny. In 2006 after the first SSBA competition, the Randy Oxford Band competed; in 2007 the winner was the Michal Miller Band; in 2008, the Red Hot Blues Sisters brought the blues; and the Michal Miller Band, which won last summer, headed down South again earlier this year.

The SSBA also added the solo/duo act category in 2008, and as a result Son Jack Jr. and Michael Wilde also represented the organization in 2009.

Every year during the “Back to Beale Street” competition, three judges choose the winners that will head out to Tennessee, and in the past they have included musicians, industry professionals, festival promoters, blues radio DJs and music journalists.

SSBA President Gary Grape said that these discerning individuals are not revealed until the day of the show. “I don’t let anyone know who the judges are,” he affirmed.

The judges make their decisions based on a distinct set of criteria, which includes: blues content, originality, talent/vocals and stage presence. The winner of the solo/duo act will be announced immediately after the competition takes place. The top four bands will advance to the Tacoma Freedom Fair and Air Show on July 4 for the finals at the Duke’s Chowder House blues stage. The final winner will compete in the International Blues Competition in Memphis in January 2010.

More than 100 bands and 60 solo/duo acts from around the world descend on Memphis each year for the International Blues Challenge. They will battle it out in one of 20 clubs along Beale Street, with the top 10 bands and top 10 solo/duo acts squaring off at the famous Orpheum Theatre on Jan. 23.

This year’s group of performers reads like a who’s who of local blues talents. For the solo/duo act performances, JD Hobson, Junkyard Duo, Malcolm Clark and Heather BBlues and Hurricane Andrew will all take to the stage to claim their spot in Memphis. The bands set to play include Cold Shot, the Stacy Jones Band, the Cody Rentas Band, the Wright Brothers and many more. According to Grape, this is a solid group of excellent contenders. “All of the groups that are scheduled to compete are seasoned professionals in the Pacific Northwest. They are all very qualified and it should make for a very exciting contest.”

Anyone who enjoys seeing blues performed onstage will appreciate watching these bands give their all in hopes to be crowned the best blues acts in the world. The event is open to all ages and thus is a great event for the whole family.

The “Back to Beale Street” 2010 competition will be held on June 7 at Jazzbones, located at 2803 Sixth Ave. The event takes place from 2-10:30 p.m. and admission is $10 general, $7 for SSBA members. For reservations and for more information, call Jazzbones at (253) 396-9169.

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