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August 23, 2008 winner of the ICBC Blues Challenge - 10 bands competed, at the 2008 ICBC Blues Challenge in Springfield, for the right to represent the Illinois Central Blues club in February at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN. The world's largest gathering of Blues acts represents an international search by The Blues Foundation and its Affiliated Organizations for the Blues Band ready to take their act to the international stage. In 2008, 100 bands and 60 solo/duo acts competed for that honor, filling the clubs up and down Beale Street for the semi-finals on Thursday and Friday and the finals at the Orpheum Theater on Saturday.

July 2008 Springfield Jazz and Blues Festival

Band member Robert Sampson was honored as one of six finalists at the Feb 2008 International Blues Solo/Duo Challenge at the world's largest gathering of Blues bands in Memphis TN. This event draws competition from around the world.

February 2008 - featured artist for the 2008 Black History Month at the Illinois Capitol Complex presenting “The History of the Blues”.

ICBC Review:
Blues fans had a real treat December 11, 2006 when “Pleasure Chest", first performed at Blue Monday. This band high-energy band is made up of consummate musicians. You won’t want to miss them!! The music was so much fun - and so good - and the personalities were great, too. The rapport with the crowd was super. Their music will entertain and delight your senses. These boys are performers in every sense of the word.

Judy Burgess - Secretary Illinois Central Blues Club

Robert Sampson, of Pleasure Chest, was honored as one of six finalists at the 2008 International Blues Solo/Duo Challenge at the world's largest gathering of Blues bands on Beale Street in Memphis. The event, which drew competition from around the world, Robert was one of the few to be selected to perform as a finalist at the at the historic Orpheum Theatre. Sampson represented the Illinois Central Blues Club at the IBC. Growing up as a foster child in East St. Louis, Sampson was exposed to a life of the blues in early life. A graduate of Illinois School for the Visually Impaired, Robert had to rely on his gift of playing by ear as he couldn't see well enough to read music. He started playing piano at the age of 4, added drums at 9 years ,and harmonica by the age of 12. At 27, he is an accomplished Slide guitar, guitar, Harp, and Keyboard musician both as a soloist and with his band, Pleasure Chest.