CALL FOR ENTRIES

The Illinois Central Blues Club sponsors approximately 60 live performances of blues music throughout the year, including Blue Mondays at The Alamo. The Club promotes public education and appreciation of blues music. To this end the Club will be conducting the Second Blues Challenge during the Old Capitol Blues & Barbeque, August 23, 2008 beginning at noon.  The winner of the challenge will receive $1,000 in travel monies to represent the Club at the Blues Foundation International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN during the first weekend in February 2009.  Bands interested in competing in the Challenge should go to the Illinois Central Blues Club’s website at http://www.icbluesclub.org for contest rules and forms, or they can be requested by contacting markredmiston@msn.com or call 217-622-0340.  Since it is our chapter's key that the band will be representing in Memphis. At least one member of the band must be a member of the Illinois Central Blues Club. A Solo/Duo competition is slated to take place at a later date.  Applicants will be asked to submit photos, band biography, a cassette tape or CD of the band’s music. Quality of recording/picture is not considered in selecting and only the first 3 songs will be considered. Entries must be accompanied by a $10 entry fee. Entry fee will be returned if your band is not selected to compete in the August 23rd competition. The selection will not be easy, but in all fairness to those who are competing, we are mirroring the rules set forth by the Blues Foundation in their selection process in Memphis. The judges will be a cross section of the community professionals and blues enthusiasts. The ICBC is partially funded by the Springfield Area Arts Council, the Illinois Arts Council, and Downtown Springfield, Inc.