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Journey to Memphis
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Hey
everybody, Jackson
Lee here to tell you all about the 4th Annual Journey
to Memphis Band Competition. For those who don't know what this competition
is, please let me tell you. In March the Blues Foundation in Memphis (of
which the CBA is an affiliate member) holds its International Blues
Challenge (IBC). Blues bands and solo acts come from all over the world
to compete and share in the festivities of the weekend. The only way to
compete in the IBC is to be sponsored by an affiliate member of the Blues
Foundation. That's us, the CBA. The winner in Memphis receives about
$20,000 in cash, prizes, and tour dates.
The first year that the CBA sponsored a band, we sent The Hudson Rocket Band. They made a great showing for themselves, but didn't make the finals. They did bring back loads of information, though, which has helped all the bands and the CBA in our endeavor. The next year we held the first bands competition to see who would go to Memphis as the CBA's sponsoree. We had, if memory serves, nine bands apply and five that competed. The winner was Junkyard Jane, who in Memphis, took the first night and went on to the finals. After a long night, Junkyard didn't place. The third year, after a great competition, we sent Drawback Slim's Wild West, who, after a lot of work to get to Memphis, didn't get past the first night.
Now
it is time for this year's Journey to Memphis Band Competition. I'm
proud to tell all the world of the wonderful lineup we have this year. It
may be the strongest yet. In these four acts you will find some of the best
talent in Portland. The first is Joe
McMurrian, a solo guitar bluesman; the "forever entry,"
Blind Rhino;
Dylan-Thomas Vance,
an acoustic lap slide guitarist building a following Portland; and last
— and far from least — is The
Richard
Day-Reynolds Band.
The Journey to Memphis Competition will be held at the Trail's End Saloon (1320 Main St., Oregon City) from 2-6 p.m., Sunday, September 8th. There is a $5 cover, which will help to send the winners to Memphis. All money given to the winner comes from this cover, fundraisers and donations. No money comes from the CBA directly. The Journey to Memphis is a self-supporting effort. So come out and help us send a great band to Memphis. See you all there!
- Jackson Lee
Journey to Memphis Chairperson