INTERNATIONAL BLUES CHALLENGE
The International Blues Challenge (IBC) represents the worldwide search for those Blues Bands and Solo/Duo Blues Acts ready to perform on the international stage, yet just needing that extra big break. The IBC is held annually in late January in Memphis, TN along historic Beale Street. There is also a Youth Showcase.
As an affiliate of The Blues Foundation, CRBN has the right to send a Band, a Solo/Duo Act and a Youth Act to represent our organization in each category at the IBC. We can also submit an entry for the Best Self-Produced CD category. Each year we stage live regional preliminary IBC competitions to determine which acts will represent us at the Challenge in Memphis.
The IBC is judged by blues professionals from across the world who have years of experience in listening to, producing, and creating blues music. The Blues Foundation has established a set of criteria by which all competing musicians are evaluated throughout the five days of the IBC.
The Blues Foundation:
"Our Mission is to preserve blues heritage, celebrate blues recording and performance, expand worldwide awareness of the blues, and ensure the future of this uniquely American art form."
For more information about the Blues Foundation's programs, the HART Fund, BMA Awards, The Blues Hall of Fame Museum and more, visit them at www.Blues.org
Save The Date! January 18 – January 22, 2022
37th INTERNATIONAL BLUES CHALLENGE • MEMPHIS, TN
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR ARTISTS REPRESENTING CRBN for 2020 IBC!
Wyld Blu, Band | Mark & Jill, Solo/Duo | The Young Wildcats, Youth Showcase
Misty Blues, "Pickled & Aged" – Best Self-Produced CD
Check Out Highlights from the 2020 International Blues Challenge!
Blues Education and Enrichment Programs
Blues in the Schools (BITS)
CRBN provides school districts, BOCES, special education programs and after-school programs with educational classes delivered by regional and nationally recognized blues artists. Blues In The Schools classes can meet the needs of every age range from pre-school to pre-college. Types of programming include:
- History of blues and its impact on American culture.
- Blues music theory in practice: participatory classes that include learning blues rhythms, call and response, 12 bar blues progressions and writing and singing lyrics.
- Performance experiences for school bands and small ensembles.
- School assemblies.
- Book readings with sing-alongs for early intervention programs.
The CRBN provides this service at no cost. Funding is obtained though fund-raising activities and grant writing.
If interested in Blues Education and Enrichment Programs for your school or youth program, please contact Sonny Speed.
Generation Blues
Our parent organization, the Blues Foundation, expanded its longstanding Blues in the Schools youth education efforts with a new initiative that began in 2010 entitled Generation Blues. Generation Blues was created to provide financial assistance to aspiring young blues musicians whose limited financial resources might prohibit them from attending a blues music learning opportunity.
This scholarship program is available for those under the age of 21 to study their instrument of choice at reputable camps, seminars, and workshop programs in the United States and Canada. More information about the program can be found here.
