The mission of the Kalamazoo Valley Blues Association (KVBA) is to promote, educate, and preserve the rich history of blues music as it concerns Kalamazoo and its impact on American culture and commerce in musical arts and industry.
international blues talent competition
Every year the Blues Foundation (like, the "mothership" of all blues societies) holds a talent competition in Memphis Tennessee on Beale Street - the home of the blues. It is the whip! For more information check out the Blues Foundation web site link above.
local competition
9th Annual International Blues Challenge
TC & the Roadmasters Head to Memphis
by Dennis Massingill
The KVBA held its 9th Annual Blues Challenge on Sunday, September 16th at the Silver Bullet Bar and this continues to be one of the highlights of the year for blues lovers. Six bands were entered this year to perform in front of five judges and a packed house. As usual, the scoring criteria was identical to that used by the Blues Foundation in Memphis for the International Blues Competition.
This year’s judges included Turk from Wonderful’s; Tim Jacobs, a guitar player from the Plainwell area; Alex Cale from WFAT radio; Chris Janowiak of the Western Michigan music department; and Ray White a former guitarist in the Frank Zappa band and now touring with his son. The judges complained as that afternoon went on that the bands were too good to make clear distinctions between them. But they did their best.
In the end, TC & The Roadmasters prevailed by the closest of scoring margins. There was, in fact, a three-way tie for second! Out of Favor Boys, The Chris Canas Band, and The Marci Linn band were right there behind TC. There is a tiebreaking formula provided by the Blues Foundation for just such an occurrence. (As announced, if the winning band can’t make the trip to Memphis then the runner-up can go.) Although some were disappointed that their favorite band didn’t win, all agreed that it was a great afternoon of music. The crowd also got to hear a band of young bluesmen called Artios that promise to be up and comers in our area.
TC is actually TC DeLisle who owns and operates the BLUEStage Club, a blues venue south of
Jackson. TC has been to Memphis before as a member of the HooDoo band which actually
made it to the finals. His new band will attempt to duplicate that feat in this year’s competition
which will be held January 31st – February 2nd. The KVBA would like to thank our judges, Dan
and Julie of the Silver Bullet Bar, and all those that came out to support live blues music.
TC & The Roadmasters
Marci Linn Band
Out of Favor Boys
Chris Canas Band
Artios
