Anyone attending the International Blues Challenge in Memphis in February?

Hello Bluesfolk,

We were just wondering who might be planning to make the pilgrimage to Memphis to attend the IBC February 5-7. We're looking for recommendations on acts to catch - plus we're always interested in saying hi and meeting the folks we talk to online. We weren't planning to attend this year but we keep remembering how much fun Beale Street and the IBC is so we don't think we'll be able to resist hopping in the car and heading for Tennessee. Its a 12-hour drive from Michigan so that should say a lot about the fun factor of this event! (Last year Eden Brent confided that the IBC was something akin to a religious experience because of the great music and the camaraderie and the general magical vibe of the entire weekend.)

Tags: Blues, Challenge, Foundation, IBC, International

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jack Olmsted on February 2, 2009 at 5:47pm

Tomorrow afternoon at 2pm (PST)
Memphis bound Son Jack Jr and I will be talking with Joe W. Whitmer, Event Producer The Blues Foundation, about the upcoming IBC on the Centrum Community Blues Live Talk Radio Show.

If you are interested in listening to the broadcast, go here:
http://www.nowlive.com/show/digitalreporter

A Podcast of the show will be published on this thread later in the week.

To call into the show:
Phone: 310/984-7600
Show ID: 254183
Caller ID Block: Dial *82 before calling show

NOTE: In order to "text" chat during the show, you need to get a free nowlive.com account.

If you have any questions or concerns, let me know.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jack Olmsted on February 4, 2009 at 7:35pm

Son Jack Jr. and I talk with Joe Whitmer, the producer of the 25th International Blues Challenge, that kicks off today in Memphis, TN. Official Program (PDF)
MP3 (iPod/MP3 Player)

Hopefully, Son Jack Jr. will be posting audio reports from the IBC over the next couple of days.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Stacy Brooks on February 4, 2009 at 1:13pm

I was goin but I have the flu now. Have fun on Beale!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Deborah Dixon on February 5, 2009 at 12:14am

Dang...I dont know if I am going to be able to get off work early enough to catch this. If I miss it please tell my good friend Rich that I will be looking for him at some point during the evening. This day gig is kickin my butt and taking all of the fun out of my life!!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by GW on February 15, 2009 at 11:20am

I've enjoyed the thread, and appreciate the time taken to add comments here. The IBC seemed to be a success, and I'm glad. I expect a few folks are just now working on their photos. (I hope they'll add them). I know I've yet to follow up on the contacts I made there. It's not everyday I meet so many nice people.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by The Rusty Wright Band on February 23, 2009 at 11:57pm

Yikes!

It seems like just a couple days since I last checked in and it's been weeks!! So sorry for the delay in replying - we came back from Memphis and immediately jumped in up to our eyeballs making sure the radio/promotional campaign for our new cd gets underway (relatively) smoothly.

We had a wonderful time in Memphis this year but didn't make it to any of the showcases, unfortunately. I've developed a lot of food allergies recently and had an allergic reaction to something I ate. By Friday I looked like botox gone bad. My lips were literally burned - they swelled, peeled and cracked every time I smiled. We were back in our room by 11:30 Friday and I was even worse on Saturday so we didn't make it out to see much. It took almost a week to get back to normal but we still managed to have a lot of fun and heard a LOT of really great music. Seemed like a lot of people we knew performed at the same time so we spent a lot of time doing mad dashes up and down Beale listening to 2-3 songs, then bolting out the door to hear the last half of someone else's set.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Michael Lee (Seiler) on February 16, 2009 at 5:01pm

Rusty,
met you in the Hard rock when you were talking to Felix Y. then the next night on Beale st. with Steve S.
It was a great time!
m

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by The Rusty Wright Band on February 24, 2009 at 12:01am

Hi Michael,

This is Laurie replying - sorry for the delay in responding. I think I may have a photo or two to email to you from the IBC... Yes, it WAS a great time. I think I have photos of Felix from the past three IBCs - (at least the past two years for sure) sitting on that same bar stool at the Hard Rock. Its getting to be more like old home week every year that we go.