Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society
 
 
 

MBAS Blues Performer Of The Year Contest

Each year MBAS hosts their Blues Performer Of The Year Contest, giving Australian blues artists the opportunity to win an air ticket and accommodation to the USA to represent Australia in the IBC (International Blues Challenge) that is held annually in Memphis.

MBAS Now Sends Two Acts To Memphis
We will be sending a duo act and a band to participate in the IBC (International Blues Challenge). This is the first time we have been able to send 2 acts to Memphis. Most of the societies in the USA send 2 acts each year and while we were always dreaming of doing the same, this year the dream has become a reality. MBAS has been very busy with raising funds for this contest and we have succeeded in reaching the bar to enable us to do something the likes of which we have never been able to do before. This will be a year to year proposition depending on the coffers of MBAS.

The 2007 competition results are below, and details for the 2008 competition will be posted soon.

International Blues Challenge 2008 (Memphis USA)
and the winners are...

Band Competition 1st place: Trampled Under Foot - Kansas City Blues Society (USA)
2nd place: Shakura S'Aida - Toronto Blues Society (Canada)
3rd place: Lil' Ray Neal Blues Band - Baton Rouge Blues Society (USA)
Solo/Duo Competition 1st place: Lionel Young 2nd place: Ben Prestage

Our Sponsors for Blues
Performer of the Year


Results of the MBAS 2007 Contest

After 2 heats, six acts went into the final on Sunday 21st October, playing for the fabulous prize of a trip to Memphis to represent Australia in the International Blues Challenge.


The Contestants

Suzannah Espie & Big Boy Lemonade, Dan Dinnen, Steve Romig Band, Jaimi Faulkner Band, The Detonators and Danny Burton.


The Winners

Suzannah EspieSuzannah Espie & Big Boy Lemonade
Overall winner, and will compete in the solo/duo category

Voice of SUZANNAH ESPIE, a voice that is at once as smooth as a Southern Belle's taunt and as strong as a front bar fist, and the fabulous talent of Big Boy Lemonade on keys.

 

 

Jaimi Faulkner BandJaimi Faulkner Band
Runner up And the highest scoring Band: and will compete in the band category

Jaimi and his guitar front an impressive roots band, play major festivals, and have already produced one full length album. It is still early days, but this ambitious young performer appears to have what it takes to carve out a place for himself on the world stage.

 

Memphis up-date from Jaimi

Saturday, February 02, 2008

Well, Well, Well! Hi all,
Unbelievable is all i can say!
We seriously kicked ass last night.

Dean, Tim and I rolled onto the Blues City Cafe (Beale Street Memphis) stage at about 10pm after 9 other bands had done there thing and we blew everyone out of the water with out little 25min set!

Most of the US bands played really generic blues, but we had diverse set and better stage presence than most of the bands i saw! (sorry bout the lack of modesty, haha)

It was so exciting to be playing in Memphis at a venue that i had eaten ribs with John and Tim on my last trip. WOW.

After the Gig i was interviewed by one of our judges who writes for a US magazine. He wanted to know all about how i got started playing music and blues, the MBAS and our blues scene in Australia and we talked for about 10mins.

We then kicked on with lots of aussies after the gig, (Fiona Boyes and Steve, Suzannah and big boy, Ray Beadle and CO) drank lots of bud, ate pizza and went to bed very happy and content.

We do it again tonight at 7!
wish us luck.
jaimi

John and Tim: wish you were here to watch us play! i often think of you guys as i revisit parts of memphis!
Lloyd: I met your friend terry last night after my gig!
Nath: you'd love it here mate, nothing but 5 string active basses! Not a Grabber in site!
Mum: I'm eating 2 apples a day to combat the excessive meat im consuming! dont fret! ha
Sonia: Suzannah and Big Boy were also AMAZING last night!! you'd be proud of us all!


Friday 1th February 2008

Hey All,
well, here i go with email number one!

As you've probably gathered from previous overseas emails, i write my emails while im tipsy or drunk! its the only time i can be bothered occupying a computer for more than a minute!

Tim, Dean, Suzannah and big boy lemonade have just got back to the hotel after a good 4 hour session of drinkin and listening to shit blues on beale street. However as i look out of the window of the marriot now, it has just begun to snow!! what an amazing contrast to last time when i was here and it was hot hot hot!

Earlier today i purchased a kick ass guitar from the Memphis Guitar centre! Its a Fender Telecaster 1951 Custom shop relic and its fuckin awsome!! It took me two days to find it and as a result about $200 US in cab fares around memphis but that was worth it considering it only cost me $3000 Australian.

Already i've eatin my weight in Hog Maws,Wet Ribs, Dry Ribs, Black eyed peas, refried beans, slaw, Burgers and southern style "food", and i'm already ready for some vegetables and fruit.

Tomorrow the International Blues Challenge starts and we register and play tomorrow night. I cant wait, twill be good to christen my new guitar and have a play in front of all these southerners!

Anywho, thats probably about it so far so, the next email will be after the First or second gig i guess. See how i feel.

Much love,

Jelly roll Faulkner

To all of you who came to the benefit: sorry i didnt have a good chance to talk to you in depth but it was great you could all make it!

Lloyd: Can you give us the name of a good juke joint in memphis?

 

 

See Previous Years' Winners below.

 

2007 IBC Performance Videos
View footage of jams and IBC performances, taped on Beale Street during the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee, the first week of February 2007. View IBC 2007 Video Footage

 



Competition Entry Rules

Qualifications for entry are:
  1) Entrants must be a Member of MBAS
  2) Entrants must be Victorian
  3) Blues music only

If you have any further queries, please feel free to email us.
More details will be posted for the next contest soon.



Previous Contest Winners

2006: Nick Charles
2005: Andrea Marr
2004: Jimi Hocking (winner of acoustic division)
2003: Ash Grunwald
2002: Fiona Boyes (winner of acoustic division)
2001: Andy Cowan (second place, acoustic division)
1999: Collard Greens & Gravy
1997: Bill Kavanagh
1996: Anne-Marie Sharry
1995: Geoff Achison (winner of the Albert King Award)
1994: Ian Collard

 



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