Once again we made our yearly trip to Memphis for the International Blues Competition the first week in February. A large time was had by all. There were 110 bands in the competition, 80 solo/duo acts. and 30 youth acts. It's impossible to see them all - and IMHO many of of the best bands did not make the finals.
1st Place: The Lionel Young Band (Colorado Blues Society)
2nd Place: The Mary Bridget Davies Group (Kansas City Blues Society)
3rd Place: Rob Blaine's Big Otis Blues (Windy City Blues Society)
Rob also won the Best Guitarist Award which is a custom Gibson 335 and a Category 5 amp.
Stephane Bertolino won the first ever Best Harmonica Player Award presented by Lee Oskar.
The Solo/Duo results were:
1st Place: George Schroeter & Marc Breitfelder, sponsored by the Baltic Blues Society, Eutin, Germany.
2nd Place: Harrison Kennedy, representing Canal Bank Shuffle in Ontario, Canada.
