Guess Who’s Going to Memphis!
Congratulations to the winners of the Kansas City Blues Society’s “Road to Memphis” local International Blues Challenge.
Band winner: Big Luke & the Soul Disciples
Solo winner: Kelsey Miles
Thanks also to The Elles, Jonny Green, The HooDuo, Brody Buster & The Redemption, Joe Roberts & The EZ Answers, and The Outliers for giving great performances.
Thanks to Debbie Johnston, Mary Certain, and Chuck Pisano for judging.
Special thanks to the volunteers: Sheila McCoy, Ladonna Sanders, E. Kay Shaw Nelson, Brian Tresnak, and the KCBS board of directors: Dennis Nelson, Dutch Metzker, Donna Lunnon, Teresa Ramirez, and Cory Bryars.
We appreciate Frank and Mary Hicks and their staff, especially Joe Brugnoni, for hosting the event and working diligently on the production side.
Thanks Blues lovers and KCBS members for coming out and supporting!
How about we do this again next year??
The International Blues Challenge will be held January 7-11, 2025 on Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee! Tickets will go on sale on October 1, 2024. Check blues.org for more information.
The International Blues Challenge represents the worldwide search for those blues bands and solo/duo blues performers ready for the international stage, yet just needing that extra big break. Each affiliated Blues Society of The Blues Foundation has the right to send a band and solo/duo musician(s) to represent its organization at the IBC.
Affiliated Blues Societies are required to stage a live regional preliminary IBC competition, with the winner of that event representing the organization in the International Blues Challenge held annually in Memphis, TN along historic Beale Street. While affiliated Blues Societies are encouraged to follow The Blues Foundation’s structure and rules during their local challenges, each organization is free to structure its preliminary rounds as it sees fit, as long as a true challenge between multiple musicians takes place resulting in a single band and/or solo/duo artist(s) being identified. For more information follow this link.
DRUM & DYE Place Second in IBC 2024 Solo/Duo
John Paul Drum wins Lee Oskar Harmonica Award
Bill Dye wins Matt Isbell Cigar Box Guitar Award
As Son Seals said, “YEAH WE TOLD YOU!”
Congratulations to JOHN PAUL DRUM for winning the Lee Oskar Harmonica Award! As Lee Oskar said, John Paul is the HIGHEST SCORING ARTIST EVER for the harmonica award! (We know personally how good he is, don’t we?)
Congratulations to BILL DYE for winning the custom-built by Matt Isbell, Cigar Box Guitar Award!!
Congratulations to DRUM & DYE for coming in second overall in the Solo/Duo challenge!
Thank you all SO MUCH for your support of our Kansas City musicians!
We are also very grateful to Big Luke and The Soul Disciples for representing Kansas City and so very proud that they made it to the semifinals on their first trip to the IBC! Thank you Adrian and all your band!
Previous Road to Memphis Winning Acts
Representing Kansas City Blues Society in 2023
Representing KCBS in 2022 (Band): Stone Cutters Union
