The 2023 International Blues Challenge
The International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN is one of the best blues events on the planet. From Tuesday through Saturday every club on Beale St. is filled with competing acts all day and Blues veterans all night. The judges may be life long blues fans, or they may own the most successful blues record labels. The number of competing acts dwindles until Saturday, when the final round of the competition is moved from Beale St. to the grand Orpheum Theatre, and the remaining musicians each showcase their best 15-minute act. In 2015 I was given that honor, and had the opportunity to perform four of my songs on the Orpheum Theatre stage. Unfortunately, I was unable to play my way back to the final round this time. However, other than that small detail, the week was as fun as ever.
A blockade of sawhorses and cop cars bookend the festival grounds on either end of Beale St., upholding the veil between rock and roll fantasy and reality. Once inside, the musician to blues fan ratio falls quite close to 1:1, blending the week into a perpetual backstage experience. As a musician at the event, you know you is one of the few times and spaces where the number of blues fans you meet will never be exceeded. The fact that a non-trivial number of these fans also work for recording studios, record labels, blues organizations, and blues event planning is an extra perk, as there are so many opportunities to interact with those wholly invested in this music.
Alcohol is served on the street, and every club on either side is shaking with a houserockin’ party. On good nights it has the vibe of the first weekend back in the dorms after summer break. Although, my perception may be biased, as most my old dorm room friends fly in for the week as well. While I feel I’ve been a bit responsible for cultivating their interest in blues music, they always knew a good party when they stumbled into one.
If you have the opportunity, grab a couple drinks and wander down Beale St. in January. Watch your feet slide over the brass placards, dedicated to the long list of legends, musical genius Memphians, cemented in Blues Mecca, key contributors to one of the great art forms of our country.
Here’s one of me from the competition, photo by Alex Hjulbyhavn Petterson.
Preparing myself to compete in this event and remembering to document is always a challenge, but in the mess of everything that must be done during IBC week, I was able to grab a few videos of my favorite performances. These videos are all from the finals in the Orpheum, a surreal experience where grungy bar blues is transformed into what makes for a magnificent afternoon of theatre.
This first video is of Adam Karch, my favorite act in the competition this year. His guitar and vocal technique combine to produce an impressive one man show. I’ll be revisiting the work of Kelly Joe Phelps, and other west coast Piedmont pickers to try and capture a bit of this vibe. Adam ended up being awarded the best guitarist in the Solo/Duo category.
The overall winner of the Solo/Duo competition this year was Frank Sultana from Australia. His bright vocal over muddy guitar riffs and modern songwriting produced a tight set.
Finally, the Cinelli Brothers, of the UK Blues Foundation, performed this tune I quite liked, and ended up in second place in the band category.