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Submissions Now Open For the East Coast Blues Society 2015 Edition of the Local International Blues Challenge

Download application form and check list

Submissions are now open for the East Coast Blues Society third annual Maritimes to Memphis - Be Part of the Journey local blues challenge, which will be split into two categories … the Solo/Duo Challenge and the Band Challenge. The event will take place Sunday September 27th, 2015 at Monte's Showbar and Grill starting at 4PM. The winners in each category will travel to Memphis TN to represent the Maritimes in the International Blues Challenge to be held Tuesday January 26th to Saturday January 30th, 2016.

Depending on the number of entrants, additional dates may be added.

At the local IBC event at Monte's, there will be independent judges (i.e. it is not East Coast Blues Society that decides who will be sent to Memphis).

The scoring criteria, used by the judges, are based on the following:

1. Blues Content
2. Vocals
3. Talent
4. Originality
5. Stage Presence

An act will be penalized one point from its Total Weighted Score (see below) for each ten seconds that it runs overtime. There is no penalty for using less than the allotted time.

At the producing organization’s discretion, a policy of penalty for excessive time loading-in and out will also be applied. The weighted multipliers will be Blues content (4); talent and vocals (3); originality (2) and stage presence (2).

Find the full rules here. *Note; these are the exact same rules used at the challenge in Memphis.

Submission of entries will be accepted between Tuesday May 12th and Monday August 31st, 2015 via email or regular mail.  To apply, download the checklist and application form from our website here. The form must be completed and sent in via email or mail before the submission deadline.

For the purposes of the IBC, a band is any act with three or more musicians; vocalists are counted as musicians for the purpose of this competition.  Both electric and acoustic instruments are allowed.  At this local competition, entrants will be judged by the same criteria used for the International competition.  Each band will have 20-25 minutes to perform and will be given points based on Blues Content, Vocals, Talent, Originality and Stage Presence.  For full details on scoring criteria and official rules, see the Blues Foundation website.

Eligibility Requirements:

- Band members must be residents of the Maritimes.  


- Entrants must be available for both qualifying and final rounds and be able to travel to the IBC in Memphis, January 26-January 30, 2016.


- Entrants will play one set; set length will be 20-25 minutes (to be confirmed).


- All songs presented MUST be Blues (electric or acoustic), Rock/ Blues, Jazz/Blues, Country Blues or Rhythm & Blues.


Entries should be made by downloading the Application Form and Checklist here.

Completed forms with the required information must be emailed to ibc@eastcoastblues.ca on or before the submission deadline of midnight, August 31st, 2015.  We will also accept submissions via snail mail at


P.O. Box 31022

Halifax

Nova Scotia, B3K 5T9


and must be postmarked no later than midnight August 31st, 2015.

In your email/ mail, please include the following information: (see application form and checklist)

- names and contact info (email, phone) for all band members

- brief biography

- summary of the band’s experience and performance history

- audio sample of music (link to MySpace, band website, MP3 or CD). 

Every effort will be made to accommodate all applications that are received on time and meet the established criteria.  However, should it be required for any reason deemed appropriate, the East Coast Blues Society reserves the right to limit the number of entrants in the competition.  Should it be necessary to exercise this right, a pre-screening of the applications received will be conducted based on the sample music provided.  The results of the pre-screening process are final.

You will be contacted with further information following your submission.  Please address any questions to ibc@eastcoastblues.ca