OBS Road to Memphis – Bands 2011

This year, the Ottawa Blues Society Road to Memphis local blues competition was split into two separate events … the Solo/Duo competition was held in early May 2011 and the Band competition will take place in September 2011.  The winners in each category will travel to Memphis TN to compete as OBS representatives in the International Blues Challenge to be held January 31-February 4, 2012.

The Band qualifying rounds will take place Wednesdays, September 7, 14, & 21, 2011 at Tucson’s (corner of Bank Street and Hunt Club Road), and the finals are scheduled for Friday, September 23, 2011 also at Tucson’s. 

Deadline for entries is Friday, August 19, 2011 at 6 pm (Ottawa time).   

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 http://www.blues.org/ibc/scoring.php

Eligibility Requirements:

Band members must be 2011 residents of the Ottawa/Gatineau area (approximately 100 km radius of Ottawa).
Entrants must be available for both qualifying rounds and the final round and must be able to travel to the IBC in Memphis, January 31-February 4, 2012. 
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 sending a message to all Board members using the contact form on the OBS website at http://www.ottawabluessociety.com/contact.php.  You may also send an email directly to boardmembers@ottawabluessociety.com.

In your email, please include the following information:

¯   name(s) and contact info (email, phone) for band member(s)
¯   brief biography
¯   summary of the entrant’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 Ottawa 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 for further information following your submission.  Please address any questions to Liz Sykes at lizblues@rogers.com