Blues Challenge

Ozark Blues Society contest

Got the blues? Well it’s time to share ’em again.

The Ozark Blues Society is calling for entries into its annual Blues Challenge. Submissions — free to enter — are due by Aug. 20. The Blues Challenge competition will take place from 6 to 11:30 p.m. Sept. 7 at George’s Majestic Lounge in Fayetteville.

The society is seeking submissions from blues bands and solo/duo artists to compete at the event. The acts will perform 20-minute sets in a randomly chosen order, which will be announced just prior to the start of the competition. Submissions will be juried to select no more than 10 acts for the competition. The Sept. 7 competition will be judged by professionals in the blues music business, including music media writers, blues radio show hosts and officers from other blues societies.

Submissions should contain a band or solo/duo bio, a CD recording of the act or a website link where videos or songs are posted and professional-looking photographs in a JPG format suitable for press releases and Web posting. Submissions must be mailed before Aug. 20 to Ozark Blues Society of NWA, P.O. Box 2004, Bentonville, AR 72712 or emailed to roger.plourde@gmail.com. Questions about submissions can also be sent by email.

Information about the Blues Challenge — official rules, scoring criteria, guidelines, application form, etc. — will be posted at www.ozarkbluessociety.org.

There will be two winners announced the same of the competition — one band and one solo/duo act. Winners will then compete at the four-day 2012 International Blues Challenge Jan. 31 to Feb. 4 on Beale Street in Memphis. All expenses are paid by Ozark Blues Society for the winners’ travel and lodging, and a daily food allowance will be provided. Past winners of the local challenge include Kory Montgomery, The Eoff Brothers, The Brick Fields Band, Adam Posnak, Scott Leeper, Isayah Warford and Buddy Shute.