The 2012 Iowa Blues Challenge features head to head competition culminating in a three band Final Round to be held Saturday, May 26, 2012 at the Downtown Marriott at 700 Grand Avenue in Des Moines. Make your hotel reservations and indicate you are there for the Blues Challenge. Room rates are $106. Call 800-514-4681 or 515-245-5500.
For the 19th year, the Central Iowa Blues Society, in cooperation with the Mississippi Valley Blues Society, Lizard Creek Blues Society, South Skunk Blues Society and Southeast Iowa Blues Society presents the Iowa Blues Challenge, an all-Iowa Blues band contest. This contest is open to any Iowa Blues Band that has not been nominated for the Blues Music Awards (Handy’s).
Rounds will be held in Des Moines and Davenport. Eight bands from across central
Iowa will compete in 2 preliminary rounds. The first round in Des
Moines includes Marshall County Hangmen, Brad “bebad” McCloud & His
Case of the Blues, and The Pain Killers. Bands will start at 8 PM at Zimm’s
Food & Spirits on Thursday, April 19.
The second round will be at Muddy Waters in Davenport on Sunday, April 22, at 5 PM with The Mississippi Misfits, Slack Man & the Smokin’ Red Hots, Judge #3, Serious Business and Phineas J’s.
Two bands from the Davenport round and one band from the Des Moines round will advance to the Finals on Saturday, May 26, at the Downtown Marriott in Des Moines starting at 8:30 PM.
The Iowa Blues Challenge features one of the finest prize packages, for a contest of this kind, in the country. Prizes are awarded to the top bands, including—cash, travel expenses, recording time, as well as spots in the 2012 Mississippi Valley Blues Festival in Davenport, IA and the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee in February, 2013.
The 2012 Iowa Blues Challenge is proudly sponsored by Central Iowa Blues Society, Mississippi Blues Society, Lizard Creek Blues Society, South Skunk Blues Society, Southeast Iowa Blues Society, Budweiser, Summit Brewing Co., Cumulus Media/94.9KGGO & 98.3WOW, Cityview, Junior’s Motel, Rieman Music, Zimm’s Food & Spirits and Muddy Waters.
