... to preserve, promote and perpetuate the Blues Tradition ...

Contest Information
(Previous Winners Listed Below)

The Kentuckiana Blues Society presents: The 2010 Annual Blues Contest for Bands, Solo/Duo, Youth and Best Self Produced CD

This contest is a qualifying round with an automatic berth in the Blues Foundation's Annual International Blues Challenge held in Memphis each year (early 2011). KBS uses the Blues Foundation's rules and scoring as the basis for our competition. For the Foundations complete set of rules, visit the IBC Section of the Blues Foundation's Web Site. 

The KBS competition is open to any Kentuckiana blues performer or act who is at least 21 years of age (see Youth Category for under 21), whose name has never appeared on a final Handy Award ballot and whose act did not win the KBS contest the previous year. (The rule that all members must be at least 21 years of age is required in order to enter any venue that serves alcohol, which is where we hold the competition.)

We limit the geography of the acts to the boundaries of the Commonwealth of Kentucky and areas close to Louisville (75 miles +/-). You must reside or regularly play in Kentucky or Southern Indiana. In the event of a controversial entry or too many entries, final selection will be done by a committee of KBS Board Members. If you have any questions, please ask.

We follow the rules for the International Blues Challenge with the exception that all members of the Band and Solo/Duo must be 21 years of age at the time of the competition because of the venues we use.

Band winner receives First Prize Money of $750 plus recording studio time
and an appearance at the 2010 Garvin Gate Blues Festival

Solo/Duo winner receives First Prize Money of $250 plus recording studio time
and an appearance at the 2010 KBS Birthday Party

Youth winner receives $200 and an automatic berth to the IBC

Best Self Produced CD winner is automatically entered into the IBC's Best CD category

For the following links, please use your browser's BACK button to return here.
Documents are in PDF Format - Get the Free Adobe Acrobat Reader (link will open in a new window).

• Official Announcement - 2010
  (contains several details ... be sure to read this to understand what you are getting into)
• Band Application Form - 2010
• Solo/Duo Application Form - 2010
• Youth Application Form - 2010
• CD Application Form - 2010

Get your act together and join the fun !

If you have any questions or problems,  please send e-mail to: info@KBSBlues.org