FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Billy Hutchings
Southern Fried Blues Society
Cell (339) 227-3994
email: publicity@southernfriedblues.org
www.southernfriedblues.org
Southern Fried Blues Society and Tressa’s Downtown Jazz and Blues to sponsor “Memphis or Bust” fundraiser to help Asheville area talent compete in the 26th Annual International Blues Competition
The Southern Fried Blues Society will be sponsoring a “Memphis or Bust” fundraiser on Thursday, December 10th from 6:00 to 9:00 PM at Tressa's Downtown Jazz & Blues (www.tressas.com) located at 28 Broadway Street in Asheville. Proceeds from this event will help cover traveling expenses for the artists who will be going to Memphis to compete in the prestigious 26th Annual International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN from January 20 23, 2010. This annual showcase and competition which features blues musicians from all over the world is sponsored by The Blues Foundation (www.blues.org).
The winners of this year’s Southern Fried Blues Society’s Asheville Blues Challenges held last October who have earned the honor to represent our region will be showcased in three different categories. Levi Douglas (www.myspace.com/levidouglasband) will compete with up to 60 other performers in the solo/duo artist category. Peggy Ratusz & Daddy LongLegs (www.myspace.com/peggyratusz2) will compete with up to 100 other bands in the band category. For the second year in a row, Skinny Legs & All (www.myspace.com/skinnylegsandall) will be featured in the youth showcase, which is for performers 21 years old and younger.
Each of these talented acts will be performing at the December 10th fundraiser at Tressa’s. Rick Tobey (solo duo winner from Cape Fear Blues Society Blues Challenge) is scheduled from 6p to 6:30p, Levi Douglas is scheduled from 6:30 to 7:00 PM, Peggy Ratusz & Daddy LongLegs from 7:15 to 8:00 PM, and Skinny Legs & All from 8:15 to 9:00 PM. Catered food will be provided by The Laughing Seed and Jack of the Wood. Admission will be $10 for the general public and $7 for Southern /fried Blues Society members. This will be a non-smoking event.
Please visit www.southernfriedblues.org for more information about Southern Fried Blues Society and the benefits of membership. The Southern Fried Blues Society is an affiliate member of The Blues Foundation. Founded on July 1, 2008, its’ mission is “to preserve blues heritage by sustaining the living blues of today.” SFBS membership includes blues musicians, supporters, music-related businesses, music educators, and blues-friendly clubs and venues. It is in the process of filing as a 501(3) C non-profit corporation and is staffed by volunteers.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Billy Hutchings
Southern Fried Blues Society
Cell (339) 227-3994
email: publicity@southernfriedblues.org
www.southernfriedblues.org
Southern Fried Blues Society’s Blues Challenges provide opportunities for regional performers to compete in the upcoming 26th Annual International Blues Competition in Memphis TN.
On Sunday October 11th, Southern Fried Blues Society and Tressa's Downtown Jazz & Blues sponsored the First Annual Solo/Duo Blues Challenge where five of the region’s acoustic Blues acts competed for top honors. Although all performers were very well received by the audience, the judges awarded first place to Asheville's Levi Douglas. Levi has an impeccable reputation as an accomplished Blues guitarist and songwriter. His soul filled voice and well crafted country-tinged originals made him a crowd favorite and earned him the privilege to compete against 60 or more other solo/duo artists from around the globe at the upcoming annual International Blues Challenge.
The Second Annual Band Competition was held at Mo Daddy’s Bar & Grille on Sunday, October 18th. The audience responded enthusiastically to a diverse collection of four of our region’s most dedicated and talented blues bands. This year’s top selection went to Asheville's own Peggy Ratusz & Daddy LongLegs. A seminal local favorite on the live music scene, Peggy and her stellar band pumped out an impressive set of rockin', funky and traditional blues originals. Their memorable songs, stage presence and musicianship earned them the judge’s top selection and a spot to compete with about 100 other bands from around the world at the next International Blues Challenge.
Skinny Legs and All, Asheville's strongest musical dichotomy was recently voted # 1 in the WNC reader's poll for “best band no one's ever heard of.” Southern Fried Blues Society honors this outstanding and deserving young band for the second year in a row to represent our region in Memphis at the International Blues Competition’s Youth Showcase. Ranging in age from 15 to 19, their renditions of soul, rock and blues covers is matched only by their ever growing number of groove laden and well received originals.
To help offset the travel expenses associated with competing in the prestigious 26th Annual International Blues Competition, Southern Fried Blues Society will soon be announcing local fundraiser events. Attendance and support at these events will go a long way in helping this deserving collection of musicians in getting to Memphis and representing our region with pride.
Please visit www.southernfriedblues.org for more information about Southern Fried Blues Society and the benefits of membership.
The Southern Fried Blues Society is an affiliate member of The Blues Foundation. Founded on July 1, 2008, its’ mission is “to preserve blues heritage by sustaining the living blues of today.” SFBS membership includes blues musicians, supporters, music-related businesses, music educators, and blues-friendly clubs and venues. It is in the process of filing as a 501(3) C non-profit corporation and is staffed by volunteers.
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The Blues Foundation Is Back In Town
August 11, 2008 — On the first day of July, WWCU 90.5 FM blues radio show host C.B. Roy, longtime blues musician Bobby G, and his band manager received word from Jay Seileman, Executive Director of The Blues Foundation in Memphis, TN, that their application to form an affiliate member blues society to serve the Smokey Mountain region had been approved. Until this summer, blues music artists and supporters in Western NC and portions of South Carolina and Tennessee were forced to travel long distances if they wanted to participate in music festivals and international music competitions sponsored by The Blues Foundation through any of its’ 165 affiliate members.
Within days of launching the new Southern Fried Blues Society website, a groundswell response came from area blues bands, promoters, radio stations, and supporters. “This is wonderful news. We've needed a Blues society in this area forever, now we have one.” said Willie Shane Johnston of the WSNB blues band based in Hickory. WSNB is one of several Western NC blues acts that had to seek out-of-area blues society sponsorship to appear in the prestigious International Blues Challenge held annually in Memphis. Peggy Ratusz, vocalist in the award-winning Big Road acoustic blues band based in Arden said, “We made it to IBC last year through the Piedmont Blues Preservation Society. The Blues Foundation members who I spoke with over those 5 days were incredibly inspiring and knowledgeable. It psyched me up to eventually start our own society.”
The blues radio community echoed this sentiment with support from large and small stations including WNCW 88.7 FM hosts of its’ longest running show, Saturday Night Houseparty. “As a long time musician, radio host, and avid supporter of the blues, I couldn't be more pleased than to see a blues society originate and begin to flourish in our fair area. It's about time! I'll be lending my support in every way to help see this thing succeed. Blues deserves a resurgence anywhere and everywhere. I am tickled we are getting a chance to do it here." said Stephen Blanton, an experienced hand in the music business. His fellow host and a veteran of blues societies, Mike Dew said, “I am very happy to hear about the SFBS starting up. I’ll be joining and look forward to its growth”. “Chicago Al” Pfeiffer from WSQL 1240 AM is also a founding member, and H. Jesse Davis, Programming Director at WASU 90.5 FM at Appalachian State University has been in touch.
By August 1st, Southern Fried Blues Society grew from 3 original members to a full-fledged active organization, merging with others who had already begun meeting to form their own 501(3) C non-profit corporation as a smaller Asheville-based blues society. Howard “Skip” Helms, a part of that group and now SFBS’s first elected President said, “SFBS is a central information network to make and keep people aware of this unique American art form. Probably the most important aspect of our work is improving the opportunities for people who make this music part of their lives. In an idiom where the central theme is surviving tough times, modern players have other choices. We hope our efforts will make the blues more viable by attracting a wider audience."
The geographic area covered by the new blues society is the vicinity within a 150 mile radius of Asheville, crossing state lines into Georgia, Tennessee and South Carolina. Membership Coordinator, Lee DeVico of the Gas House Mouse Band based in Arden said, “ We are thrilled to have a society that covers such a large area, especially South Carolina. Greenville / Spartanburg has a thriving blues music community as does Knoxville and Johnson City, TN. We look forward to sponsoring membership drive music events throughout our area as clubs and venues volunteer to be hosts.”
Beginning Sept 26th with an evening blues music event at the Garage at Biltmore in Asheville, followed on October 11th with a 10-hour bluesfest at O’Malley’s Irish Pub in Waynesville, SFBS is unrolling a blues carpet paved with volunteering blues acts who want to help keep the blues alive in the Smokey Mountain region. SFBS has already received inquiries from blues acts located as far away as Plant City, FL and Reston, VA. as well as enthusiastic area bands, and is actively searching for hosting venues across the region. Blues music enthusiasts can look forward to foot stompin’, house rockin’ SFBS-sponsored events every 6 to 8 weeks featuring some of the area’s best blues artists as well as talented up and coming acts. And area blues musicians now have the much-needed bridge located in their own backyard that leads back to The Blues Foundation, their 165 other affiliate members, and the IBC annual blues music competitions.
For more information about memberships, event calendar, blues education, and sponsorship opportunities for various Blues Foundation contests, visit the Southern Fried Blues Society online at www.southernfriedblues.org.
The Southern Fried Blues Society is an affiliate member of The Blues Foundation. Founded on July 1, 2008, its’ mission is “to preserve blues heritage by sustaining the living blues of today.” SFBS membership includes blues musicians, supporters, music-related businesses, music educators, and blues-friendly clubs and venues. It is in the process of filing as a 501(3) C non-profit corporation and is staffed solely by volunteers.
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