BOBB 2008 Results
On Sunday July 20th the Magic City Blues Society held its annual Battle of the Blues Bands competition at Matthews Bar on Morris Avenue There were a record thirteen entrants: three in the solo/duo category and ten in the band category. The quality of the music was unbelievable this year. Every band was a winner for achieving such a high standard.
The entry’s can only be from the state of Alabama. The winner in each class will go to Memphis February 4-7, 2009 to represent our State and compete against other contest winners from across the USA and abroad.
The winner in the Band category was Po Monkey an amazing tight eight piece band consisting of a three piece brass section (trumpet, trombone, and saxophone) , drummer, bass guitar, keyboard player, lead guitar and harmonica playing vocalist. Who would have thought it, but the talented Bruce Andrews, the harmonica playing vocalist was last years contest winner in the duo category! Bruce was backed up by a team of truly talented musicians. To mention only a couple, lead guitarist Ross Roberts a 30 year veteran was the force behind locally known Dick’s Hat Band which played in the area from 1989 to 1996. Incidentally Ross founded Vent Records that at one time signed Topper Price. On keyboards was Clay Swafford who at 24 is the youngest of the band members. Although Clay has 19 years experience having started playing keyboards at only five, he is well respected as one of the top up and coming blues piano players today. The other talented members of the band are Lewis Ross (drums), Shelley Keeton (bass), Mike Lingo (Trombone), Jon Remley (Saxophone), and Rick White (Trumpet).
Winner of the solo/duo was Michael Carpenter, a man who is not only a talented musician, but a talented song writer and an artist with a brush. Michael wrote his own songs and presented them with attitude. Kicking over his stool and stamping his feet to the music, he certainly caught the attention of the judges and the audience and elevated him in the “entertainer” category.
You can see some pictures here.
Posted by bluesy on 08/08 at 06:07 PM
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Art Night in Northport
ART NIGHT IS BACK THURSDAY NIGHT!
MARY’S CAKES BLUES CAFE & STREET PARTY
WITH DEBBIE BOND & THE CREME BRULEES
* FREE & FAMILY FRIENDLY * CAKEWALK FOR PRIZES *
August 7th from 6 - 9pm - Downtown Historic Northport
Posted by bluesy on 08/07 at 06:00 PM
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Coming Up
The Charlie Soul Band will play at the 5th Annual National Night Out to support the men in Blue on August 5. It will be in Irondale at the Whistle Stop Café from 6:30-9:00pm. It is family friendly and FREE.
The Junkyard Juke finale for 2008 is the next scheduled event and will be on August 16. Delta Highway will headline. Michael Carpenter, our solo/duo BOBB winner will also play. The last act that has just been confirmed is Bluesmill, who came in fourth at the Battle of Blues Bands contest.
The next open jam will an Acoustic Blues Jam and will be held at Dave’s Pizza in Homewood on August 22. Lemme know if you want to come and jam with us.
Posted by bluesy on 08/04 at 09:55 PM
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Cedric Burnside & Lightnin Malcomb
Cedric Burnside & Lightnin Malcomb – Gip’s Juke Joint -9pm.
Check out Gip’s MySpace or photobucket for a slide show of the photo’s I took last night. Roger
http://www.myspace.com/gipsjukejoint
http://s238.photobucket.com/albums/ff185/rjs44a/Cedric%20burnside/?action=view¤t=IMGP3040_edited-1.jpg
Posted by bluesy on 08/03 at 09:45 PM
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John Lee Hooker on YouTube
Tupelo
Posted by bluesy on 08/03 at 09:41 PM
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Look ahead
Cedric Burnside & Lightnin Malcomb will be in town for two shows this coming weekend. Check the calendar for more info.
The Junkyard Juke finale for 2008 will be on August 16. Delta Highway will headline. Michael Carpenter, our solo/duo BOBB winner will also play. We still have one more act to confirm before the lineup is complete.
The next open jam will an Acoustic Blues and will be held at Dave’s Pizza in Homewood on August 22.
Posted by bluesy on 07/30 at 11:27 PM
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Satan and Adam
Blues Bits – Satan and Adam
Blues legends Satan and Adam were scheduled to play at the Burly Earl this coming Saturday. Unfortunately the Burly Earl closed its doors for good this past Saturday. When Mr. Gip heard that Burly Earl had closed he invited them to play a private concert at his place. Music starts at 9pm this Saturday. BYOB. A $10 donation is requested to help cover their expenses. Address is 3101 Avenue C, Bessemer, 35020.
Check them out on the web: here
Posted by bluesy on 07/26 at 09:43 PM
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From the prez 7/14/2008
Hey everybody, I want to thank everybody who came out to the race track for the MCBS benefit this past Saturday… especially the bands who gave up their time to help us. We had a great crowd and almost 7 hours of music. Special thanks go out to Lenny Madden and Midnight Train, who put the whole thing together.
The next event on the docket is Battle of Blues Bandswhich is scheduled for July 27 at Matthews Bar and Grill. The deadline for BOBB is July 15 which is TOMORROW. Registration has been light so if you want to compete, you need to get your act together NOW. For complete info including the rules and an entry form go to http://www.magiccityblues.org/images/uploads/events/bobb_form_2008.doc.pdf. Please contact me if you intend on entering the contest.
Looking ahead:
Junkyard Juke 2008 Finale – August 16
Phelan Park Music Series – September
Posted by bluesy on 07/14 at 11:09 PM
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July 12, 2008
MCBS benefit at Quincy’s
The next event on the docket is a benefit for the MCBS which is being put on by a number of local bands who want to help our coffers. Look for complete info soon. It will be held at the Birmingham Race Course on July 12. I can tell you it will be 4 bands for $5 and that is always a great deal. They include Midnight Train, Lenny Madden, Michael Carpenter and RoadHouse. Make plans now to attend this fine show.
Saturday, July 12th, 8pm to the early hours, Club Quincy, Birmingham Race Track, 1000 John Rogers Drive, Birmingham, (205) 838-7500
Posted by bluesy on 07/12 at 08:52 PM
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Pictures from Junkyard Juke
Here are some pictures from June’s Junkyard Juke.
Posted by bluesy on 07/03 at 10:30 PM
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Radio Free Birmingham
HAPPY BIRTHDAY - RFB IS 4 !!!.........Listen at http://www.radiofreebham.net ..............
Posted by bluesy on 07/03 at 10:29 PM
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From the prez:
Hey everybody thanks to all who jammed with us at the Burly Earl last Saturday. I saw a lot of new faces there. As always thanks go out to Leonard Watkins for putting this together.
The next event on the docket is a benefit for the MCBS which is being put on by a number of local bands who want to help our coffers. Look for complete info in the next edition of Bluemail. It will be held at the Birmingham Race Course on July 12. I can tell you it will be 4 bands for $5 and that is always a great deal. They include Midnight Train, Lenny Madden, Michael Carpenter and RoadHouse. Make plans now to attend this fine show.
The deadline for entering BOBB - Battle of Blues Bands is quickly approaching. Please contact me if you want to get in on the fun.
Posted by bluesy on 07/03 at 10:27 PM
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Battle of the Blues Bands 2008
The Battle of Blues Bands is this coming Sunday, July 27 at Matthews Bar and Grill. The doors open at 1pm with music starting at 2pm. The admission fee is $5. That is pretty inexpensive for 13 acts. That right.. there will be 13 acts competing for the chance to represent the state of Alabama in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis. There will be 3 solo/duo acts and 10 bands competing. The solo/duo acts will go first. They will play 20 minutes sets with 10 minute changeovers.
Everybody who pays the $5 admission fee will be given a ballot worth one point to vote in both categories. It will be factored in with the judge’s score to determine the winners. That means that your voice does count in this contest. Again, here are the basics. Pass the word on to everybody you know.
What: Battle of the Blues Bands
When: Sunday July 27, 2008 – 2PM to 9PM
Where: Matthews Bar & Grill
2208 Morris Ave
Birmingham, AL 35203
(205) 488-9191
(click on “read more” to see a map, and to read the rules.)
How much: $5 admission for the public
BOBB lineup (not in the order they will play. Play times will be determined by a draw from the hat on Sunday)
Solo/duo
Michael Carpenter
Sam Pointer
Soul Collision
Bands
Bob Walters Banned
Curtis Files and the Blues Masters
Dan & the Dusters
Electric Voodoo
Erin Mitchell Band
George and the G-men
Plum Loco
Po Monkey
The Persuaders
Thomas Henry Band
Posted by bluesy on 06/29 at 02:00 PM
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Message from the Prez
Hey everybody, Bo Diddley died yesterday at the age of 79… another Blues singer done gone.
There is a bunch of good stuff coming up this month. City Stages is in 2 weeks. While the Blues lineup is not that extensive, there is some Blues this year. Buddy Guy will be the big draw this year. Also, BOBB winner Todd Simpson and Mojo Child just got added to the bill.
We are gearing up for another Junkyard Juke on Saturday, June 21. We are excited to have three women fronted bands this time. We are going to kick it off with Kendra Sutton and the Bad Luck Boys. Shar-Baby will follow and The Erin Mitchell Band will headline the event. The Juke will start at 4pm and admission will be $10. If you flash your MCBS card at the gate, you will get $2 off the entrance fee. This is a bring your own cooler event. Look for more details as we get closer to the event.
We were going to have a JJ cleanup day this coming weekend, butt we are going to postpone it to the morning of the event since there is not that much to do to prep for the event. As always, we need volunteers to help with the gate, the stage and the MCBS table.
Looking ahead:
MCBS Electric Open Blues Jam – June 28
MCBS benefit at Quency’s – July 12
Battle of Blues Bands – July 27
Posted by bluesy on 06/06 at 08:49 PM
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Willie King’s Freedom Creek
Willie King’s 11th Annual Freedom Creek PSA
Willie King’s 11th Annual Freedom Creek Blues Festival will be held in Pickens County, Alabama on Friday, May 30th and Saturday the 31st. This year’s outstanding lineup includes Jerry Portnoy, the legendary Sam Lay, Willie King and the Liberators, Cedric Burnside and Lightnin’ Malcom, Mudcat, Carroline Shines, Sweet Claudette, Debbie Bond, Shar-Baby, “Birmingham” George Conner and many, many more! Admission is a suggested donation of $6 on Friday and $12 on Saturday in support of the Rural Members Association. For more information please phone (205) 752-6263, email or check out the web site at http://www.willie-king.com.
This festival is made possible by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Alabama State Council on the Arts, the Black Belt Community Foundation and Music Maker Foundation with assistance from the Alabama Blues Project.
Posted by bluesy on 05/30 at 06:28 PM
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