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Annual MBAS Blues Challenge
"Blues Performer of The Year" Solo/Duo & Band Categories
 TWO CATEGORY WINNERS IN 2024 TO GO TO MEMPHIS IN 2025!
The MBAS Blues Challenge is BACK for 2024! The Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society will be hosting its annual "MBAS Blues Challenge" in Melbourne in July, August and September, to find the best possible Victorian Blues BAND and Blues SOLO/DUO artists to represent the MBAS and Melbourne at the annual International Blues Challenge (IBC) in Memphis TN, USA. Two MBAS Blues Challenge winners (SOLO/DUO and BAND categories) will be sent to represent Melbourne and the MBAS at the next IBC in Memphis from 7th - 11th January 2025.
The prize for the Melbourne Blues Challenge winners includes MBAS-funded ACCOMMODATION and RETURN INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS for the two top-scoring acts to travel and represent each competition category at the IBC in Memphis. The IBC draws representative entries from Blues Societies all over the world and throughout the USA.
MBAS Blues Challenge is open to any SOLO/DUO or BAND Blues act meeting the eligibility criteria below:
- All members of the Blues act must be 18 years old or over.
- All members of the Blues act must be a permanent resident of Victoria.
- All members of the Blues act must be or become financial members of the MBAS with the completion of the Entry Form.
- If the Blues act wins the MBAS Blues Challenge, all the members of the act must all remain financial members up to and after the IBC date (January 2025).
- A previous winning Blues act of the MBAS Blues Challenge is able to re-enter.
To determine who goes to Memphis to compete at the IBC, Victorian Blues entrants for both SOLO/DUO and BAND categories at the MBAS Blues Challenge compete live in Melbourne in separate Heats to determine a Final lineup. The Heats and Final are scored by independent judges, using the international scoring system devised by the IBC. The highest scoring Blues artist in each SOLO/DUO and BAND category Final are referred to as the "MBAS SOLO/DUO Blues Performer of the Year" and the "MBAS BAND Blues Performer of the Year". Both those top-scoring winning acts from the Final are sent to Memphis by the MBAS to represent and compete at the IBC.
Both winning acts are guaranteed to receive return international airfares and accommodation to travel to Memphis USA and compete at the IBC, held in January 2025.
The MBAS also assists both the SOLO/DUO and BAND winning acts by hosting separate major fundraisers to help cover extra travel costs.
Entry for the 2024 MBAS Blues Challenge is now open for both SOLO/DUO and BAND categories.
NOTE the following MBAS BLUES CHALLENGE performance dates for each category:
• SOLO/DUO HEATS: Tuesday 16th & Wed 17th JULY 7pm
• BAND HEATS: Tuesday 13th & Wed 14th AUGUST 7pm
• FINAL (combined Solo/Duo & Band): Sunday 15th SEPTEMBER 4pm
Performances for each act are strictly a 20 minute set for the Heats, and a 25 minute set for the Final.
Entries for both SOLO/DUO and BAND applicants must be received by 9pm 25th June 2024.
The '2024 MBAS Blues Challenge' eligibility, Rules/Conditions and Entry Forms can be viewed and printed from the PDF downloads below:
2024 MBAS BLUES CHALLENGE ENTRY RULES & CONDITIONS
2024 SOLO/DUO ENTRY FORM
2024 BAND ENTRY FORM
The MBAS is proud to be recognised as the most successful international Blues Society represented at the prestigious IBC event in Memphis, having produced several winners and runners-up at this international Blues competition over the years:
2025 - IBC AWARD WINNER (Best Guitarist Award): NICK CHARLES
2025 - IBC GRAND FINALIST (Solo/Duo Division): NICK CHARLES
2025 - IBC GRAND FINALIST (Band Division): NARDIA
2020 - IBC GRAND FINALIST (Solo/Duo Division): AARON POLLOCK
2005 - IBC AWARD WINNER (Best Album): COLLARD GREENS & GRAVY
2005 - IBC GRAND FINAL WINNER (Solo/Duo Division: JIMI HOCKING
2003 - IBC GRAND FINAL WINNER (Solo/Duo Division): FIONA BOYES
2002 - IBC GRAND FINAL Runner-Up (Solo/Duo Division): ANDY COWAN
2001 - IBC GRAND FINAL Runner-Up: COLLARD GREENS & GRAVY
1995 - IBC AWARD WINNER (Albert King Guitarist Award): GEOFF ACHISON
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2024 MBAS Blues Challenge proudly sponsored by
 
MBAS also acknowledges all its other sponsors for their support of this contest
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MBAS Blues Challenge Winners representing at the IBC in Memphis:
2024 Contest Results
Congratulations to all 2024 entrants in the MBAS Blues Challenge BAND and SOLO/DUO categories.
The WINNERS of the Finals are the '2024 MBAS Blues Performer of the Year' in their respective categories and represent MBAS at the IBC in Memphis USA, January 2025.
- SOLO/DUO Category: NICK CHARLES
- BAND Category: NARDIA
** JANUARY 2025 UPDATE: These two hugely talented acts travelled to Memphis USA in January 2025 to represent the MBAS and Melbourne at the International Blues Challenge (IBC).
UNBELIEVABLE RESULTS at the IBC in January 2025 – NICK CHARLES WON the IBC AWARD for BEST GUITARIST! CONGRATULATIONS to NICK CHARLES and NARDIA BAND, who incredibly BOTH made their way to the GRAND FINAL! They created MBAS history, being the only time that internationally represented artists from the same Blues Society have qualified for the IBC Final in both categories. Out of 400 international acts, Nardia and Nick were in the Final TOP 5 in their categories – amazing result both artists should both be extremely proud of.
HUGE THANKS AND DESERVED ACCOLADES FOR TWO OF OUR BEST ON THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS, MAKING THEIR MARK IN MEMPHIS! Proud representation for the MBAS.
Pics: Our MBAS Blues Challenge represented acts – IBC Best Guitarist Winner Nick Charles presented with his Award, and Nick and Nardia Band performing onstage in the IBC Final at the famed Orpheum Theatre Memphis, USA, January 2025
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2023 Contest Results
Congratulations to all 2023 entrants in the MBAS Blues Challenge BAND and SOLO/DUO categories.
The WINNERS of the finals are the '2023 MBAS Blues Performer of the Year' in their respective categories.
- SOLO/DUO Category: ANNA SCIONTI
- BAND Category: BILL BARBER & THE HOLDING CELL
** 2024 UPDATE: These two talented acts travelled to Memphis USA in January 2024 to represent the MBAS and Melbourne at the International Blues Challenge (IBC).
Congratulations to ANNA SCIONTI and BILL BARBER & THE HOLDING CELL who both impressively made their way to the SEMI-FINALS at the IBC in January 2024! Bill Barber & The Holding Cell also took the opportunity while in the USA to book in an album recording session at the famed MUSCLE SHOALS studio in Alabama. Look out for the album’s release soon in 2024!
CONGRATULATIONS TO TWO OF OUR BEST FOR THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS AND MAKING THEIR MARK IN MEMPHIS! Proud representation for the MBAS.
Pic: Our MBAS Blues Challenge represented acts and IBC Semi-Finalists in Beale St, Memphis, USA, January 2024
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2019 Contest Results
Congratulations to all 2019 entrants in the MBAS Blues Challenge BAND and SOLO/DUO categories.
The WINNERS of the finals are the '2019 MBAS Blues Performer of the Year' in their respective categories.
- SOLO/DUO Category: AARON POLLOCK
- BAND Category: CHECKERBOARD LOUNGE
MBAS Blues Challenge FINAL Winners, September 2019 L-R: Checkerboard Band: Carl Pannuzzo, Tim Neal, Shannon Bourne & Amos Sheenan with Aaron Pollock.
These two talented acts will travel to Memphis USA in January 2020 to represent the MBAS and Melbourne at the International Blues Challenge (IBC).
** IBC UPDATE:
AARON POLLOCK beat the odds at the IBC, performing his way through as a top-scorer in all his HEATS and the SEMI-FINAL to reach the GRAND FINAL at the IBC!! Huge congratulations for this massive achievement and once again, representing at the highest level at the IBC, shining a bright light on Melbourne Blues in front of an International audience at the historic Orpheum Theater. Superb performance, well done. See Aaron's fantastic IBC Grand Final performance at the Orpheum in Memphis here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2gFYEDjXzU
Huge props too, to CHECKERBOARD LOUNGE who spectacularly made their way to the SEMI-FINALS at the IBC to huge acclaim. They also took the opportunity while in Memphis to book in a recording session at the famed SUN Studio. Their subsequent Memphis album "Sun Sessions" was later launched late in 2021 and won many Blues accolades, including Best Blues Work at the 2022 Music Victoria Awards, and 2022 Album of The Year at the MBAS Vic Blues Awards.
CONGRATULATIONS TO TWO OF OUR BEST FOR THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS IN MEMPHIS!
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