NEWS

Results of the 2025 International Blues Challenge (IBC)

The Blues Foundation held the 2025 IBC in Memphis, TN Jan. 7 – 11, 2025, and DCBS was proud to have Kingpin Band as its entrant in the Band category and Little Joe Bourgeois as the DCBS entrant in the Solo-Duo category. Kingpin includes Connor Filicko, Dean Dalton, Scott Rabino, and Zach Sweeney. While Kingpin did not advance beyond the Quarterfinals, Little Joe competed in the Semi-Finals. Over 200 bands, solo-duo acts, and youth showcase acts competed and/or performed at the IBC, so it was highly competitive. Congratulations to Kingpin and Little Joe for representing DCBS in Memphis!!

And congrats to the following winners of the overall competition:

BAND DIVISION

Winner: Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal, Blues Society of Omaha, US

2nd Place: Ra’Shad the Blues Kid, Magic City Blues Society, Alabama, US

3rd Place: Dylan Salfer Band, Minnesota Blues Society, US

SOLO/DUO DIVISION
Winner: Joce Reyome, East Coast Blues Society, Canada
2nd Place: 2 Blues for You, Mississippi Delta Blues Society of Indianola, US

BEST GUITAR AWARD
Winner: Dylan Salfer, Minnesota Blues Society, US (with Dylan Salfer Band)

MEMPHIS CIGAR BOX GUITAR AWARD (BEST SOLO/DUO GUITARIST)
Winner: Nick Charles, Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society, Australia

LEE OSKAR HARMONICA AWARD (BEST HARMONICA PLAYER)
Winner: Jock Webb Sr., Magic City Blues Society, Alabama, US

(played with Ra’Shad the Blues Kid band)

BEST SELF-PRODUCED CD
Winner: Piper & The Hard Times – Revelation,

Kingpin

Zachary Sweeney (guitar), Connor Filicko (harp and vocals), Dean Dalton (bass), and Scott Rabino (drums)

Website FaceBook

Little Joe Bourgeois (right)

Wedsite FaceBook

Tax deductible donations can also be mailed to:

The DC Blues Society

5335 Wisconsin Ave., N.W.

Suite 440

Washington, DC 20015-2052

Donations support DCBS's general operations unless the donor specifies otherwise. Please contact us at president@dcblues.org for more information or to discuss a targeted donation, a large donation or a bequest.

Of course, we welcome any donation, large or small, at any time. We're proud to help carry on our area's remarkable heritage in blues music. Thank you for your support. Have a safe and successful New Year!

Please Support DCBS!

Thank you all for your support. Whether coming out to a 1st Sunday jam, a 4th Friday Blues Happy Hour or coming out to one of our special event shows this year, we really appreciate YOU!

We work hard to present free monthly jams and blues happy hours and terrific concerts at low prices. We need help to keep our ticket prices down, so that our shows are accessible to as many people as possible. We are a small organization, and ticket sales and donations from individuals make a significant difference to us.
Please consider making a donation to the DCBS. We are an all-volunteer organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the blues and are recognized as a 501 (c)(3) non-profit corporation with the Internal Revenue Service. You can make an on-line donation:

The DC Blues Society on TV!

The program ARTICO filmed our January Happy Hour featuring The Rogue Johnsen Trio with Lady D. The Rogue Johnsen Trio with Lady D were the winners of The DC Blues Society's most recent Battle of the Bands and they represented The DC Blues Society proudly in the 2018 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN. IT IS NOW AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE! Here are the links:

https://youtu.be/dUUWJ3KnnhQ segment link

https://youtu.be/1sVgwZzdPN8 show link