International Blues Challenge competition
Central Delaware Blues Society International Blues Challenge Information
Our next IBC competition is scheduled for Sunday, October 13, 2024. The entry deadline for our local IBC competition is October 6, 2024. Click here or on the CDBS logo above to enter or for more information.
We will also be submitting one self-produced CD to the Blues Foundation for the competition. The entry deadline for the Self-Produced CD is October 13, 2024.
Youth showcase bands / solo / duo are welcome to contact us at ibc@centralDelawareBluesSociety.org to be considered in the IBC youth showcase during the competition week in Memphis. We are considering sending one youth group to the showcase.
CDBS has developed a complete set of guidelines for its Local/Regional IBC Challenge, and these guidelines and any updates or additions, are made available to its members and the public via this CDBS Website, social media, newsletters and email blasts, and each entrant to the competition will be provided with a copy of the guidelines upon application to compete.
Click here or on the CDBS logo (above) to learn more about our local IBC competition and download our band entry application form.
Self-produced CD information is also available on the same link.
Please see the Blues Foundation Website for complete information on The International Blues Challenge held in Memphis, TN.
Blues Foundation International Blues Challenge Information
2024 IBC Winners - Band - TBRP and CD - lcb
The Blues Reincarnation Project - 2024 Band Winners!
The Blues Reincarnation Project, Delaware’s 2025 entry into the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee. Blues Reincarnation Project is comprised of frontman Jeffrey Attakorah on guitar and vocals, Charlie Greaves on drums, Dylan Walker on bass and Michael Macartney on keys. They will hit the road, taking their funkified blues-rock, British blues, and new age blues-influenced band to compete in Memphis. The band is fronted by Jeffrey 'Ghanaian Bluesman' Attakorah, an up-and-coming guitarist from the Newark, Delaware area. Jeffrey’s influences are based in blues rock, classic rock, and modern R&B. He is joinged by drummer Charlie Greaves, a former member of the Newark, Delaware-based punk band “The Checkered Heroes”. New Castle, Delaware native Dylan Walker is a bassist well versed in classic rock and traditional blues genres. Michael Macartney, a regional keyboardist who cut his teeth playing in the Funk, Soul, Folk based music scene rounds out the lineup. Together, they "just play whatever, with a hint of Blues", with the goal of bringing the blues back to the younger generation.
Lower Case Blues - 2024 Best Self-Produced CD Winners
"Take It For A Ride"
lower case blues is known for their unique style of jamming, taking the music in new directions while paying tribute to the tradition of the blues. lower case blues is Jake Banaszak on guitar, B.J. Munz on bass and Tristan Gilbert on drums. Their latest record, “Take it for a Ride”, features ten all-original songs written and recorded by lower case blues in 2024. It’s quite impressive, winning Central Delaware Blues Society’s International Blues Challenge as Delaware’s entry into the 2025 “Self-produced cd” category where it will be judged at the IBC in Memphis.
2023 IBC Winners - The "Two Johns"; Never and Colgan-Davis!
CDBS 2023 IBC WINNERS!
Congratulations to The Two Johns, Johnny Never and John Colgan-Davis on going to Memphis for the International Blues Challenge to represent the Central Delaware Blues Society!
Two very talented, entertaining acts competed in our local IBC competition. We wish Diamond Jim Greene the very best and hope to see all the artists at our events and jams in the future.
Thank you to Delaware Veterans Post 2 for hosting us, Kenny Belmont for awesome sound and production, and as always, Tim Ward for the logistics.
The Central Delaware Blues Society IBC fundraiser will be held in December/January. Both of our contestants have agree to perform at the fundraiser.
2022 IBC CD Winner - Mark Margolies - "Can't You See"
IBC Band Competition
We did not hold a band or solo/duo IBC competition this year and we do not have a youth group representing CDBS at the IBC. We are looking forward to holding a competition and bringing in new young talent for the youth showcase again next year.
IBC winning CD
This year's winning CD goes to Mark Margolies and his band for the CD "Can't You See".
The CD was recorded on March 18,2022. This CD pays homage to such
Artists as B.B.King, Memphis Slim, Roy Brown, Muddy Waters, Sonny Boy Williamson II, Freddie King, Lowell Fulson, Benny Goodman and Lionel Hampton. This is a debut album from a Philadelphia guitar veteran and is steeped in the blues tradition.
The title track “Can’t You See” is an original composition set to familiar blues form. The lyrics have a double entendre as many blues songs often do. The eye chart and phoropter which are found on the album cover are part of the mystique. Mark Margolies is also a licensed Optometrist
The CD can be purchased at their website. and you may listen to the title tracking by clicking here.
Morgan Gonce - 2022 youth showcase
How we got here:
Due to the continued COVID-19 pandemic issues and restrictions, the Central Delaware Blues Society did not hold local competitions in 2020 or 2021 and therefore we do not have a band representing us at the 2022 Memphis international competition. The IBC’s in Memphis were postponed once again in 2022 but have been rescheduled for May 6-9 2022.
With all of the uncertainty surrounding the IBC competition in Memphis the CDBS was unsure in which direction to turn. We had already canceled our competition, but we still have a fabulous youth musician that we really wanted to sponsor in the youth showcase. When the IBC was canceled for the normal dates (late January / early February) we were disappointed and hoping she could represent us in next years competition. Well, the Blues Foundation changed all of that and rescheduled the IBC’s, we are elated that our youth musician can now represent us in Memphis in 2022!
I present to you Morgan Gonce, our youth representative for the 2022 IBC’s in Memphis!
About Morgan
Finding Inspiration in Every Note
Morgan's musical journey began at the age of 5 when she received her first electric guitar for her birthday. Morgan started lessons and hasn't stopped playing since.
Proving to be destined for the stage, Morgan has performed for crowds of all sizes from intimate venues, to private wedding receptions, to national baseball stadiums.
Although Morgan is only 15, her soulful tone and passionate playing is a talent way beyond her years captivating audiences of all ages with her guitar solos and improvisational skills.
Morgan draws inspiration from many of the greats that have come before as well as those currently performing. Some which include, The Allman Brothers, Susan Tedeschi | Tedeschi Trucks Band, The Marcus King Band, B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Bonnie Raitt, The Meters, and The Grateful Dead.
October 13, 2019
Slim and the Perkolators - 2019 Winners!
Slim and the Perkolators won our local 2019 International Blues Challenge competition. They will be heading to Memphis representing the Central Delaware Blues Society January 28 - February 1, 2020. Congratulations on winning our local competition and good luck in Memphis.
Slim and the Perkolators - 2019 Best Self-Produced CD Winners
Slim and the Perkolators also won our local IBC self-produced CD competition. Good luck in the CD competition as well.
October 14, 2018
lower case blues (LCB) wins AGAIN!!!
Congratulations to lower case blues on winning our 5th annual International Blues Challenge competition. lower case blues won our very first IBC competition back on October 19, 2014. They competed in Memphis the following January and made the semi-final (Friday) round. They are the ONLY band we have had to do so and we are very happy they are going back to try again.
Unfortunately we do not have a youth showcase entry going to Memphis this year. We are always so proud of our entries in this category as they are the talented musicians that will continue to "Keep the Blues Alive". It is our hope that we will receive more youth entries (you must be under 21 to enter) in 2019 to continue this very important IBC entry.
Central Delaware Blues Society International Blues Challenge
January 22 - 26, 2019 Results:
Watch the entire semi-finalist performance professional video at the Blues City Cafe. Click here.
The Central Delaware Blues Society scored big at the 35th Annual International Blues Challenge competition in 2019. We had two entries in the competition; lower case blues representing us in the band competition and "Lock Up The Liquor" by The Little Red Rooster Blues Band representing us in the Best Self-Produced CD category.
lower case blues made the semifinals on Friday night out of 108 other band entries . They played a great set and blew the doors off of the Blues City Cafe in the semifinals as they competed against 5 other bands in that venue. Congratulations to them for making the semifinals. This is the second time they have gone that far (2015 and 2019) and we are very, very proud to have them representing the Central Delaware Blues Society. Thank you gentlemen for doing what you do so well!
The Little Red Rooster Blues Band submitted their latest CD "Lock Up The Liquor" to us for the Best Self-Produced CD category. Our independent judges had three CD's to evaluate this year and although never an easy task they picked this CD as our winner to be submitted to the IBC competition. The CD was ranked by the Blues Foundation among the best 5 submitted this year and it was announced as the overall winner in this category on Saturday January 26th. Congratulations to The Little Red Rooster Blues Band for winning this category. Great job!
Congratulations to lower case blues and The Little Red Rooster Blues Band for their accomplishments in the 35th International Blues Challenge competition.
You can see all of the IBC results here.
Learn More about our IBC competition
You can find out more about our competition and how to participate in the band, youth and CD competitions by clicking the button below
October 15, 2017
Zach Lees and Jon Hay - Youth Showcase
Zach Lees and Jon Hay - Youth Showcase
Zach Lees and Jon Hay - Youth Showcase
Zach Lees and Jon Hay being presented the IBC Youth Showcase award from CDBS for the 2018 IBC.
Barrelhouse - 2017 IBC winners
Zach Lees and Jon Hay - Youth Showcase
Zach Lees and Jon Hay - Youth Showcase
Barrelhouse displaying the coveted "Beale Street" sign signifying they are going to Memphis in 2018 representing CDBS.
October 16, 2016
Radka Kasparcova
Tom Craig and Soul Patch - 2016 IBC Winners
Tom Craig and Soul Patch - 2016 IBC Winners
A promotional photograph of Radka Kasparvova from her latest CD. Radka represented CDBS in 2017 becoming our very first youth showcase representative in Memphis.
Tom Craig and Soul Patch - 2016 IBC Winners
Tom Craig and Soul Patch - 2016 IBC Winners
Tom Craig and Soul Patch - 2016 IBC Winners
Tom Craig and Soul Patch displaying the "Beale Street" sign signifying they are going to Memphis in 2017 representing CDBS.
October 18, 2015
The Anthony "Swamp Dog" Clark Band
Anthony "Swamp Dog" Clark and his band displaying the "Beale Street" sign signifying they are going to Memphis in 2016 representing CDBS.
October 19, 2014
lower case blues (LCB)
Our very first entry into the International Blues Challenge competition!!!! lower case blues displaying the "Beale Street" sign signifying they are going to Memphis in 2015 representing CDBS. Oh and by the way they made it to the semi-finals that year!