The JSJBF IBC Committee is seeking interested Blues bands to sign up for partici-pation in our local competition to choose our representative to the 2010 International Blues Challenge for the 26th Anniversary of the world’s largest gathering of Blues Bands. Last year 100 bands from all over the United States, France, Italy, Australia, the United Kingdom and Canada competed for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place prizes provided by the Blues Foundation.

 The competition will consist of two semi-final sessions featuring 6 to 7 bands (depending on the number of total responses received). It will be conducted on October 3 and 10th, 2009 at Paul’s Tavern, 1705 Main Street, Lake Como (formerly South Belmar) N.J.

Any bands that wish to participate must be available for one of the semi-final competition nights and the final competition on October 24, 2009,in addition to performing at a “Get Outta Town” JSJBF fundraiser on  January 16, 2010, and travel to Memphis Tennessee on Wednesday 1/20/2010 and return on Sunday 1/24/2010.

The winning band ( and solo/duo act if one is chosen) will be required to engage in fundraising to help cover their costs over and above the roundtrip plane tickets and hotel accommodations (based on at least two band members per room- a total of 3 rooms, with a 3rd rollaway bed added if needed in the room) which the Foundation will book and pay for the band members only. All other expenses (meals, other ground transportation etc., extra rooms for spouses/significant others) will be the sole responsibility of the band.

The bands chosen for the competition will be expected to help advertise the events by listing their participation on their websites, notifying the persons on their mailing and email lists, and encouraging them to attend the competitions. Assigned dates and set times will be provided to bands chosen by the Committee as semi-finalists after the response date has expired.

The Committee will accept responses from solo/duo acts that may be interested in participating in Memphis. Due to present finances, no decision has been made as of this date on whether the JSJBF will be sponsoring a solo/duo act for the 2010 competition. The selection process, if it proceeds, will be conducted by the IBC committee and not by live performance at the IBC Competition on Oct. 3 and 10.Any solo/duo act interested in going to Memphis should still apply and wait for a determination by the Committee on whether a representative will be sponsored this year.

In order to be considered for eligibility in the competition, your 2009-2010 JSJBF dues (for Sept 1, 2009 to August 31, 2010) must be current at the time of the submission of your packet (which can be satisfied by including them in the packet) you are required to send in after receipt of the Official Rules.

 If you have any questions concerning your dues status please contact the Foundation Office Manager, Doris Lazur, at 732-933-1984.

If you are interested in participating, please email JSJBF 2010 IBC Chairman Gene Iadanza at EAIJSC@aol.com and copy co-chair Pat Arochas at Stray70@hotmail.com with your band name and an address, phone number and email address of a contact person ASAP and a copy of the Official Rules will be forwarded to you by return email.

Gene Iadanza, JSJBF 2010 Chairman

Pat Arochas, Co-Chair