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The Cape Fear Blues Challenge is sponsored by the Cape Fear Blues Society, an affiliate
organization of
The Blues Foundation.  The CFBC band & solo/duo champions earn the right to
compete at the renown
International Blues Challenge held on Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee.  
The
Cape Fear Blues Challenge is uniquely staged on the first Saturday of November, making it one
of the final regional blues contests in America to be held just prior to the
IBC.










Acts that compete at our Challenge are vying for a variety of prizes donated by sponsors from within
the Wilmington music community. Past awards have included recording packages, merchandise
certificates, paid gigs, instruments, accessories and (of course) cold, hard cash.










We thank you for your interest in the
Cape Fear Blues Challenge.  For an application or more info on
the 2008 event, email
admin@capefearblues.org or call 910-350-8822.  Please provide all
necessary contact information, including a mailing address and active phone number.  Thank you.
Cape Fear Blues Society
Producing, promoting, and presenting blues music throughout the Cape Fear region of North Carolina.
Webmaster
(c) 2008  Cape Fear Blues Society
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For more information on the International Blues Challenge in Memphis TN, click here!
So how did our talented CFBC contenders fare in Memphis during the 2007 IBC competition?

-  Spider Mike Bochey performed two flawless sets at the 152 Club on consecutive nights along Beale
Street.  His competition included Jake Shane (Illinois Central Blues Society), Ed Wright (Suncoast Blues
Society), Israel Stetar (Blues Society Of Western PA.), Damian Knapp (Mahoning River Blues Society), and
Walter Lewis (Connecticut Blues Society), plus some very talented duos.  Alas, the fierce performances
left only one champion in the venue.  While Spider Mike did not advance to the finals, portions of his live
performance were aired during a special report on the International Blues Challenge broadcast by XM
Radio's all-blues channel, Bluesville.  How's that for 15 minutes (or more) of fame?  We congratulate
Spider Mike for his professionalism, his talent, and we wish him continued success in his musical career.

-  
WSNB (We Sing Nasty Blues) also played two high-energy sets in front of some very discerning
judges, performing at Wet Willie's ("World's Best Daiquiris!") on Beale Street.  When the smoke cleared,
WSNB WAS CROWNED CHAMPIONS OF THEIR VENUE!  Next stop:  the Orpheum Theater.  The band
performed in front of a sold-out audience, enjoying a little bit of musical nirvana and new-found fame in
the city that nurtured the blues and gave birth to rock 'n roll.  It was a proud moment for the band and
the Cape Fear Blues Society.  This is the first time that a CFBS-sponsored act has made it to the IBC
finals, and WSNB deserves every bit of thanks and gratitude that we can muster.  Clay, Jason, Shane &
Nate are making their mark on the world of blues music - our best to each of them!

-
Theresa & TC Blue's CD "Roll Of The Dice" was the Cape Fear Blues Society's choice for the IBC's
Best Self-Produced CD competition, held in conjunction with the International Blues Challenge every
year.  The band consists of THERESA LINDSTROM on lead & background vocals and acoustic guitar; RIT
JOHNSON on lead, rhythm, slide, acoustic & dobro guitars and background vocals;  MARK LILLIS on bass
guitar and background vocals;  FRED "BEETLE" BAILEY on keyboards;  DAN HESS on drums.  Special
guests included RICHARD MALFITANO, saxophone and flute;  JOHN HARRIS, harmonica;  PETER SOLLEY,
keyboards;  BILL MEREDITH, percussion;  DIANA D'AMBROSIO, MICHAEL-ANN STEWART, & NANCY
HARTLINE, harmony vocals.
2006 Blues Challenge News
2007 Cape Fear Blues Challenge Results (11/03/07)

The 2007 Cape Fear Blues Challenge brought another capacity crowd to Wilmington's hottest spot
for local music and live blues.  Once again,
The Rusty Nail provided the perfect backdrop for an
exciting evening of friendly competition between bands and solo/duo acts from inside and outside the
Cape Fear region.

Band Division
1st Place - The Chickenhead
             Blues Band
(Wilmington NC)
2nd Place - Jen & Tonic (New Bern NC)
3rd Place - The Cape Fear Blues Band (Wilmington NC)


Solo/Duo Division
1st Place - Tony Rogers (Dallas NC)
2nd Place - Theresa Lindstrom (Red Springs NC)
3rd Place - Fortch (Wilmington NC)




WINNERS - Tony Rogers and The Chickenhead Blues Band traveled to the International Blues
Challenge, Jan. 31 - Feb. 2, 2008, in Memphis TN.  A portion of their travel expenses was paid for by
the CFBS.  Additional 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prizes included studio recording packages, merchandise,
cash awards, and paid performances at The Rusty Nail.

SPONSORS - Our thanks goes to THE CAPE FEAR STUDIO for recording packages, and to
FINKELSTEIN MUSIC for retail gift certificates.  THE RUSTY NAIL opened up their NEW main stage
for our event and offered paid gigs for the winning artists.  Our raffle guitar was provided by
TONY'S
GUITARS
, allowing the CFBS to raise needed funds for future projects.  The CAPE FEAR BLUES
SOCIETY
supplied cash awards, merchandise, and travel reimbursement to our winners.

JUDGES - 5 distinguished judges lent their services to our competition:  ARTHUR "KB" BROWN
(CFBS Vice-President), JEFF REID (The Beat editor & publisher), GLENN TEW (former IBC competitor),
DAVID TOMA (WECT/WSFX Creative Services Director), and DOUG CARLISLE (host of Rock 104.5's
Houserockin' Blues).

PEOPLE - Hard-working human beings make these important projects happen.  We wish to thank
MIKE & DIANE FITZGERALD, SANDY WILLIAMS & STAFF, PETE DURSO, ERIN SIMPSON, LAN
NICHOLS,
and HARRY TURNER.  Special thanks goes to our AUDIENCE and the dedicated
MUSICIANS of The Cape Fear Blues Jam.
 
The CFBS nominee for The Blues Foundation's Best Self-Produced CD competition is..

MOJO COLLINS
"Live at Corporate Canvas Gallery"
"Live at Corporate Canvas Gallery" marks another milestone in
the storied career of bluesman Mojo Collins.  Recorded inside
one of Wilmington's most spatious art galleries, the CD features
a host of Collins' original blues compositions, along with his many
colorful ballads of the Carolina shoreline - a potent ingredient of
his live shows.  There's fire and grit in these performances, not to
mention the drive and determination of a guitarist who spent his
early years opening for the likes of Muddy Waters, Fleetwood
Mac, Steve Miller, Ike & Tina Turner, Janis Joplin, Santana, and
Blue Cheer.  More recently, he's garnered songwriting awards in
Virginia and Louisiana, and a coveted North Carolina Arts
Council Fellowship in Music for Songwriting.

For a copy of the CD, visit
Corporate Canvas Gallery or call Mojo
Collins direct at 910-452-4053.
CAPE FEAR BLUES CHALLENGE
Annual Talent Competition / Saturday Nov. 8, 2008
An update for the 2008 competition will be posted to this page on (or after) August 31.
The ROAD TO MEMPHIS Benefit (held on Saturday, January 26 at The Rusty Nail)
was a rousing success.  Featured acts included
Spider Mike Bochey, The Dynamic
Therm-O-Tones, Tommy B. & The Stingers
plus The Chickenhead Blues Band and
their show was recorded for a future CD.  Thanks to the generosity of local musicians and
listeners, over $ 1,100 was raised to assist the band with travel expenses to the IBC.  
Thanks to our SRO audience for helping make this another successful CFBS event!
2007 Blues Challenge News