Congratulations to our winners!

First Place Solo/Duo - Sonny Moorman

Second Place Solo/Duo - Jimmy D. Rogers

First Place Band - II Juicy

Second Place Band - Cheryl Renee's Blues Band

Third Place Band - Red Hot Blues Band

With 5 solo/duo acts and 23 bands, we had an amazing day/evening of GREAT BLUES!! The competition was fierce and we are so proud of all of the acts that performed. We rocked Germania Park for about 9 hours, and our judges chose the acts marked below. Congratulations! Thanks to everyone that helped out and joined in one terrific event!

Wow, What a Blues Challenge!

THANKS to all of the artists that participated in the 2006 Cincy Blues Challenge this past weekend. This year was the best and the biggest we've ever had. It was also great to look around and see the crowd that showed up to have fun with us! I spoke with many out of town people and to folks that had never been to the Challenge before and they were all very impressed with the amount of talent we have in the area.

Unless you're a solo act, it takes a lot of work among the band members to come up with the right sound blend and make it all work. Below I'm listing the members of each of the bands so everyone gets the recognition that they deserve. What a wonderful group of musicians!

Midge Fatheree
Cincy Blues Society President

12:20 Picks & Sticks – Ryan Hickey, Guitar/Vocals
12:20 Picks & Sticks – Clayton Kennedy, Drums
12:40 Sonny Moorman – solo, Guitar/Vocals
1:00 Jimmy D.Rogers – solo, Piano/Vocals
1:20 Train Shaker – C. Michael Ferguson, Guitar/Vocals
1:20 Train Shaker – Charles Finzel, Drums, Guitar
1:40 Gravy Williams – solo, Guitar, Harp, Vocals
2:00 The Chuck Land Band – Mike Chapman, Sr, Drums
2:00 The Chuck Land Band – Brad Hatfield, Harp
2:00 The Chuck Land Band – Bill Houston, Saxophone
2:00 The Chuck Land Band – Chuck Land, Hammond Organ, Piano
2:00 The Chuck Land Band – Steve Magus, Trumpet
2:00 The Chuck Land Band – Lindsay Olive, Guitar
2:00 The Chuck Land Band – Jeff Rhoades, Bass
2:00 The Chuck Land Band – Dan , Trombone
2:20 Slim N' The Trojans – Oscar Bernal, Drums
2:20 Slim N' The Trojans – Lance Boyd, Guitar
2:20 Slim N' The Trojans – Tony Nasser, Bass
2:20 Slim N' The Trojans – Tony Nasser, Sr, Saxophone
2:20 Slim N' The Trojans – Joe Polen, Saxophone
2:20 Slim N' The Trojans – Butch Yates, Saxophone
2:40 Johnny & the Dangerous Bunch – J.P. Campbell, Drums/Vocals
2:40 Johnny & the Dangerous Bunch – Charlie Hughes, Guitar/Vocals
2:40 Johnny & the Dangerous Bunch – Steven Kappes, Bass
2:40 Johnny & the Dangerous Bunch – Jimmy McNight, Drums/Vocals
2:40 Johnny & the Dangerous Bunch – Caroline Moore, Piano/Vocals
2:40 Johnny & the Dangerous Bunch – Johnny Vogel, Guitar/Vocals
3:00 Cheryl Renee's Blues Band – Roger Bates, Drums
3:00 Cheryl Renee's Blues Band – Phil Busciema, Guitar
3:00 Cheryl Renee's Blues Band – Larry Malott, Bass
3:00 Cheryl Renee's Blues Band – Cheryl Renee, Keyboards/Vocals
3:20 American Standard – Chuck Brisbin, Harp/Vocals
3:20 American Standard – Pat Fields, Bass/Vocals
3:20 American Standard – Gary Hicks, Saxophone
3:20 American Standard – John O’Brien, Drums
3:20 American Standard – Tim Richter, Guitar/Vocals
3:20 American Standard – John Wiley, Guitar/Vocals
3:40 Ralph & the Rhythm Hounds – Howard Adkins, Bass
3:40 Ralph & the Rhythm Hounds – Ralph Cave, Harp, Guitar/Vocals
3:40 Ralph & the Rhythm Hounds – Noah Cave, Guitar
3:40 Ralph & the Rhythm Hounds – Mark Giesting, Drums
4:00 Dick and the Roadmasters – Larry Bloomfield, Harp
4:00 Dick and the Roadmasters – Dick Buchholz, Guitar/Vocals
4:00 Dick and the Roadmasters – Greg Fiechtner, Drums
4:00 Dick and the Roadmasters – Travis Talbert, Guitar
4:00 Dick and the Roadmasters – J. (Scarr) Tucker, Bass
4:40 Brown Street Breakdown – “Downtown” Herbie Brown, Guitar/Vocals
4:40 Brown Street Breakdown – Thomas “Harpoon” Henry, Harp/Vocals
4:40 Brown Street Breakdown – “Fast” Eddie Miller, Bass/Vocals
4:40 Brown Street Breakdown – Jeff “Rockwood” Roberts, Drums
5:00 Them Bones – “Lightening” Tim Jacoby, Guitar
5:00 Them Bones – Dave McMahan, Keyboards
5:00 Them Bones – Chris Scherrer, Bass
5:00 Them Bones – Bill Steinkamp, Drums
5:20 IIJuicy – Dave Engle, Guitar/Vocals
5:20 IIJuicy – Michele Feaster, Vocalist
5:20 IIJuicy – Bob Hermann, Guitar/Vocals
5:20 IIJuicy – Tim Klee, Drums/Vocals
5:20 IIJuicy – Dave Sageser, Bass/Vocals
5:40 Leathal Band – John Coffey, Drums
5:40 Leathal Band – Bill Leger, Guitar
5:40 Leathal Band – Henrik Petterson, Bass
5:40 Leathal Band – Jason Wilmot, Guitar
6:00 The Blue Birds – Mike Fletcher, Bass/Vocals
6:00 The Blue Birds – Bam Powell, Drums/Vocals
6:00 The Blue Birds – Marcos Sastre, Guitar/Vocals
6:20 The Lucky Strikes – Doug Davis, Guitar
6:20 The Lucky Strikes – Ray Heckman, Tenor Sax
6:20 The Lucky Strikes – Smokin’ Joe Kowis, B-3 Organ
6:20 The Lucky Strikes – Pete Weast, Drums
6:40 Sonny Hill & The Nightshift – Sonny Hill, Keyboards
6:40 Sonny Hill & The Nightshift – Rick Shelley, Drums
6:40 Sonny Hill & The Nightshift – Aaron Johanson, Saxophone
6:40 Sonny Hill & The Nightshift – John Lewis, Guitar
7:00 Rough Roads – Brady Crank, Guitar
7:00 Rough Roads – Dustin Crank, Drums
7:00 Rough Roads – Jerry Crank, Bass
7:20 Smoke House – Terry Burnside, Tenor Sax
7:20 Smoke House – Zeph Floelicher, Drums/Vocals
7:20 Smoke House – Steve Masters, Bass/Vocals
7:20 Smoke House – Lonnie Noel, Keyboards/Vocals
7:20 Smoke House – Steve Priestly, Guitar/Vocals
7:40 Code Blue Band – Willie Carr, Drums/Vocals
7:40 Code Blue Band – Gary Mack, Bass, Dobro
7:40 Code Blue Band – Mike Newhart, Harp/Vocals
7:40 Code Blue Band – Lee Rosato, Guitar/Vocals
7:40 Code Blue Band – Matt Stuber, Sax, Flugelhorn, Trumpet
8:00 Colerain Power Co. – Jim Diedling, Drums
8:00 Colerain Power Co. – Joe Felice, Bass
8:00 Colerain Power Co. – Gary Kramer, Keyboards
8:00 Colerain Power Co. – Matt Wilson, Guitar
8:40 Malkum Gibson and The Mighty Juke – Rob Cole, Guitar/Vocals
8:40 Malkum Gibson and The Mighty Juke – Malkum Gibson, Harp/Vocals
8:40 Malkum Gibson and The Mighty Juke – John Hack, Bass/Vocals, Guitar
8:40 Malkum Gibson and The Mighty Juke – Jake “The Snake” Shumaker, Drums
9:00 Stella-Vees – Steven Konopka, Harp
9:00 Stella-Vees – Jason Lockwood, Guitar/Vocals
9:00 Stella-Vees – Brian Murphy, Bass
9:00 Stella-Vees – Steve Parrish, Drums
9:20 Red Hot Blues Band – Doug Hart, Guitar/Vocals
9:20 Red Hot Blues Band – Teresa Burns, Vocalist
9:20 Red Hot Blues Band – Michael Jordan, Keyboards
9:20 Red Hot Blues Band – Rob Thaxton, Bass/Vocals
9:20 Red Hot Blues Band – J. J. Yates, Drums

SOLO/DUO ACTS--
12:20 Picks & Sticks
12:40 Sonny Moorman ---- FIRST PLACE in SOLO/DUO
1:00 Jimmy D. Rogers ---- SECOND PLACE in SOLO/DUO
1:20 Train Shaker
1:40 Gravy Williams
BANDS--
2:00 Chuck Land Band
2:20 Slim n' the Trojans
2:40 Johnny & the Dangerous Bunch
3:00 Cheryl Renee's Blues Band ---- SECOND PLACE in BAND
3:20 American Standard
3:40 Ralph and the Rhythm Hounds
4:00 Dick and the Roadmasters
4:20 Conrail Saints
4:40 Brown Street Breakdown
5:00 Them Bones
5:20 II Juicy ---- FIRST PLACE in BAND
5:40 Leathal Band
6:00 Blue Birds
6:20 Lucky Strikes
6:40 Sonny Hill and the Nightshift
7:00 Rough Roads
7:20 Smokehouse
7:40 Code Blues Band
8:00 Colerain Power Co.
8:20 Midnight Blue
8:40 Malkum Gibson & the Mighty Juke
9:00 Stella-Vees
9:20 Red Hot Blues Band ---- THIRD PLACE in BAND

The winners will represent us at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis next year. This year’s artists are also eligible to perform at the 2006 Cincy Blues Fest July 28 & 29th at Sawyer Point.

This was the qualification event for the International Blues Challenge, sponsored by the Blues Foundation, in Memphis early next year. You can check out the Blues Foundations web site at blues.org for all the relevant information on the 2006 and the 2007 events. The winners of the International Blues Challenge receive cash and prizes such as professional consultations and assistance, gigs at some of the country's best festivals, as well as a slot on the 2007 Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise.

Five prizes are awarded at the IBC finals. In the Band Division, there are 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place awards, all of which include a cash award and other goodies. There is a 1st place prize awarded in the Solo/Duo Division. The Blues Foundation also awards the Albert King Award to the most promising guitarist among the acts competing in Band Division finals Saturday night, with the winner receiving a Flying V Guitar, generously donated by our good friends at Gibson Guitars.

Check out the prizes awarded last year for the 2006 IBC:

1st Place Solo/Duo

--1st place Blues Foundation Plaque
--$1000 cash
--Delta Blues SW260N acoustic guitar with gig bag
from Strings and Things Music
--CL Series PorchBoard BassPorchBoard Bass: The CL Series
--Interviews in BluesWax and Blues Revue
--A one year subscription to Blues Revue magazine.
--Free CD listing at both bandVillage and cdmojo.com
--Website design and hosting by bandVillage
--Professional consultation with Crows Feet Productions
--Professional consultation with BC Productions Artist Management
--Ad in Blues Festival Guide and banner ad on its website

Great gigs, such as:
Waterfront Blues Festival in Portland, OR
Heritage Blues Festival in Wheeling, WVA.
Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale, MS
Kalamazoo Blues Festival in Kalamazoo Mich.
Delta Music Experience Riverboat Adventure, "NOLA Northwest Mardi Gras On The Columbia River" - Portland, OR, March 18 - 21, 2006.

1st Place Band
--First Place Blues Foundation Plaque
--$1,500 cash
--Musical instruments and equipment from Strings and Things Music ($4000 retail value) including:
1 Strings and Things Custom electric guitar S350 with gig bag
1 Strings and Things Custom electric bass MB300 with gig bag
1 Drum Boogie DB56Pro 6 piece drum set with all hardware
1 Sound Lab SL200FX powered pa head 8 channel
2 Sound Lab SL215H speaker enclosures with stands
--Interview in BluesWax and Blues Revue
----A one year subscription to Blues Revue magazine.
--Free CD listing at both bandVillage and cdmojo.com
--Professional consultation with Crows Feet Productions
--Professional consultation with BC Productions Artist Management
--Ad in Blues Festival Guide and banner ad on its website

Great gigs, including:
2006 Blues Music Awards VIP Pre-party
2007 Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise
Cape Fear Blues Festival in Wilmington, NC
Heritage Blues Festival in Wheeling, WVA
Arkanas Blues and Heritage Festival in Helena, AR
The Stephen Miller Memorial Blues Festival in Merrritt, Island, Fl
Nothin but the Blues Festival in Bloomington, Ill
Simply the Blues Festival in Ft. Madison, IA
Telluride Blues and Brews Festival in Telluride, CO
Waterfront Blues Festival in Portland, OR
Winter Blues Festival in East Peoria, Ill
Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale, MS
CMJ Rock Hall Music Festival in Cleveland, OH
St. John Blues Festival in St John, US Virgin Islands.
Red, White, and Blues Celebration in Tom Lee Park and on Beale Street in Memphis, TN

2nd Place Band
--2nd Place Blues Foundation Plaque
--$750 cash
--A one year subscription to Blues Revue magazine.
--Luther Allison Memorial Blues Festival in East Peoria, Ill.
--Hot Blues and BBQ in Oxford, Michigan.
--Free CD listing at both bandVillage and cdmojo.com

3rd Place Band
--3rd Place Blues Foundation Plaque
--A one year subscription to Blues Revue magazine.
--$500 cash
--Free CD listing at both bandVillage and cdmojo.com

Albert King Award (for the Most Promising Guitarist)
--Flying V guitar donated by Gibson Guitars
--Folk Art Award by Karen "Bottle" Capps