Up-and-coming blues performers compete at Ace’s

You probably don’t go the blues bars on a Sunday afternoon very often, but this weekend you might want to make an exception.

The Suncoast Blues Society is holding the regional edition of the International Blues Challenge to determine who will represent our area at the national IBC event in Memphis six months from now. The International Blues Challenge is a huge and prestigious world-wide competition sponsored by the Blues Foundation.

Our region has fared well in the IBC. The Selwyn Birchwood Band won the 2013 band competition — the whole thing, out of all the entrants in the world — and Birchwood himself received the Albert King award for Best Guitar Player. In 2015, the Betty Fox Band was selected as one of 10 bands to make it to the final round, out of a pool of more than 120 groups, and TC Carr & the Bolts of Blue were semi-finalists in 2016. Last year, Souliz finished in second place in the band category.

Sunday’s competition is at Ace’s Live, and the bands who will be playing are Memphis Rub Band, Charlie Morris Band, Victoria Ginty & Ladyhawke, David Julia Band, Bridget Kelly Band. Solos performers and duos are Royce Reed, George Worthmore, Champ (Kevin Gruca) and the Tub Thumpers.

Five judges will score each act on blues content, originality, vocals, instrumental talent and stage presence.

Details: 12:30 p.m. July 30, Ace’s Live, 4343 Palma Sola Blvd., Bradenton. $5 at the door: 414-416-1884, aceslivemusic.com.

This story was originally published July 26, 2017 at 4:31 PM with the headline "Up-and-coming blues performers compete at Ace’s."