The 2010 International Blues Challenge is sponsored by the good folks at the companies identified by their logos on the side banner. Click to learn more about them.

We are in the process of establishing the prizes for 2010. Here are the prizes that were awarded in 2009

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 October 2009 and January 2010 Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruises.

Six prizes are awarded at the International Blues Challenge. In the Band Division, 1st, 2nd and 3rd place are awarded, each of which includes a cash award and other goodies. 1st and 2nd place prizes are awarded in the Solo/Duo Division. The Best Guitarist among the acts competing in Band Finals Saturday afternoon is also recognized, with the winner receiving a custom-built ES-335 guitar, generously donated by our good friends at Gibson Guitars.

2009 Prizes

1st Place Solo/Duo
-- 1st place International Blues Challenge plaque
-- $1000 cash
-- Emerging Artist Publicity and Radio Promotion Campaign from Blind Raccoon
-- Interview in BluesWax
-- One-year subscription to Blues Revue
-- Free CD listing at both bandVillage and cdmojo.com
-- Professional consultation with BC Productions Artist Management
-- Ad in Blues Festival Guide and banner ad on its website
-- Professional press kit from Groovedaddy Graphics

Great gigs, including:

-- International Folk Alliance Conference Memphis, TN
-- Traditional Acoustic Blues Festival Columbus, OH
-- Rootsway Roots 'n' Blues & Food Festival Parma, Italy
-- Heritage Blues Festival Wheeling, WV
-- The Blues Society of Omaha’s Blues Cruise 2009
-- Alonzo's Memorial Day Picnic, Baltimore, MD
-- 2009 Pacific Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise
-- Ground Zero Blues Club, Clarksdale, MS

2nd Place Solo/Duo
-- 2nd Place International Blues Challenge plaque
-- $500 cash
-- One-year subscription to Blues Revue
-- Free CD listing at both bandVillage and cdmojo.com
-- Professional press kit from Groovedaddy Graphics


1st Place Band
-- First Place International Blues Challenge plaque
-- $1,500 cash
-- Emerging Artist Publicity and Radio Promotion Campaign from Blind Raccoon
-- Interview in BluesWax
-- One-year subscription to Blues Revue.
-- Free CD listing at both bandVillage and cdmojo.com
-- Professional consultation with BC Productions Artist Management
-- Ad in Blues Festival Guide and banner ad on its website
-- Professional press kit from Groovedaddy Graphics

Great gigs, including:
-- Command performance at King's Palace Cafe on Beale Street
-- 2010 Caribbean Legendary Rhythm and Blues Caribbean Cruise
-- Heritage Blues Festival, Wheeling, WV
-- Simply the Blues Festival, Ft. Madison, IA
-- St. John Blues Festival, St John, US Virgin Islands
-- Telluride Blues and Brews Festival, Telluride, CO
-- Berlin Blues Festival, Berlin, CT
-- Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival , Helena, AR
-- Canal Bank Shuffle , Thorold, Ontario, Canada
-- Hot Springs Blues Festival , Hot Springs, AR
-- Creekside Blues and Jazz Festival , Columbus, OH
-- River City Blues Society of VA , Richmond, VA
-- Blues Society Of Omaha’s Blues Cruise , Omaha, NE
-- Eureka Springs Blues Weekend, Eureka Springs, AR
-- Gladstone SummerTime BluesFest, Gladstone, MO
-- Ground Zero Blues Club, Clarksdale, MS
-- Blues on Grand, Des Moines, IA
-- Rum Boogie Cafe, Memphis, TN

2nd Place Band
-- 2nd Place International Blues Challenge plaque
-- $750 cash
-- One-year subscription to Blues Revue
-- Free CD listing at both bandVillage and cdmojo.com
-- Professional press kit from Groovedaddy Graphics

Gigs, including--
-- Hot Blues and BBQ, Oxford, MI
-- Canal Bank Shuffle , Thorold, Ontario, Canada

3rd Place Band
-- 3rd Place International Blues Challenge Plaque
-- $500 cash
-- One-year subscription to Blues Revue.
-- Free CD listing at both bandVillage and cdmojo.com
-- Professional press kit from Groovedaddy Graphics

Gigs, including:
-- Canal Bank Shuffle , Thorold, Ontario, Canada
-- Hot Blues and BBQ , Oxford , MI

Best Guitrarist Award (in Band Finals)
-- Gibson Custom ES-335 guitar with Blues Foundation logo
-- Category 5 Amp Category 5 Amps

Best Self Produced CD
-- Plaque
-- $500 cash prize
-- National airplay on B.B. King's Bluesville on Sirius XM Satellite Radio and Music Choice, your cable and satellite TV Blues programmed by Bob Porter, as well as on the radio shows hosted by our deejay judges around the country.