The 25th International Blues Challenge program is available online here. The schedule or assignment of acts to venues can be found on pages 12-13.

Online ticket sales have ended. You may purchase tickets at the door to the 25th IBC Kickoff Concert at the New Daisy Wednesday night. They are only $10.

You may purchase a $10 wrisband for Thursday and $15 wristband for Friday on Beale Street outside many of the clubs. This wristband will get you into all 16 participating clubs.

Tickets to the Band Finals ($32) and the Solo/Duo Finals ($27) can be purchased at the Orpheum box office.

The schedule of events is here.

The 25th International Blues Challenge is sponsored by the good folks at the companies and arts organizations identified on the side banner. Click on their logo to check them out. Media Sponsors include Big City Rhythm and Blues Magazine, Blues Blast, Blues Festival Guide, Blues Revue, BluesWax, Downtowner Magazine, House of Blues Radio Hour, Living Blues, Offbeat, StL.Blues.net and WREG-TV in Memphis.

Advance tickets can be purchased by clicking on the "Tickets" link at left. Individual ticket prices (at the door, if still available) are listed below.

All non-musical events will be at the Doubletree Hotel, 185 Union Avenue, unless otherwise noted. Click on Doubletree logo at left for hotel map. The Blues Foundation will be headquartered in the Doubletree lobby during the day and the Handy Park Bar at night. Tickets, information, programs, etc. will be available in these two locations Wednesday-Friday.

Wednesday, February 4

5:00-7:00 pm IBC Beale Street "Meet and Greet." Beale Street Merchants Association welcomes IBC participants and attendees New Daisy Theater.

7:00 pm Memphis Grizzlies v. Houston Rockets NBA Basketball game with special discounts and IBC acts–Patrick Vining Band, The Delta Flyers and Charles Burton–performing throughout the venue. Shakura S'Aida (2008 IBC 2nd Place) will perform the national anthem. Purchase your tickets at a special Blues fan discount here. FedEx Forum

9:00 pm (after the game) Special 25th IBC Kick-Off Concert (with past IBC winners, including Trampled Under Foot (2008 IBC 1st Place), Sean Carney Band (2007 1st Place and Best Guitarist), Homemade Jamz Blues Band (2007 2nd Place), Jonn Richardson (2005 IBC Best Guitarist and with 1st Place Winner Diunna Greenleaf and Blue Mercy), Zac Harmon (2004 IBC 1st Place) and others -- $10 at the door. New Daisy Theater

Thursday, February 5

9:00 am–4:00 pm Attendee Registration and Silent Auction (Lobby)

9:00 am–2:00 pm 25th IBC Act Registration (Outside Tennessee Ballroom, Ground Floor)

10:00–11:30 am Mississippi Blues Tourism Presentation with Alex Thomas, Mississippi Development Authority, and Connie Gibbons, B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center. (Chelsea Room, Ground Floor)

1:30 pm–3:00 pm– International Roundtable with hosts Jean Guillermo, Blues Sur Seine,and Brent Staeben, Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival(Chelsea Room, Ground Floor)

3:00 pm 25th IBC Act Orientation Meeting (Adams/Beale Room, Ground Floor)

5:00/6:00 pm Semi-Finals Begin (Check schedule for start time in each venue). $10 wristband gets you into all IBC venues. Beale Street Clubs

Friday, February 6

8:30 am Board of Directors Meeting (Crump Room)

9:00 am–4:00 pm Attendee Registration (Lobby)

10:00 am–2:00 pm Silent Auction (Lobby)

10:00 am–11:30 am Affiliate Roundtable with Eric Steiner, President, 2009 KBA recipient Washington Blues Society, including presentation by Mental Health America and the Kansas City Blues Society on Jammin' Away the Blues - Mental Health America's event partnership opportunity with Affiliates Desoto Room

10:00 am–11:30 am Youth Roundtable hosted by Cassie Taylor, Member, Blues Foundation Board of Directors. Designed for age 25 and under. Gayoso Room

11:00 am–4:00 pm FedEx International Showcase with Hosts Board members Jostein Forsberg (Notodden Blues Festival) and Joey Sichting (FedEx) acts from Australia, Canada, Croatia, France, Israel, Italy, Norway and Poland Alfred's, Beale Street

11:30 am–1:00 pm Luncheon with Keynote Speaker Craig Hopkins, 2009 KBA recipient for Literature "A Few Things Even Blues Foundation Members Might Not Know About Stevie Ray Vaughan (Tennessee Ballroom)

1:00–4:00 pm Smokin’ Bluz Youth Showcases Club 152, B.B. King's, The Pig on Beale and Blues City Cafe, Beale Street .

5:00/6:00 pm Semi-Finals Begin (Check schedule for start time in each venue). $15 wristband gets you into all IBC venues. Beale Street Clubs

When the scores have been tabulated Friday, the finalists will be announced at various Beale Street clubs.

Saturday, Feb 7

9:00 am Doors Open for KBA Brunch (Tennessee Ballroom)

10:00 am–12:30 pm KBA Awards Ceremony (Tennessee Ballroom)

1:00 pm Doors Open for Band Finals. 2009 Blues Music Award nominee Eden Brent will perform in the lobby. Silent Auction resumes and closes at the beginning of the 6th act (approximately 4:30 pm) The Orpheum Theatre.

2:00–7:00 pm Band Finals with host Cassie Taylor and Jason Ricci; Gibson Guitar Giveaway; Best Self Produced CD Winner Announced. $30 The Orpheum Theatre.

7:30 pm Doors Open for Solo/Duo Finals at The Orpheum Theatre

8:30 pm Solo/Duo Finals with Host Bruce Wheeler Heritage Music BluesFest. $25 The Orpheum Theatre

Other events occuring on Beale St. before and after The Blues Foundation's IBC, but not part of the IBC:

Throughout the IBC, the Memphis Tobacco Bowl will be donating proceeds from the sales of Avalon Cigars to The Blues Foundation. Avalon Cigars of Clarksdale, MS produces the very popular 'Juke' and 'Hellhound' lines of blues-influenced cigars, made in Miami by master rollers. Stop by the Memphis Tobacco Bowl at 152 Madison Ave (just two blocks north of the Doubletree Hotel between 3rd and 2nd downtown) anytime during IBC to receive a 10% discount on all purchases. Help support the Blues Foundation while enjoying a great cigar in their comfortable smoking lounge-open from 9am to 6pm everyday. Great coffee, snacks and Blues on the XM too. Check out the locally made cigar-box guitars on display (ask before playing) during the IBC! Info online at www.memphistobacco.comor call 901/525-2310 for more details or directions.

Friday, February 6

10:30 am–12:00 pm–Blind Raccoon Publicity and Marketing Seminar Rum Boogie Cafe

12:00 pm–4:30 pm–Roots & Blues Showcase presented by Blind Raccoon, Galaxie Agency and Burch Entertainment Group Rum Boogie Cafe

12:30 pm–4:30 pm Yellow Dog Records Showcase including Fiona Boyes, Eden Brent, Mary Flower, Rich Del Grosso and William Lee Ellis King's Palace

1:00–5:00pm Pre IBC Jam with the Stella Vees Blues Hall

1:00 am Post IBC Jam with Bob Margolin Rum Boogie Cafe

Saturday, February 7

1:00–5:00pm Pre IBC Jam with the Stella VeesBlues Hall

11:00pm Bob Margolin Jam Rum Boogie Cafe

11:00pm Piano summit with Rev. Billy Wirtz and Victor Wainwright Wet Willies