SHAKURA S'AIDA EARNS AWARD AT IBC IN MEMPHIS

Media information - for immediate release (Sunday, Feb. 3/08) - Toronto, ON

Shakura S'Aida, fronting one of three Canadian bands entered in the Blues Foundation's International Blues Challenge (IBC) in Memphis, Tennessee, earned second place.

More than 160 bands, duos and solo artists, from 27 different countries, took part in the competition, held annually by the Blues Foundation. The winners were announced last night (Sat. Feb. 2).

S'Aida was certainly one of the most "international" entries in the prestigious competition, which will celebrate its 25th anniversary next year. Born in Brooklyn, raised in Switzerland, she has been part of the Toronto music and theatre scene for more than 20 years. Her entry was sponsored by the Toronto Blues Society. The winning band, Trampled Under Foot, is a trio from Kansas City. The response from audiences and judges alike was enthusiastic.

Thomas Ruf, a German record label owner who counts Canadians Sue Foley and Roxanne Potvin among his artists, said: "I was completely blown away by the power and deep honesty of Skakura's performance", adding, "Wow! I haven't experienced such an energy level since (I first heard) Luther Allison."

The Blues Challenge was held in a variety of venues in and around Memphis's Beale Street. S'Aida and her band played at B.B. King's club on the historic thoroughfare where so much blues history has been made.

Shakura S'Aida's debut recording, Blueprint, was released in Canada last year and will be available in the United States, via the major independent company, Burnside Distribution, next month.

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For more information, high-res photographs, interviews etc., please contact:

Richard Flohil
416-351-1323
rflohil@sympatico.ca


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