Tuesday, February 17, 2009


16 February 2009


MONKEYJUNK places 3rd in Memphis!

The Ottawa Blues Society (OBS) is proud to announce that MonkeyJunk, the winning band from the first ever OBS local Blues Challenge competition, On the Road to Memphis, placed 3rd in the Blues Foundation’s 25th International Blues Challenge (IBC), held in Memphis TN, February 4-7, 2009. Steve Marriner, Tony D and Matt Sobb won the semi-final competition at the Blues City CafĂ©, and MonkeyJunk was the only Canadian entry to advance to the Saturday afternoon finals at Memphis’ famed Orpheum Theatre.

Six Canadian bands competed at this year’s IBC, and they created a buzz! The Johnny Max Band (sponsored by the Canal Bank Shuffle), Steve Strongman (sponsored by the Grand River Blues Society), the Keith Hallett Trio (sponsored by the Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival), The Bluesers (sponsored by the Canada South Blues Society) and Racine (sponsored by Le Relatant SocietĂ© de Blues) rounded out the Canadian contingent. Twelve bands not advancing to the finals were chosen by their venues to compete in the Beale Street Blues Kings Competition at the New Daisy Theatre Saturday night. Congratulations to Toronto’s Johnny Max Band, one of four winners in this event.

MonkeyJunk, along with the Johnny Max Band and Racine, participated in the Fed-Ex International Showcase at Alfred’s on Friday, February 6, featuring both band and solo/duo competitors from Australia, Croatia, France, Israel, Italy, Norway, Poland and, of course, Canada. The Bluesers were the only Canadian ‘youth’ entry and participated in the Smokin’ Bluz Youth Showcase on Friday.

MonkeyJunk makes their first official appearance following their return to Ottawa at Tucson’s, 2440 Bank Street, on Saturday, February 21. Please join the Ottawa Blues Society in celebrating ‘our’ band’s showing at the IBC and help us welcome them home.

For further information, please contact:

Mike Graham renegade10@rogers.com
Vice-President/Editor
Ottawa Blues Society
Liz Sykes lizsykes@rogers.com
President/Editor

Ottawa Blues Society

www.ottawabluessociety.com


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