Eight Queensland blues bands-artists will compete for the chance to be flown to America in 2026 for the International Blues Challenge in Memphis.
A mix of experienced performers and emerging blues talent, the eight finalists will be pitted against one another in an afternoon contest at Lefty's Music Hall in Brisbane on Sunday 24 August.They are vying for the right to represent BASEQ – the Blues Association of South East Queensland – next January, joining the 200 or more acts from a dozen different countries who've also earned their chance to compete in Memphis for cash, prizes and bookings.
The finalists are 8 Ball Aitken & Taya Chani, Dillion James Band, Sugarbag Blonde, LR Marsh, Shotgun Sam and His World Famous Blues Band, Shade Hadie, The Midnight Sound Machine and Zed Charles.
If the winner is a band, BASEQ will provide $12,000 to help with the costs of getting organised and travelling to the United States. If it's a solo artist, they'll receive $4,000.
The eight finalists were selected by three independent judges, who reviewed applications from blues performers from across South East Queensland and the Northern Rivers region. Those same three judges will have the difficult job of choosing one winner from the talented finalists.
First held in 1984, and originally named the Blues Amateur Talent Contest, the International Blues Challenge has a strong Australian connection with former winners of the solo/duo category including Fiona Boyes (2003), Jimi Hocking (2005), and Frank Sultana (2023).
