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Application deadline for 23rd annual River City Blues competition

The Blues, Jazz and Folk Music Society of Marietta announce their 23rd annual River City Blues Competition, the oldest and largest blues talent competition in the state of Ohio, and are looking for Blues talent for the competition. Applications must be received by Friday, Jan. 16. The event will take place on Feb. 20 and 21 at the Lafayette Hotel in Marietta. There will be a Blues party on Friday night and competition all day Saturday and Saturday night. Past participants have come from New York, Ohio, West Virginia, Michigan, Kentucky, Indiana, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania. They compete for sponsorship to the International Blues Challenge ( IBC). The first place winner of The River City Blues Competition in 2015 will receive $1000 in cash and BJFM sponsorship to the IBC in Memphis early in 2016 where they will gain valuable exposure to record label A&R representatives and Blues industry professionals and festival promoters capable of real career advancement for a serious blues musician. When they register for the Blues Challenge in Memphis they will receive an additional $500.

Second place winner will receive $500 in cash and third place winner will receive $300 in cash. If second or third place qualify to go to Memphis on the BJFM Stage they will receive an additional $500 when they register for the challenge There are 12 slots in the competition this year. Marietta has set the stage for the other competitions that exist in the state. One of the things that makes the Marietta competition unique is that it has no geographic restrictions and is open to serious Blues acts from anywhere. That is why The River City Blues Competition pulls talent from many states. The Blues is an attitude and state of mind, not confined to a geographical area.

For more information about registering your band or solo/duo act for this competition go to www.bjfm.org and click on the link to Blues Competition. On that page you will find links to the rules and application. Application must be received by Jan. 16. Bands will be notified of acceptance or rejection two weeks after that date after a review of the demo tapes by the Board of BJFM. Any questions, contact Competition Director, John Gifford at 740-680-6338 after 7 p.m. weekdays, anytime on the weekends or (e-mail jgifford17799@roadrunner.com); or e-mail bolen@bjfm.org.

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