Blues battle on Saturday

10/19/2006

Local bands will face off Saturday night in the 10th Annual Black Swamp Blues Battle event, which pits the bands against each other in an attempt to win a trip to Memphis for the International Blues Challenge.

This year's finals will feature Josh Boyd & the VIP Band, Frostbite Band, The Hoffman Trio, Tom Turner & Slowburn, Curtis Jr. & the Midnight Rockers, and the Harley-Packer Band.

The bands have already made it through two preliminary rounds, and are vying for a chance to represent Toledo in the challenge event in Memphis Feb. 1-3. They also receive $1,000 in travel expenses.

The Black Swamp Blues Society already completed its solo/duo contest, and the winners were Lucky Brother, the duo of Tim Oehlers and Mark "Lucky" Lemont. They also will compete at the International Blues Challenge.

Winners of the international event receive cash and prizes, access to top music industry executives and a gig playing on the 2007 Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise.

Saturday's competition will start at 8 p.m. at Club Bijou, 209 N. Superior St., and tickets are $8.