Welcome to the Nashville Blues Society Online!

NBS Newsletters are now available for download on our News Page

3/30/2013 – Our new updated website should be up soon. Stay tuned!

The NBS/Galaxie showcase during the IBC in Memphis was a great success!

STAR-STUDDED NASHVILLE BLUES SHOWCASE WAS HELD AT THE INTERNATIONAL BLUES COMPETITION IN MEMPHIS ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 31 AT B.B. KING’S BLUES CLUB

Performers included internationally touring artists the McCrary Sisters, Etta Britt, Scissormen, the Andy T – Nick Nixon Band, Jesse Black, Boscoe France, Tom Buller and Just Plain Trouble and special guests

MEMPHIS, TN — The Galaxie Agency and the Nashville Blues Society will present the third annual “Nashville Showcases the Blues” concert on Thursday, January 31, from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at B.B. King’s Blues Club, 143 Beale Street, during the Blues Foundation’s International Blues Competition (IBC) week. The showcase has become one of the most popular daytime events during the IBC, drawing capacity crowds to B.B. King’s. Admission is free to IBC passholders and open to the public.

“As the owner and president of the Galaxie Agency, as well as a proud member of the Nashville Blues Society, I look forward to sharing our talented line-up of artists each year at the IBC,” says Gina Hughes. “It’s my way of giving back to the fans, venue owners, and buyers who support us throughout the year. See you all in Memphis!”

This year’s line-up includes:

• The McCrary Sisters — The soul-, blues- and gospel-singing daughters of Fairfeld Four founder Sam McCrary are an international sensation. Ann, Regina and Alfreda have a long musical resume that includes the new album Our Journey produced by roots music legend Buddy Miller, blues and roots songwriting giant Gary Nicholson, Tommie Sims and Kevin McKendree. Their sister Deborah has joined the group in recent years, after a long career in nursing. Regina has toured with Bob Dylan, among others, and she, Ann and Alfreda have recorded and performed with Johnny Cash, Wynonna Judd, Mike Farris and many more.

• Etta Britt — Etta’s new solo debut Out of the Shadows is a perfect balance of blues, rock, country and soul, putting the Nashville songwriter and singer — who many blues fans know from her work with Delbert McClinton — squarely in the spotlight with many high profile appearances, including The Today Show. Out of the Shadows debuted at number 20 on the Living Blues Radio Chart, and Etta recently completed a tour with fellow blues songwriting sensation Paul Thorn. Etta will accompanied at “Nashville Showcases the Blues” by her husband Bob Britt, guitarist for John Fogerty, Wynonna Judd and many other stars.

• Scissormen — Led by guitarist/singer/songwriter and award-winning blues journalist Ted Drozdowski, Scissormen’s sound ricochets between the deep traditions of Mississippi’s hill country and Delta juke joints and the modern day. Their new release is BIG SHOES: Walking and Talking the Blues, a CD and DVD set featuring a 90-minute documentary on Ted and the band by the acclaimed roots music film maker Robert Mugge, whose credits include Deep Blues, Gospel According to Al Green, New Orleans Musicians in Exile and the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise films Deep Sea Blues and All Jams on Deck.

• The Andy T — Nick Nixon Band — This new group featuring veterans Andy T (Smoky Wilson, Guitar Shorty) on guitar and James “Nick” Nixon on vocals has been turning heads on festival and clubs stages — including 2012’s King Biscuit Blues Festival — with its strong traditional blues sound. Their Anson Funderburgh-produced debut album Drink, Drank, Drunk will be released on the Delta Groove label in February.

• Boscoe France — Kentucky-based guitarist and bandleader Boscoe France is the winner of Guitar Center’s 2012 “Battle of the Blues,” where Boscoe took the first prize with his charismatic blend of technique, soul and on-stage appeal. He has recently been in the studio with fellow guitar virtuoso Pete Anderson, working on a new project.

• Tom Buller and Just Plain Trouble — Fire-breathing guitarist Tom Buller is a master of the Telecaster in the tradition of Roy Buchanan, a six-string virtuoso whose blues playing bristles and energy and creativity.  This showcase marks the Memphis debut of Tom and his band, which includes his charismatic wife Brandy on bass.

• Jesse Black — Fourteen-year-old guitarist-singer Jesse is the latest in the proliferation of young blues prodigies to emerge from Nashville that also includes Cumberland Blue, this year’s Nashville Blues Society entry in the IBC Youth Showcase.


1/2/2013

Happy New Year, from the NBS!

11/18/2012

2012 Nashville Blues Challenge Winners:

Solo/Duo:   Miss Jackie Wilson and Maestro Lightford

Band:         Rickey Godfrey Band

Youth Band:  Cumberland Blue

The NBS will send these acts to represent Nashville in the International Blues Challenge, held in Memphis, TN,  January  29- February 2, 2013.

We congratulate the 5 bands, 9 Solo/Duo, and 2 Youth  acts that joined in the event. All of the musicians were amazing, and we appreciate their participation. We had a capacity crowd in attendance as the Hard Rock Cafe. Many thanks to all that came out to support our Nashville blues musicians, and for your generous donations. See you in Memphis!

Sean Starski’s Self Titled CD won the NBS Best Self Produced CD contest, and will be representing Nashville in the 2013 IBC Best Self Produced CD competition. Congrats to Sean!

11/16/2012

The Nashville Blues Society held our preliminary BLUES challenge November 13th through the 15th at World Music Nashville. We would like to congratulate all of those bands and solo/duo artists who participated. You were all fantastic!!

We are proud to announce those artists with the highest scores advancing to the Finals this Sunday, November 18th at the Hard Rock Café in Nashville, scheduled as follows:

TIMES ARTIST
6:00 Tom Whisenhunt
6:30 Terry “Goose” Downing & Tim Gonzalez
7:00 Jake Hill
7:30 Miss Jackie Wilson & Maestro Lightford
8:00 Cumberland Blue – Youth Band  Showcase
8:30 Rickey Godfrey Band
9:00 Tom Buller & Just Plain Trouble
9:30 Celebrity Jam followed by pro jam 

Winners Announced at 10:30pm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Special Guest Judges include: Steve Cropper, Tom Hambridge, Karen Leipziger, James “Nick” Nixon, and Bart Walker.

Please come out to see the Finals and support your local Blues musicians as they compete to represent the Nashville Blues Society in the 29th International Blues Competition in Memphis, TN.

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A message from the NBS:

We are a new Blues Society, passionate about our mission to promote, preserve, support and advance the tradition and future of blues music. We realize this is an ambitious task, however we believe the experience of enjoying blues live and via recordings is tremendously rewarding and helps keep us in touch with the essence of the human heart and spirit.

We wish to accomplish much for the blues in Nashville, the capitol of country music. One of our goals is to increase our membership and the number of local blues fans, and to discover and disseminate information about the local blues community to help bring Nashville-area performers and their potential fans together. We also want to increase exposure to this marvelous music by sponsoring and promoting blues events featuring local and national acts, and publishing this newsletter. We also plan to bring educational programs to schools and community organizations as we progress.

Here you will find gig listings, blues jams, events, and much more. As our site evolves, we will be adding interesting new features and content. So check here often to stay aware of local blues gigs and events, and be sure to get out and support live blues in Nashville!

Kathy L. Bolmer
President