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CTBS Challenge







The CTBS sponsors an annual Blues Challenge with the winners representing CT at the annual International Blues Challenge in Memphis TN. The CTBS holds three distinct competitions that match the IBC categories: band, solo/duo and best self-produced CD.  

The band challenge preliminaries are held in the late Spring over multiple weeks at Black Eyed Sally's in Hartford with the preliminary winners competing in a final session, usually sometime in June.  

The solo/duo competition is held in a similar fashion in September or October at The Pine Loft in Berlin CT.  

Our judging teams consist of past winners, accomplished musicians, producers, Blues radio DJs, and media folks. Each of the Connecticut band and solo/duo winners receives prize money to help finance their trip to Memphis, as well as an opening slot for the band winner at The Black-Eyed & Blues Festival.

The 2023 Band Challenge registration is finished. 

The 2023 CTBS Challenge

2024 IBC Challenge

BlueDevilBluez

2023

Band Challenge Winner


Luke Molina

2023

Solo Challenge Winner



James Limerick Kerr Duo

2023

CD Challenge Winner




The 2022 CTBS Challenge/2023 IBC Challenge



Dr James Limerick Kerr

2022 Solo/Duo Winner




Carl Ricci & 706 Union Ave.

2022 Band Winner




The Mighty Soul Drivers

2022 Self-Produced CD Winner



YEAR BAND CHALLENGE WINNER
1996 THE HORNETS
1997 BLUE STEEL
1998 D SMITH BLUES BAND
1999 MIKE CRANDALL BAND
2000 SWEET DADDY COOL BREEZE
2001 MIKE CRANDALL BAND
2002 RYAN HARTT AND THE BLUE HEARTS
2003 DW ARMSTRONG AND THE RENT PARTY
2004 RYAN HARTT AND THE BLUE HEARTS
2005 MIKE CRANDALL BAND
2006 THE HOODOO BAND
2007 RYAN HARTT AND THE BLU HEARTS
2008 WASHBOARD SLIM AND THE BLUE LIGHTS
2009 Jr KRAUSS AND THE SHAKES
2010 ERAN TROY DANNER
2011 PETEY HOP AND THE JACK RABBITS
2012 RICH BADOWSLI BLUES BAND
2013 DANNY DRAHER BAND
2014 BALKUN BROTHERS
2015 MIGHTY SOUL DRIVERS
2016 DANNY DRAHER BAND
2017 EASY BABY
2018 JAKE KULAK AND LOW DOWN
2019 SWEET DADDY COOL BREEZE
2020 NONE - COVID
2021 NONE - COVID
2022 CARL RICCI AND 706 UNION AVE
2023 BLUEDEVILBLUEZ


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The Connecticut Blues Society is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Hartford CT

Live blues music and blues shows in Connecticut and surrounding areas including (but not limited to): Ansonia, Berlin, Bridgeport, Bristol, Canton, Cheshire, Coventry, Danbury, Derby, Fairfield, Granby, Groton, Hartford, Manchester, Meriden, Middletown, Milford, New Britain, New Haven, New London, Norwalk, Norwich, Old Lyme, Putnum, Shelton, Simsbury, South Norwalk, Southington, Stamford, Torrington, Waterbury, West Haven, and Winsted.

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