MVBS 2015-2016
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Steve Heston-President
Mike Livermore-Vice President
John Resch-Treasurer
Steve Pedigo-Secretary
Ric Burris
Glenn Cotabish
Bob Covemaker
Cyprianne McNulty
Zach Harris
Catherine Hernandez-Faber
Jamie Hopkins
Kate Benson
Ken Larson 
Ellie Sweet 
PL EASE CO NSIDER VOLU NTEERING FOR
FOR ONE (OR  MORE) OF THESE
MVBS  COMMITTEES
        • Administration
        • Archives Committee
        • By-Laws Committee
        • Education Committee
        • Events Committee
        • Festival Entertainment Committee
        • Festival Production Committee
        • Finance Committee
        • Fundraising Committee
        • Membership Committee
        • Nominating Committee
        • Public Relations/ BluesNews Committee
CONTACT MVBS PRESIDENT STEVE HESTON
at 309-912-6385
 FOR MORE INFORMATION
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2016 IOWA BLUES CHALLENGE FINALS
Saturday, June 18, 2016
Starts at 6:00 p.m.
Downtown Des Moines Marriott, Des Moines, IA
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The preliminary rounds of the 2016 Iowa Blues Challenge are complete and the lineup is now set for the 2016 Final Rounds on Saturday, June 18th at the Downtown Des Moines Marriott.  Admission for the final round will be $15,  $10 for members of ANY Iowa Blues Society with a current card. 
The Mississippi Valley Blues Society's Preliminary Round of the IABC was held at the River Music Experience, May 1, and we are proud to be represented at the IABC Finals by our Preliminary Round winners Bruce Kort (solo/duo), and The Royal Blues (band).

FULL LINEUP FOR THE 2016 IABC FINAL ROUND:
6:00 - 6:30 pm - Steve Robinson - Fairfield Solo/Duo winner
6:45 - 7:15 pm - Bruce Kort - Quad Cities Solo/Duo winner
7:30 - 8:00 pm - Bare Bones - Des Moines Solo/Duo winner
8:15 - 8:45 pm - The Royal Blues - Quad Cities Band winner
9:00 - 9:30 pm - Diva & the Deacons - Newton Band winner
9:45 - 10:15 pm - Jeff Banks Band - Des Moines Band winner

6:45 - 7:15 pm -  Bruce Kort

Bruce Kort is a musician traveling the Midwest who is best known for his lifelong career in the blues field, in addition to his repertoire of old jazz and tin pan alley, hard country and bluegrass and  anything else that is native to North America. Born in Elgin, Illinois, he grew up and spent most of his life in the Chicago area, soaking up the sounds of the then - vibrant  Chicago blues scene. He started playing professionally in the late 70's with various local musicians, picking up on any influence that came through the area.

It wasn't until the late 80's that he started to gain some notice with his blues band, "The Dairyland Aces". Aside from their own shows through northern Illinois and Wisconsin, they also opened for legendary bluesmen, including  Lonnie Brooks, Son Seals, Eddy Clearwater, Phil Guy, The Mellow Fellows, Eddie Shaw, Barkin' Bill Smith and a host of others. They also hosted the Budweiser Bluesbreakers Battle of the Bands for several years, as well as making Several appearances at Wrigley Field in the early nineties, playing prior to Cubs games. As the nineties wound down, he concentrated on solo as well as duet performances with blues piano player Randy Adolf, working on songs as well as improving his technique and vocal style.

Now a resident of the Driftless area of northwestern Illinois, he  travels and plays throughout the tri state region as well as other Midwest venues. He also occasionally makes appearances with his blues band, "The Infarctions!" playing regularly at Flatted Fifth as well as other festivals and venues. Be prepared to hear raw, Chicago style blues as well as jump blues and boogie on guitar and harmonica, along with full bodied vocals.

8:15 - 8:45 pm -  The Royal Blues
Matthew Fuller is 16 years old and has been playing since he was 8 years old.  His main influences are Albert King, Albert Collins , B.B. King, Johnny Winter, Stevie Ray Vaughan and his uncle Joe Peña.  He has played with a lot of people over the years, including: Bernard Allison, Billy Branch, Anthony Gomes, Samantha Fish and many more.  He can play various styles, but Blues is his favorite.
John Peña has 50 years experience in music.  He is the founding member of the legendary Peña Brothers and also Serious Business.  He has played with Luther Allison, Ron Thompson and has shared the same bill with John Lee Hooker, Bobby Blue Bland, Koko Taylor and Son Seals, to name a few.  He is also a veteran of 10 MVBS Festivals and a finalist in the IBC Challenge in Memphis in 1986 and 1987.
Terry Patton has been playing drums for over 45 years.  He played in many local and nationally known bands, including Midnight Express, Hal Reed and Mississippi Journey, Network from Minnesapolis, and Terry did a tour with Zap from Dayton, OH.  He's been a veteran of the music scene for many years.
2016 IOWA BLUES CHALLENGE PRIZE PACKAGE:
1st Place Solo/Duo:  $250 cash, 8 hours recording time courtesy of Junior's Motel in Otho, Opportunities for paid gigs, including the Winter Blues Fest, Parks Area Sweet Corn Day and more & Entry into and $300 travel expenses for the 2017 International Blues Challenge in Memphis TN.
2nd Place Solo Duo:  $150 cash
3rd Place Solo/Duo:  $100 cash
1st Place Band:  $500 cash, 8 hours recording time courtesy of Junior's Motel in Otho, Opportunities for paid gigs, including the Winter Blues Fest, Parks Area Sweet Corn Day, BBQ 'Loo & Blues Too and more & Entry into and $1200 travel expenses for the 2017 International Blues Challenge in Memphis TN.
2nd Place Band:  $300 cash
3rd Place Band:  $200 cash
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REVEREND RAVEN AND THE
CHAIN SMOKIN' ALTAR BOYS
Sunday, June 26, 2016
6:00 p.m.
The Establishment, 220 19th St, Rock Island, IL
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The Mississippi Valley Blues Society is proud to present a Midwestern's-blues-fan-favorite, Reverend Raven and the Chain Smokin' Altar Boys, at The Establishment, 220 19 th Street, Rock Island, IL.  The show will take place on Sunday, June 26, 2016, at 6:00 p.m.  The cost to see this performance will be $10 if you are a Mississippi Valley Blues Society member, or $12 if you have not yet joined the Blues Society (applications will be available at the door).
"Hard-driving, passionate blues" is how Raven describes the sound of his group. "I'd like to say '50s and '60s inspired Chicago blues, and I've had bands and been in bands where we've done that, but we're really not like that. We try and present our music like what I saw back in the early '70s when I went to the clubs in Chicago to see these great blues bands. They were there to entertain you and make you have a great experience so you'd come back and drink more. So that's what we try and do."
Born and raised on south side of Chicago, the Reverend has been playing the blues since 1971 when he first saw Freddy King play at the Kinetic Theatre in Chicago. After a 15 year hitch in the Navy, he moved to Milwaukee where he began a long friendship and collaboration with Madison Slim, long time harmonica player for Jimmy Rogers. Since 1990 he has opened for B.B King, Gatemouth Brown, Pinetop Perkins, Koko Taylor Band, Junior Wells, Billy Branch, Magic Slim, Elvin Bishop, Sugar Blue, Lonnie Brooks, William Clarke, Lefty Dizz, and numerous others at festivals and at Buddy Guy's Legends.
Reverend Raven and Chain Smokin' Altar Boys were chosen by the Wisconsin Music Industry (WAMI) for best blues band in 1999, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2010, and again in 2015. They also received the People's Choice Award in 2006, 2008 and 2010. The band has played in the Quad Cities several times since their 2013 appearance at the Mississippi Valley Blues Festival, but this will be a first-time show at The Establishment, Rock Island, IL.  The Establishment features a large dance floor, state of the art sound system, and plenty of seating.


The Mississippi Valley Blues Society is pleased to announce the completed line-up of their 2016 Blues Festival, as well as "BluesKool" artists, and a new feature that will enhance the experience for all attendees.

This will be the Blues Festival's 31st year in the Quad Cities, and Blues Music fans will enjoy hours of back-to-back performances on the "Bandshell" stage in LeClaire Park, Davenport, IA.  Gates open at 4:00 PM on Friday, July 1, and music starts  at 5:00 PM. On Saturday, July 2, gates open at 12:30 PM, and music begins at 1:30 PM. The line-up for this year's Festival features music from the genre's hottest new hit-makers and local favorites each day until approximately 12:30 AM.
"LeClaire Park has always been a fan favorite, and with bringing the festival back to life this year after taking a year hiatus, we are pleased that we can offer this event back on the Mississippi River," said Steve Heston, MVBS President.
Artists performing on the Bandshell Stage on Friday, July 1:
5:00 p.m.      Frankie Fontagne & the Ramblers
7:00 p.m.      Toronzo Cannon
9:00 p.m.      Tweed Funk
11:00 p.m.    Shawn Holt & the Teardrops
Artists performing on the Bandshell Stage on Saturday, July 2:
1:30 p.m.      Juliana & A Soul Purpose Band
3:00 p.m.      Shane Johnson's Blue Train
5:00 p.m.      Ellis Kell Band
7:00 p.m.      Laura Rain & The Caesars
9:00 p.m.      Jim Suhler & Monkey Beat
11:00 p.m.    The Cash Box Kings
The 2016 Blues Festival is also a place to bring the whole family. Included in the Festival footprint is the "BlueSKool" space, where attendees of all ages can experience the dramatic balance of Blues education and entertainment. "BlueSKool" will offer fun for everyone and are easily accessed within the Festival grounds.
Performing in the BluesSKools area on Saturday, July 2:
1:30 p.m.      Kevin "B.F." Burt
2:45 p.m.      Winter Blues All-Stars
4:00 p.m.      David Berntson
"We consistently seek to improve the experience for fans at MVBS Blues Festival. This year's festival will feature our wealth of local Blues talent, and we are adding a "Local Scene" stage inside the beverage tent," said Ric Burris, Co-chair of the Festival. The "Local Scene" stage will be comprised of bands that are donating their time to play 30-minute sets between each "Bandshell" performance.
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As you will see from the article above, the Mississippi Valley Blues Society has decided to have a 2016 Blues Festival, come rain, flood, sleet, or snow.
BUT YOUR HELP IS STILL NEEDED!
Funds raised will be used to help pay for Fest expenses, but also to continue our Blues in the School experience at the Fest for our future Blues musicians. 
Please consider a donation of any size to help us "Keep the Blues Alive".
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Click here to donate






Mississippi Valley Blues Society |  563-322-5837 |   mvbs@mvbs.org | www.mvbs.org