Every year, the Dutch Blues Foundation organizes a Dutch Blues Challenge (DBC) in which blues bands, duos and solo artists take up the challenge to show and hear why they belong on a renowned stage and which of them can participate on behalf of the Netherlands in the International Blues Challenge (IBC) in Memphis (USA) in January 2018. The band can also participate in the European Blues Challenge in March 2018 in Norway.
Preliminary rounds and final
Just like last year, in 2017 four preliminary rounds will take place on blue stages, spread across the Netherlands. In this way, more blues musicians get the chance to present themselves to a wider audience. At the beginning of this year, thirty-nine bands registered, of which twenty-three were selected for one of the four preliminary rounds in Gorcum, Venlo, Hoofddorp and Hoogeveen. From each preliminary round, the two blues acts with the highest-rated score on blues content, musical talent, originality and appearance will advance to the final on October 8 in Nieuw-Vennep.
Preliminary round Hoogeveen
The preliminary round in Hoogeveen will take place on Sunday afternoon, May 21, 2017 in “HET PODIUM”, Schutstraat 43. The organization in Hoogeveen has been established in very close and pleasant collaboration with Whitemoore Projects from Hoogeveen. A club of very enthusiastic blues lovers from Hoogeveen and the surrounding area who regularly transform Het Podium into a true Blueswalhalla, including a cozy 'Bluescafe'. The hall is open from 14.00 p.m., the bands play from 15.00 p.m. Each band plays 20 minutes, a wonderful opportunity to see and hear five good blues bands within a few hours. Afterwards, the jury will announce which two are most suitable for the final.
five bands
The five bands that present themselves in Hoogeveen are:
- Easterfield from Drenthe
- Funhouse Bluesband from Twente
- GG and the Cruisers from Drenthe
- The Kid Lazy Band from South Holland
- Uncle Jimmy from North Holland
Tickets can be ordered via the website of the Dutch Blues Foundation: dutchbluesfoundation.nl/dutch-blues-challenge/tickets
