Feb 2012

2nd Place win at 2012 International Blues Challenge

Blues duo, Dr. Don’s Double Dose, return to Sydney after their second place win at this years International Blues Challenge put on by the Blues Foundation in Memphis, Tennessee.

In January this year, Sydney blues duo, Dr. Don’s DoubleDose, travelled to the southern states of the USA to be part of the International Blues Challenge in Memphis. They made it to 2nd place which is unusual, they were told, for first time participants at this event.

There were some really great blues acts we were competing against from the USA and the world, 85 in all for our category. We enjoyed listening and getting to know some of them. Check out www.blues.org for more info and also Fred Delforge who travelled to Memphis with France Blues for a photographic record of the Challenge in Memphis: http://tinyurl.com/6mzs8uc
and more pics here: http://vividpix.com/temp/2012ibc/

I can recommend this 4 day event to any blues music fan.
Ray Bonneville from Ozark Blues Society of Northwest Arkansas won 1st place. He performed in Australia in November, 2011.

The week before the International Blues Challenge, Double Dose were able to perform at the Nashville Blues Society’s Sunday Blues Jam. This was held at a funky joint called Carol Anne's Home Cooking Cafe.The standard of music was very high and gave Rob and Don an opportunity to warm up for the challenge ahead.

While in Memphis, Dr. Don’s Double Dose laid down some tracks at a session at the famous Ardent Studios. Some of these will no doubt appear on their next CD which will be released later in 2012.

After the event, Rob and Don continued their travels to New Orleans were they enjoyed listening to many great jazz, funk and blues performances in that historic city. A stand out event was a Mardi Gras Indian warm up session at the Ogden Gallery of Southern Art. Big Chief Monk Boudreaux led the 101 Runners in this exciting and informal session.

Many thanks to the Sydney Blues Society for being part of this great event and helping us get there. And thanks to all those who gave their financial support and to those who were barracking for us back home. Most of all it was great to finally be on Beal St. in Memphis, and perform at the original centre for blues music, the music that I’ve been playing and loving since my teens. www.sydneyblues.org

Don and Rob are looking forward to continuing writing and recording their next CD and are back performing in Australia mainly in and around Sydney. They will be at the Kiama Jazz Festival on the 2nd weekend in March as well as Bathurst Panthers on the 24th of March.