The Telluride Acoustic Blues Competition takes place at the Telluride Blues & Brews Festival in beautiful Telluride, Colorado. The competition is seeking the most talented musicians who excel in the blues genre and is open to solo acoustic performers who are not signed to a record label or publishing deal.
The top six entries will be invited to play off at the festival's "Blues For Breakfast", held at the Elks Lodge from 9AM - NOON on Saturday, September 18. The winner of the competition will perform on the main stage later that afternoon.
Competitors will perform two songs (original or blues standard) and will be judged on the quality of the overall live performance, including instrument, vocals, and presentation. In addition, each competitor will be asked to perform a blues standard selected by the judges (you will be notified of which song in advance, so there will be plenty of time to practice and put your own unique signature on it!)
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Competition Submissions
The deadline for submissions is August 7, 2010. There is a $10 submission fee.
Please note: Competitors cannot be signed to a record label or publishing deal. No bands or back-up musicians allowed - this is a solo competition. Although non-solo demos will be reviewed, artists who submit solo demos will be given priority consideration.
Submit your demo online thru Sonicbids
Submit via mail: submit a CD of your demo and a check for $10 (payable to Telluride Blues & Brews Festival) to:
Telluride Acoustic Blues Competition
P.O. Box 2966
Telluride, CO 81435
Be sure to include your mailing address, phone number, email, and a short bio with your demo. Submissions must be postmarked by August 7, 2010 to be eligible.
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Competition Prizes
The winner of the Telluride Acoustic Blues Competition will be awarded a Gibson Acoustic guitar, $300, and a main stage performance on Saturday. The runner-up will receive a Godin guitar and $200. All six competitors will receive a Telluride Blues & Brews Festival T-Shirt, a 3-Day Pass to the Telluride Blues & Brews Festival, and a $25 gift certificate to Telluride Music Company.
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Telluride Acoustic Blues Competition Guidelines:
- On the Saturday of the Blues Festival in Telluride, each finalist will be required to be present to perform 3 songs at Elk's Lodge.
- Two (2) of the songs must be either original blues or blues standards (your choice). And the third (3rd) song will be a blues standard, to be determined by the judges. In the recent years, they have chosen standards such as; Sweet Home Chicago, Thrill is Gone, Crossroads, and Born Under a Bad Sign.
- If you are chosen to be a finalist, you will be notified of the standard blues selection the same day you are notified of becoming a finalist. You will have 2-3 weeks to learn the required song.
- Recommended time limit for each song: 5 minutes
- Acoustic guitars or instruments with pickups ARE permitted, only for amplification.
- No loop machines allowed.
- No electric guitars allowed. If you need electricity beyond microphones and amplification for the crowd, you are not an acoustic act.
- No back-up musicians allowed.
- All finalists must be of amateur level, with no recording contracts, publishing contracts, or endorsements.
- All entries must be received or postmarked by August 7th, 2010, accompanied by a $10.00 submission fee.
- This competition accepts blues guitarists and/or vocalists, and any other acoustic blues instrumentalists.
- Please DO NOT submit band demos, as the judges do not know who to listen for, or how you will sound as a solo competitor. PLEASE submit clean simple recordings of one person playing 1 or 2 songs, either by CD, tape, or electronically online at www.sonicbids.com.
- For more information or questions, please email the Competition Director- Valerie James, at MusicByValerie@gmail.com
If You Are Chosen As A Finalist You:
- Receive One (1) three-day admission pass to the festival to be picked up at will-call under your name. Sorry, no 'significant other' discounts or extra tickets are given.
- Receive One (1) a $25 gift certificate to the Telluride Music Company.
- Must find your own accommodations in Telluride and make travel arrangements to be at the competition on Saturday, at 9 am. Please check the tellurideblues.com website for a list of lodging and camping facilities.
- Will have a great time in Telluride at the Blues and Brews Festival!
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Tips from the Judges:
- Music competitions are a test of nerve as much as skill. Your ability to perform elegantly under pressure goes with the territory.
- Perform material of the same level as your playing ability. It's better to play something easier in a tasteful and clean manner with a good feel and not get “way over your head”. Judges may mark you down for this.
- Judges may confer to ensure fairness and consistency in the rating process.
- The contestant order will be randomly assigned at the contest site prior to the start of the competition.
- The winner and runner-up will be awarded their prizes on the festival main stage on Saturday. All other prizes will be awarded following the competition.
- Contestants will be judged on the following categories including but not limited to:
1. Quality of overall Live Performance
2. Quality of overall Vocal and Instrumental Delivery (includes vocal quality, pitch, even tempo, etc…)
3. Interpretive Quality of Assigned Standard Blues song (depth, insight, arrangement, overall feel, etc…)
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CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR PAST COMPETITION WINNERS:
2009
Winner: Dana Hubbard
Runner-up: Jay Morton
2008
Winner: Neil Bradley Owen
Runner-up: Joe Humble
2007
Winner: Colin Lake
Runner-up: Nigel Egg
2006
Winner: David Mowry
Runner-up: Pete Kartsounes
2005
Winner: Renee Safier
Runner-up: Pete Kartsounes
2004
Winner: Dan Walker
Runner-up: Kraig Kenning
2003
Steve Reynolds
2002
Col. "Blind-Dog" Gatewood
2001
John-Alex Mason
2000
Alex Maryol - 2nd Place
The Telluride Acoustic Blues Competition is
presented by the Telluride Blues Society
Competition Director Valerie Brazis presents
2006 winner David Mowry with the grand prize -
a Gibson acoustic guitar. Photo: Dino Perrucci
2005 Telluride Acoustic Blues Competition
Winner Renee Safier and 2nd place winner
Pete Kartsounes.
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