German and Baltic Blues Challenge 2009

The last weekend of October 2009 saw the first German and Baltic Blues Challenge held in Eutin, Germany (approx 100km north of Hamburg). 

With ten bands and eight solo/duo acts taking part in this ground breaking competition, around about 800 spectators from several North European countries provided an appropriate setting for those two days with its worldwide first pre-competition to the International Blues Challenge, in Memphis in January 2010.

The judging was carried out by international panels on both days that included Thomas Ruf from Ruf Rrecords and representatives from Belgium, Finland, France, Gremany, Normay, Poland, Sweden and Switzerland.

The winners of the two days of competition were

German Blues Challenge
Solo/Duo:  Georg Schroeter & Marc Breitfelder (Germany)
Band: Hootin´ The Blues (Germany)

Baltic Blues Challenge
Solo/Duo: Steve Grahn & Mattias Malm (Sweden)*
Band: Latvian Blues Band (Latvia)

*Because Georg Schroeter & Marc Breitfelder have won the German Challenge automatically the second placed Steve Grahn & Mattias Malm were sent to Memphis.

The Baltic Blues Association wants to thank all musicians for fascinating days with blues of highest international level!

We also want to say thank you for the high professional work of the Jury.

Last but not least we want to thank all helpers, donators and a really fantastic audience! 

MySpace Links to winning acts

Georg Schroeter & Marc Breitfelder
Hootin' The Blues
Steve Grahn & Mattias Malm
Latvian Blues Band

Also going to the IBC from France are Philippe Menard and Bo Weavil who are going to Memphis on behalf of the Blues-sur-Seine Society. Blues-sur-Seine have also entered Mountain Men with their CD Springtime Coming in the Best Self Produced CD category.

So best of luck to all the enterants from Europe and hoping that they do well at the IBC in Memphis at the end of January 2010.