"Unique tourism campaign gives UK blues scene the lift of a lifetime New Brunswick Battle of the Blues finds regional crème-de-la-crème for London final"

The Canadian Province of New Brunswick has been looking to the UK to provide new performers for its world-renowned Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival.  The Festival celebrates its 20^th Anniversary in 2011 and for the province’s tourism department this was also a unique opportunity to raise the profile of the Canadian ‘maritime’.  The search for original talent started in October 2010, with an initial entry stage via YouTube.   Six bands were subsequently chosen to battle it out at each of five regional heats in Glasgow, Southampton, Chorley, Billericay and Beeston, Nottingham. 

The finalists went head-to-head at the competition’s London final at the 100 Club in Oxford Street on 29 March and the winning act will be taken to perform at the New Brunswick’s Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival in September.  The five winners of the heats were The Dan Sowerby Band from Salisbury, Chris James from Carlisle, The River Devils from Edinburgh, 24 Pesos from London and Cherry Lee Mewis from Bedford. The sixth and last place in the final was won by Albany Down from Bedford, winners of the public vote for the best runner-up. 

The full list of winners and runners up of the regional heats were:

Midlands heat at The Greyhound, Beeston, nr Notts, on 21^st Jan
Winner: Cherry Lee Mewis from Bedford, runners up: Albany Down from near Bedford and Virgil & the Accelerators from Evesham.

Southern heat at The Concorde Club, Eastleigh, Southampton, on 24^th Jan
Winner: The Dan Sowerby Band from Salisbury, runners up: The Richard Clarke Trio from Camberley and Paint It Blue from Christchurch.

Scottish heat at The Scotia Bar, Stockwell Street, Glasgow, on 25th Jan
Winner: The River Devils from Edinburgh, runners up: The Fortunate Sons from Glasgow and The Bushwackers from County Durham.

South East heat at The New Crawdaddy Blues Club in Billericay, on 27th Jan
Winner: 24 Pesos from London, runners up: Kat and Co, from London and Ben Poole from Barton Le Clay, Bedford.

Northern England heat at BJ’s Blues Club at The Hop Pocket, Chorley, on 29th Jan
Winner: Chris James from Carlisle, runners up: The Revenues from Barnoldswick, Pendle and the Mark Thornley Band from Blackpool.

The lull before the storm .....

..... and the winner is .....

Brent Staeben, Music Director, Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival announcing the winner

 

THE FINAL RESULT: 24 Pesos from London

 
   Below are a selection of photos of the winners and all other five finalists:
 

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Photos of the five other finalists (in order of appearance):
 

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