UK Blues Challenge

Each year, the UK Blues Federation organises the UK Blues Challenge to choose a band or artist to represent the UK at the annual International Blues Challenge organised by the Blues Foundation and at the annual European Blues Challenge organised by the European Blues Union.

In just a few years the UK Blues Challenge has become a major event in the UK blues calendar and enjoys a stature that is growing exponentially. In keeping with our ethos of being a pan-UK organisation, the Challenge location moves around the UK and past Challenges have been held at the Boom Boom Club in Sutton (twice), the Robin 2 in Bilston, The Cavern Club in Liverpool, Worthing Pier’s Southern Pavilion, Bluefunk Rhythm & The Blues Club in Poynton, St Paul’s Church Weston-super-Mare and The Marshall Studios.

The 2023 UK Blues Challenge is complete!

Read all about how it went right here:

The winners of two previous UK Blues Challenges have gone on to win the European Blues Challenge.

“It’s impossible to say how much taking part in the UK Blues Challenge has propelled our career and contributed to such a successful time for us. It has helped us to bring our music to new audiences, gaining new fans and gigging opportunities all over the UK and worldwide. I can’t thank the UK Blues Federation enough for all the work they put into the Challenges and keeping UK Blues alive and kicking.”

Kyla Brox

UK Blues Challenge winner 2018
European Blues Challenge winner 2019

But simply taking part in the UKBlues Challenge is something which bands see as a real career boost:

“The Blues Challenge was a great opportunity for us to play some fantastic venues with some amazing bands. To think this little band from the Essex Delta would play on Beale Street is a dream come true!”

Joel Fisk

LaVendore Rogue
UK Blues Challenge winner 2017

‘Being selected to take part in the UK Blues Challenge is first and foremost an honour, we were humbled to be asked. If you happen to win as we did it becomes a delicious opportunity to reach a wider audience and it gave us even more cause to feel really positive about the music we make – all the while backed by the very supportive UKBlues Federation. Get stuck in, it’s totally worth it’

Steve Ferbrache

The Achievers
UK Blues Challenge winner 2019

The Blues Foundation

The Blues Foundation is based in Memphis and was founded in 1980 and currently has over 4000 members made up of individuals and organisations from all over the world.

In 1984, the Blues Foundation founders started a competition to help nurture up and coming blues artists mainly from the locality but now it has grown into what is the largest blues competition in the world, renamed the International Blues Challenge in 1995.

Hundreds of blues societies from around the world have affiliated with the Foundation, and many annually sponsor bands, solo/duo artists, and youth showcase participants as IBC competitors after hosting their own local live challenges.

What began as a few local bands vying for recognition now attracts over 225 blues acts each year usually in January and they get the opportunity to perform on Beale Street in front of some big name judges from the American blues world. Winners can take home cash prizes, bookings, equipment and sometimes a recording deal. Importantly though, they gain recognition as a rising blues band or artist and many of today’s recognised blues artists got their breaks in the music world after appearing at this challenge.

European Blues Union Logo

The European Blues Union was born in June 2010 being officially unveiled at the 3rd European Blues Conference in Hondarribia, Spain. The organisation’s first public project was also announced then: a European band competition to take place in Berlin in March 2011. The first European Blues Challenge (EBC).

The EBU currently has members from 26 countries including the UK and is run by a Board of 11 volunteer, non-paid members from 10 different European countries, chaired by Davide Grandi of Italy’s internationally renowned blues magazine, Il Blues.

The EBU’s main aim is to bring together blues representatives and enthusiasts throughout Europe who are interested in supporting and promoting the work of the EBU and, therefore, the blues in and from Europe. An ultimate goal is the establishment of a permanent office to handle the Union’s work professionally, to coordinate activities, take charge of communication and organize EBU events.

The UK Blues Federation has been an Active Member of the EBU since 2015. It is appointed by the EBU to run the annual selection process to find an act to represent the UK at the European Blues Challenge. This they do by running the UK Blues Challenge.

 In addition to the European Blues Challenge the EBU also runs an annual Blues Behind the Scenes awards scheme as well as a Blues for Youth scheme which sees assistance being given to under 25 year olds to attend blues schools in Norway and the USA.

To find out more about the EBU, visit their website – www.europeanbluesunion.com – where you can also join the EBU and help support their work.

2015 UK Blues Challenge

The Boom Boom Club, Sutton, Surrey

  • Brothers Groove
  • Katie Bradley Band
  • Malaya Blue
  • Red Butler (Winners)

2016 UK Blues Challenge

The Robin 2, Bilston, Wolverhampton

  • Dove & Bowevil
  • Kaz Hawkins (Winner)
  • Rebecca Downes
  • Wille & The Bandits

2017 UK Blues Challenge

The Cavern Club, Liverpool

  • Elles Bailey
  • Rainbreakers
  • Robert J Hunter
  • LaVendore Rogue (Winner)
  • Zoe Schwarz Blue Commotion

2018 UK Blues Challenge

Worthing Pier’s Southern Pavilion, Worthing, West Sussex

  • Greg Coulson Band
  • Catfish
  • Kyla Brox Band (Winner)
  • Tom C Walker
  • Carl North & The Lonely Hearts

2019 UK Blues Challenge

Bluefunk Rhythm & Blues Club, Boynton, Cheshire

  • The Achievers (Winner)
  • Crossfire Blues Band
  • Connor Selby
  • Little Triggers
  • Ash Wilson

2022 UK Blues Challenge

St Paul’s Church, Weston-super-Mare

  • Big Wolf Band
  • Brave Rival
  • The Alice Armstrong Band
  • The Cinelli Brothers (Winner)
  • True Strays

2023 UK Blues Challenge

The Marshall Studios, Milton Keynes

  • Jo Carley & The Old Dry Skulls

  • The Errol Linton Band (Winner)

  • The Milk Men

  • The Terraplanes Blues Band

  • Toby Lee Band