Your Guide to the Journey to Memphis

From Portland to Beale Street — the Pacific Northwest’s blues pipeline to the world

Every year, the Cascade Blues Association (CBA) opens the door to something bigger than a competition. The Journey to Memphis (J2M) is a launchpad — a chance for artists to step onto an international stage, for fans to fuel that journey, and for a community to rally around the music that connects it all.

Whether you’re a musician, a supporter, or someone looking to get involved, here’s how the journey unfolds.

For Competing Artists

Big dreams. Raw talent. Real blues. This is your shot.

Step 1 — Join the CBA

To compete, at least one member of your act must be a Cascade Blues Association member. Membership opens the door to J2M and helps support the artists who ultimately represent our region on an international stage.

Step 2 — Check Your Eligibility

J2M is open to Oregon residents and Washington residents within 250 miles of Portland. There are a few additional guidelines:

Acts affiliated with Blues Music Award nominees or winners are not eligible
Artists who have competed in the International Blues Challenge (IBC) for two consecutive years must sit out a year
Acts may compete in Memphis a maximum of three times
If you win another blues society’s competition before CBA’s event, you’ll need to withdraw
Click the following link to read the International Blues Challenge Rules & Guidelines for local affiliated Blues Society/Associations Challenges.

Step 3 — Submit Your Entry (Early May)

Get in early — spots fill fast and the road to Memphis won’t wait.
Entries typically open May 1 and remain open until capacity is reached. To qualify:

Complete the entry form (with your CBA member number)
Pay entry fee: $55 for Bands or $35 for Solo/Duo
Submit a high-quality photo (300 dpi JPG)

Keep an eye on the CBA website for exact dates and details.

Step 4 — Know the Format

J2M mirrors the International Blues Challenge structure:

20-minute performance sets
10-minute changeovers (time limits matter — penalties apply)
Backline provided for bass and drums
Bands = 3+ musicians; Solo/Duo = 1–2 performers

Step 5 — Compete in Round One (Early June)

Perform like Memphis is watching — because the road starts here.
The first round showcases the region’s talent, all competing for a chance to advance.

Step 6 — Win the Finals

One stage. One shot. Beale Street or bust.
Finals take place aboard the Cruisin’ to Memphis Blues Cruise during the Waterfront Blues Festival. Bands and solo/duo acts compete on separate decks, and one winner from each category earns the honor of representing the CBA.

Step 7 — Head to Memphis (January)

Winners move on to the International Blues Challenge — the largest gathering of blues musicians in the world. Held on Beale Street, the IBC features performances across 20+ venues, along with workshops, networking events, and showcases that bring the global blues community together.

Keep scrolling for the Official Rules & Scoring Criteria.

J2M Schedule

Journey to Memphis Competition
Sunday, June 7 2026

Journey to Memphis Final Competition
Friday, July 3 2026

International Blues Challenge
January 2027 Dates TBD

CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE COMPETITION

For Fans & Supporters

You’re not just buying a ticket — you’re helping send a musician to Memphis.

Attend the Competition

Catch the early rounds and discover your new favorite artists. Performances typically begin in the afternoon.

Experience the Finals

The finals cruise is more than a show — it’s an experience. Live blues across multiple decks, a competitive edge in the air, and the Willamette River rolling by as the soundtrack plays on.

Support the Fundraisers

Raffles, live music, and the warm glow of keeping the blues alive.
Every ticket, raffle entry, and auction bid helps cover travel costs for the artists heading to Memphis.

Donate

Can’t attend? You can still contribute directly through the CBA. Donations — including items for raffles and auctions — help make the journey possible.

For Volunteers

The blues runs on heart, hustle, and people like you.

The Cascade Blues Association is powered by volunteers. From writing and social media to event support and logistics, there are countless ways to contribute your time and talent.

For Youth Artists

The future of the blues is in good hands — maybe yours.

Youth musicians have their own path to Memphis through a separate competition held later in the year. Selected acts attend the IBC and perform in the Youth Showcase, representing the next generation of blues artists.

Stay Connected

Website: cascadeblues.org
Competition Questions: J2M@cascadeblues.org
Donations & Volunteering: CBAstaff@cascadeblues.org

This isn’t just a competition.
It’s a year-long journey powered by musicians chasing something bigger, volunteers giving their time, and a community that refuses to let the blues fade quietly into the background.

It starts here. And if you’re paying attention, you can feel it —
that low hum before the first note,
that spark before the spotlight hits.

Memphis is calling.

OFFICIAL RULES & SCORING CRITERIA

IBC judges are Blues professionals and aficionados with a deep understanding and historical perspective of all blues forms. Any given three-judge panel will include members with varying opinions of Blues, covering the spectrum of Blues from the most traditional to soul/blues and rock/blues.

Scoring Categories and Definitions

Blues Content: The sound and feel of the music should be true to any of blues sub-categories: traditional blues, country blues, soul blues, blues rock and/or contemporary blues. Judges will be listening for inspired and original song selections or new takes on blues standards. Creative reach is encouraged.

Originality: Original work is encouraged. Cover tunes are allowed but playing the recorded rendition lick by lick is discouraged, will not be looked upon favorably by the judges, and will be reflected in scoring.

Acts must indicate if their songs are their own original material (this can be done at the start of the set or before each song as appropriate) and/or identify the covers that they are playing and acknowledge the originator.

Vocals: The act’s vocal skills to include concepts of tone, musicality, meaning, and expression.

Instrumental Talent: Ability level on all instruments featured within the act.

Stage Presence: The ability to command the attention of the audience by the impressiveness of one’s manner and appearance on stage. Judges will consider how an act connects with and engages the audience in the music. Proper use of microphones and amplification will be considered.

SCORING SYSTEM FOR JUDGES

Each judge will indicate his or her Raw Score, between 1 and 10, in each category and turn that information over to the Scorekeeper using the following scale:

1-3 – Typical of a beginning blues band
4-5 – Typical of a local weekend band
6-7 – Typical of an advanced local band but not yet ready to headline a major blues club
8-9 – Typical of the quality of blues artists who headline major clubs
10 – Typical of those who play the main stage at major festivals2. The Scorekeeper will multiply the Raw Score in each category by the established multiplier to get each judge’s Individual Weighted Score in each category for each act

Basic Scoring Calculation

Judges will score acts on a 10 point scale, with 10 points being the highest score received and 1 point being the lowest. The following weights will be used in calculating final scores:

Raw scores for Blues Content will be multiplied by four
Raw scores for Originality will be multiplied by three
Raw scores for Talent and for Vocals will be multiplied by two
Raw scores for Stage Presence will be multiplied by two

The maximum Total Weighted Score an act may receive is 130.

Penalty Points

An act will be penalized one point from its Total Weighted Score for each of the following:

Missing the online application deadline or not completing online application steps completely or accurately by the deadline.
Missing act check-in or act registration.
Excessive time loading-in before and/or loading out after a competition performance
Failing to acknowledge that a song is a cover and/or not giving credit to its originator
Each ten seconds that it runs overtime during a competition performance.
Finishing 3 or more minutes before its allotted performance time expires.
Showing up late and/or not being ready to perform on time at the Finals