Monday, May 1, 2025 Entries open online

Friday, May 23, 2025 Entries close

Sunday June 1, 2025 J2M Competition at Mekong Bistro (Time TBD) 

Saturday, July 5, 2025 Finals at Waterfront Blues Festival IBC Afternoon Cruise

January 13-17, 2026 International Blues Challenge in Memphis

The CBA has a long history of sending a Band and a Solo/Duo Act to the International Blues Challenge (IBC) held in Memphis January 2026. The Journey to Memphis Challenge is how we choose the competitors. A Youth Act is also selected to attend but will not compete at the IBC.

About the International Blues Challenge

The International Blues Challenge represents the worldwide search for blues bands and solo/duo blues performers ready for the international stage, yet just needing that extra break. The world’s largest gathering of blues musicians will take place on Beale Street, with over 20 clubs hosting the challengers and fans January 13-17, 2026. In addition to featuring these final rounds of the prestigious blues music competition, the IBC event week will offer seminars, showcases, master classes, film screenings, networking events, book signings, and receptions for blues societies, fans, and professionals.
Learn more at: blues.org/international-blues-challenge/

To qualify for the CBA Journey to Memphis (J2M) Challenge:

  • At least one member of each act must be a member of Cascade Blues Association. Entry is open to all Oregon residents and any Washington residents who live within 100 miles of the city of Portland.
  • Any act or member of an act that has been nominated for or received a Blues Music Awards from The Blues Foundation is ineligible to compete.
  • Any act that has competed in the International Blues Challenge for two consecutive years, regardless whether with the same society, must sit out a year before being allowed to compete again. Acts can only participate three times in Memphis (acts competing previous to 2017 receive grandfather status and may compete three times starting from 2017).

How to enter:

You Must Complete All Three Steps Before May 23 to qualify.
Entries open Thursday, May 1, until spots are filled, so get in early. 

1. Complete the entry form
(make sure to gather the following information in order to complete the entry form)

  • Cascade Blues Association Member Number (at least one member of your act must be a member-if you don’t have your number, insert the full name of the band member who does have a membership)
  • Name of Act that you will be using to perform if you compete in Memphis.
  • Full name of each band member and the instrument each person plays. (You will need to indicate if any member is under 21 years of age)
  • 150 word description of the act
  • Stage plot

CLICK HERE FOR ENTRY FORM

2. Pay Entry Fee. You will receive an email with a link to make your payment once the entry has been reviewed.

                      $50 for band
                      $35 for solo/duo 

3. Send a 300 dpi JPG photo of your act to J2M@cascadeblues.org

J2M Challenge Logistics:

  • As soon as your Entry has been approved by the CBA you will receive notification via email. The CBA reserves the right to announce the participants at any time.
  • J2M Judges will use the same scoring system used by the International Blues Challenge.
  • Each act will perform a 20-minute set.
  • Just like at the IBC, there will be a 10-minute changeover time between acts and you may receive a scoring penalty if you take too much time to clear the stage for the next band.
  • Bass and drums must use a backline provided by the venue. Other instrumentalists can use their own amplifiers at Mekong Bistro, but must use the provided backline at Waterfront Blues Festival.

Please read all FAQs

How does the IBC distinguish between Band, Solo/Duo and Youth?

A band is any group with three or more musicians.  A solo/duo has no more than two musicians. Both electric and acoustic instruments are allowed in either category, and vocalists are counted as musicians for the purpose of this competition. A Youth participant is any group in which all performing members are under the age of 21 at the time of the International Blues Challenge.

Do Youth Compete at the International Blues Challenge?
No. Youth musician(s) will be selected to perform during the Youth Showcase but will not compete.  

Who pays for the finalists and youth representatives to attend the IBC?
All finalists who will compete at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis will be responsible for all costs associated. The Cascade Blues Association will host several fundraising events to help underwrite the costs however the CBA does not guarantee any specific amounts. All proceeds from any J2M fundraising event will be split evenly by the number of competitors. 

Youth attendees are responsible for all costs associated with attending the International Blues Challenge in Memphis. The Cascade Blues Association will help promote fundraising efforts by youth participants but cannot guarantee any specific amount of support.

Important note about competing:

We do not prevent acts competing with the Cascade Blues Association from doing so with other societies. If you win another group’s competition before ours is held, you agree to remove yourself from the CBA competition to allow other acts the chance to win the right to go to Memphis.

If you have any questions please send an email to J2M@cascadeblues.org