Blues lovers… The Orange County Blues Society (OCBS) is pleased to announce they have teamed up with the New Blues Festival to put on the 6-String Showdown, the most ambitious, exciting guitar competition of its kind this Summer in Southern California.

Created by musicians for musicians, 6 String Showdown isn’t a battle of the bands, it’s a summer series of regional head to head skill competitions to crown Southern California’s all-around best blues guitar player on the Main Stage of the New Blues Festival this Labor Day weekend.

Bracket rounds to determine regional winners will be held at:

• Campus Jax, Newport Beach, CA, Saturday, July 21, 2018, 3 PM- 11 PM.
• Harvelle’s, Long Beach, CA, Sunday, July 29 from 3 PM- 11 PM
• Arcadia Blues Club, Arcadia, CA, Saturday, August 4, 6 PM-midnight
• Paladino’s, Tarzana CA, Saturday August 11 4 PM- 1:30 AM

Four regional winners will face off on the Golden Groove stage at the New Blues Festival on Saturday, September 1 to determine the two finalists.

Two finalists will face off on Sunday, September 2 on the Main Stage of the 2018 New Blues Festival to crown the winner.

An impartial house band (drums and bass) will be provided at all events.

Judging to be based on skill, not speed. Judges will be looking for tasty licks played with feeling. Phrasing. Personal expression. Tone. Timing. Dynamics. Reflection. Solos that tell a story.

“I’m judging at Harvelle’s, and I’ll tell you how to get the best marks from me: Play the blues!” says Bernie Pearl, our Chief Judge at the Long Beach regionals. “Blues content catches my ear, more than shredding, showmanship, originality. I have no idea what (anyone else’s) standards will be, but mine is now public. Have fun and play them bluezes.”

Other regional judges include Artur Menezes, Joey Delgado, Kenny Big Daddy Williams, Johnny Main, Oklahoma Ollie, Mark Sells, Steve Artea, Diana Rein, Betty Rose, KK Martin, and Lightnin’ Willie. With Gregg Wright and Ray Goren as Chief Judges at the Finals.

Each contestant in 6 String Showdown will receive professional publicity photos, a personalized page on the 6 String Showdown website, and professional video for your own promotional use.

One winning guitarist will walk off with over $5,000 in cash and prizes and a paid spot on the Main Stage of the New Blues Festival 2019.

It is our hope this event will provide ALL MUSICIANS the opportunity to trade licks with blues guitarists they might not otherwise encounter and in the process share the camaraderie of the blues and work toward building and preserving our blues community.

This is your chance to prove all that practice does pay off.

Spots are filling up quickly. Sign up here.

Yours in the blues,

Papa J

President

Orange County Blues Society