April 26, 2017 · Team HG
Every year, the Dutch Blues Foundation organizes a Dutch Blues Challenge (DBC), in which blues bands, duos, and solo artists take on the challenge to show and tell why they belong on a renowned stage, and to determine who among them will represent the Netherlands at the International Blues Challenge (IBC) in Memphis, USA, in January 2018. The band may also participate in the European Blues Challenge in March 2018 in Norway.
Just like last year, four preliminary rounds will take place in 2017 on blues stages spread across the Netherlands. This gives more blues musicians the chance to present themselves to a wider audience. At the beginning of this year, thirty-nine bands registered, of which twenty-three were selected for one of the four preliminary rounds in Gorcum, Venlo, Hoofddorp, and Hoogeveen. From each preliminary round, the two blues acts with the highest scores for blues content, musical talent, originality, and stage presence will advance to the final on October 8 in Nieuw-Vennep.
The preliminary round in Hoogeveen takes place on Sunday afternoon, May 21, 2017, at “HET PODIUM”, Schutstraat 43. The organization in Hoogeveen was established in very close and pleasant cooperation with Whitemoore Projects from Hoogeveen. This is a club of very enthusiastic blues lovers from Hoogeveen and the surrounding area who regularly transform Het Podium into a true Blues Valhalla, complete with a cozy ‘Blues Cafe’. The venue opens at 2:00 PM, and the bands start playing at 3:00 PM. Each band plays for 20 minutes, making it a wonderful opportunity to see and hear five great blues bands within a few hours. Afterwards, the jury will announce which two they deemed most suitable for the final.
The five bands presenting themselves in Hoogeveen are:
Tickets can be ordered via the website of the Dutch Blues Foundation: dutchbluesfoundation.nl/dutch-blues-challenge/tickets
