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By A.M. WERTZ
Sun-Gazette Correspondent
It has an annual draw of about 2,500 guests, depending on the weather, but before blues fans can pack the field at the Hughesville Fairgrounds, organizers of the popular Billtown Blues Festival must first create a stellar lineup.
Beginning at 3 p.m. on March 24, the 26th annual Billtown Blues Challenge will be held at the Genetti Hotel Grand Ballroom, 200 W. Fourth St., where local and regional musicians will compete for a coveted spot on the Billtown Blues Association festival stage, performing alongside national and international acts. Winners later will become eligible to travel to Memphis to the International Blues Challenge the following January.
Competitors will have the opportunity to take the stage with Tas Cru and his Band of Tortured Souls (Albany, N.Y.), Ray Fuller and the Blues Rockers (Columbus, Ohio), Dawn Tyler Watson (Montreal, Canada), JW-Jones (Ottawa, Canada), Rory Block (New York City), C.J. Chenier (East Texas), and John Primer (Detroit).
"We started doing the audition concerts 26 years ago in order to give any of the local working blues artists who were interested an opportunity to have a paid performance on the festival stage," said Bonnie Tallman, executive director and secretary. "We felt it was more fair than for us to just pick one or two from so many wonderful musicians in the area."
The format will remain the same as in past years, with judges drawn from the BBA current membership. All members are eligible to receive a ballot and participate in the judging process, as long as ballots are obtained prior to the first note of the event.
"This way, our BBA 'members' in good standing receive a ballot and actually, through the judging process, determine who will get the opportunity for the festival stage," she said.
According to Tallman, judges base their results on blues content of the material played; vocal quality; instrumental quality; originality of the material played (either their own compositions or a unique rendition of a standard; and stage presence -- to what degree the artist engages the audience.
A few years after the annual competition began, the BBA became an affiliated member of the National Blues Foundation, Memphis, which made the Association eligible to send a solo/duo artist and a band act to the International Blues Challenge.
This year, judges will send two acts to the stage out of three solo/duo performers and five bands.
With more than 250 acts from all over the world involved on the international stage, Tallman said the Blues Foundation has set forth very stringent rules in order to make the competition as fair as possible for all performers.
"We conform as closely as possible with our own 'challenge' in order that our winners, should they decide to go to Memphis, are somewhat familiar already with the process," Tallman said. "Also, it is important to know that both locally and in Memphis, the bands are judged against the scores exclusively and not their competing musicians -- the ballots are turned in immediately after each performance so no scores can be adjusted after the respective performance."
Guitarist, singer and songwriter David Chubirka, Uptown Music Collective student, will open the concert at 3:30 p.m.
Although she has no personal favorites, Tallman said each of the performers are "great players and everyone present will be thoroughly entertained." What often decides the winner, she added, is how closely they stick to the blues art form and how well they connect with the audience and, especially, the judges.
"I am excited to experience the participants who are coming for the first time," she said. "They are The JP Williams Blues Band from Wilkes-Barre, the Benjamin Vo Blues Band from Lititz, and the Backyard Ponies from the Lewisburg area." Chris LaRose, of Lock Haven, and Gage Avery, of Hughesville, also will compete.
Gabe Stillman has participated and won in the band category in the past, as has Doug McMinn, who is playing with Natascha and the Spy Boys, Tallman said. Both musicians and their respective bands have gone on to Memphis and competed in the International Blues Challenge. Chris Trasatti, with the Backyard Ponies, and John Sweeney, with the SOS Blue Duo, also have participated in the past.
This year's Billtown Blues Festival is set for Sunday, June 10. The biggest change, Tallman said, is that they are eliminating the acoustic tent and all performers -- solo, duo, acoustic and bands -- will be on the main stage.
"We are adding some additional tenting for those wanting more sun protection and we are enlarging the area where people can bring their own small tents or canopies," she said. "Other than that, we are doing what we have always done for 29 years and that is to do our best to provide the best performance opportunity we can for our hired artists and create an environment where our patrons can have a fun, relaxing, blues music-filled day."
For more information, visit www.billtownblues.org or www.facebook.com/billtownblues .
Solo/duo performers
SOS Blues Duo with Sweeney and Sallows
Founded in 2017, the SOS Blues Duo includes John Sweeney on harmonica, guitar and vocals, and Mike Sallow on lead guitar and vocals. Sweeney also plays with Rosencrans and Sweeney, Sweeney Blues Revue, and Hickey and Sweeney, and has performed with the Barn Cats and Ann Kerstetter. He is part of the Destination Blues Festival, which is planning its fifth year, and he provides blues education though the festival's "Backstage Pass to the Blues" program. Sallows has played with the Rockin' Reptiles, who has shared the stage with John Mayall, Big Bill Brony, Big Walter Horton, Buckwheat Zydeco, Buddy Guy, Susan Tedeschi, Johnny Winter and Bo Diddley. He was the president of the Pittsburgh Blues Society and hosted their blues jam for many years.
Gage Avery
Avery was introduced to the blues at a young age, beginning with the Uptown Music Collective's 24-hour Blues-a-Thon. He later began playing hard-driving blues with the Black Strat Blues Company, which took him on a journey to Nashville, Memphis and the crossroads of Clarksdale, Miss. Now, at 18, Avery has gone solo with his blend of originals, traditional blues, fingerstyle and country.
Chris LaRose
LaRose's concerts range from driving blues and upbeat '50s rockabilly to traditional folk, ballads and soulful originals. He has played several shows with Grammy award-winning Native American artist Joanne Shenandoah, both in the states and Europe. Recently returned from a tour in Germany, he credits his father for passing on his love of music. He recently released his second album, "Chris LaRose: Ain't Got Worry," which has been recognized internationally with songs like, "A Grave For My Gun," winner of the 2016 Global Peace Song Awards, and "Pepper Hill," winner of the 2017 Pennsylvania Heritage Songwriting Contest.
Band performers
JP Williams Blues Band
The JP Williams Blues Band, including JP Williams, singer and songwriter, Eddie (The Harp) Czarkowski on harmonica, Gregory Preate on bass and vocals, and Jack Roberts on drums, is enjoying success and performing at many festivals and local nightclubs throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania. The band combines a love of blues, bluegrass and country music.
Gabe Stillman Band
The Gabe Stillman Band is a high-voltage blues trio that electrifies audiences with performances that showcase the band's passion, musical prowess and the joy they take in playing music together. While their sound is unmistakably rooted in the blues, the band plays both original and cover songs that draw deeply from the well of soul, rhythm and blues, funk and New Orleans music. Gabe Stillman leads on guitar and vocals, joined by bassist Colin Beatty, and drummer Jesse Roedts.
Benjamin Vo Blues Band
Benjamin Vo started playing guitar when he was just 10 years old. The singer is joined by Mark Nennessey on bass, Mike Titzer on keys and Joel Stoltzfus on drums. Together, they are driven by classical training, New Orleans sounds, a drumline background and Peter Green's lyrical and poetic guitar phrasing to create a unique blend of original sounds.
Natascha & The Spy Boys
This eclectic mix of blues, jazz, soul, swing and pop includes Natascha Hoffmeyer on vocals, John "JT Blues" Thompson on piano, Robert Gardner on bass, Doug McMinn, seasoned musician, and Stubby Stubbs on drums.
The Backyard Ponies
The Backyard Ponies, comprised of Chris Trasatti on harmonica, Mike Balliet on guitar, Tim Latshaw on bass and Sean Madden on drums, introduces fans to all types of blues, enhancing the traditional talents of each member with various songs, including some original music. They like to play a good mix of well-known blues like "Whipping Post" and "The Thrill is Gone," along with lesser-known tunes that deserve to be heard.