The Annual Battle of the Blues Bands, November 18, Presented by the Monterey Bay Blues Festival

Monterey, CA. (Top40 Charts/ Monterey Bay Blues Festival) - The Monterey Bay Blues Festival is proud to present its annual band competition, the Battle of the Blues Bands, Sunday November 18, 2007 held at the University Ballroom at California State University Monterey Bay. Blues musicians will compete for performance slots at our 2008 Blues Festival in Monterey, prize money and assistance in going to the International Blues Challenge in Memphis. Additionally, bands will gain public and industry exposure at the Battle of the Blues Bands event.

In 2006, 10 bands played sets of 15 to 20 minutes for a panel of judges, an enthusiastic audience of locals and Monterey Bay Blues Festival staff and board members. The event was professionally video taped and shown repeatedly on Access Monterey Peninsula. Last year's winners were booked to play on the outside stages at the Blues Festival in June and one grand-prize winner was invited to play on the main stage in the Arena.

Local and national blues bands are encouraged to apply for the competition through the Monterey Bay Blues Festival office or by printing the application from the website. The application deadline is October 19, 2007.

Proceeds from the Battle of the Blues Bands event will benefit Monterey Bay Blues Festival's educational programs. The showcase will be open to the public; food and beverages will be available. General Admission tickets will be $10 per person. Advance tickets, hotel information and preliminary event schedule will be available on the website beginning November 1.

The Battle of the Blues Bands is produced by The Monterey Bay Blues Festival, a non-profit organization established to preserve and perpetuate the Blues as an exclusive American art form through public performances by established Blues artists and upcoming talent, and to educate and increase public awareness and appreciation of the Blues as an important contributor to America's rich musical heritage.