Kalamazoo’s Cross Roads Blues Band Prepares to Take the World Stage

January 21-23, 2010 Kalamazoo’s Crossroads Blues Band performs at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN. The semi-finals will be held on Thursday and Friday on Beale Street and the Finals will be held at the Orpheum Theater in Memphis, TN

The IBCs are the biggest such competition in the Blues. 111 bands will gather in Memphis this year, with 83 solo/duo artists and the first youth division comprised of 32 acts. Each of these bands have been judged the best from their respective locales from around the world. The winners will be judged to be ready to take the world stage. In addition to bragging rights, the winning band will walk away with valuable prizes including the opportunity to play many of the most prestigious Blues festivals in the world.

According to Steve Allen, former President of the Detroit Blues Society, this is the first time in the history of Michigan’s Blues societies that an almost complete a complete reversal has taken place. Whereas Cross Roads will represent the Motor City, a band from Detroit is going down to represent the Kalamazoo Valley Blues Society.

About the Cross Roads Blues Band-the Resurrection:

The four piece band includes: Dave “Gator” Allemang-Guitar/Vocals, Eddie “Blue” Lester-Saxophones/Vocals/Percussion, Melvin “The Bottom” English-Bass Guitar, Jeff “Fuego (Fire)” Fernandez-Drums/Percussion.

As well as representing the Blues societies they have in Memphis, they have been the winners of Detroit Blues Society Blues Challenge 2009; winners of the West Michigan Blues Society Blues Challenge 2007; winners of the Mid-North Michigan Blues Society Blues Challenge 2004; winners of the Kalamazoo Valley Blues Association 1999. Semi-Finalists International Blues Challenge Memphis 2008, 2005, 2000; and they have been nominated for the WYCE Jammie Award 2009, 2005.

Cross Roads Blues Band-the Resurrection is fully prepared to bring home the title.

What is being said about the band:
“I can see why they’re on the fourth trip to Memphis. They have a very tight sound…
Hey, I gotta kick out of the song Bam! It immediately reminded me of an old Graham Central Station favorite of mind from years ago called Pow!”
Dave “BluzNdaBlood” Harrison, The BluzNdaBlood Show

For more:
http://www.crossroadsresurrection.com