The Detroit Blues Society is proud to announce that it will be sending two winners, one in the Solo/Duo category and one in the Band category, to the International Blues Challenge finals in Memphis, Tennessee on January 31 - February 2, 2008. The winner of the Solo/Duo Finals was Mike Espy and Yakety Yak. The winner of the Band Finals was the Front Street Blues Band.

These two winners progressed through nine preliminary events , fifty acts, and on to the Finals in November of 2007 at the Magic Bag Theater in Ferndale, Michigan. Their victories in the Finals assured them a trip to Memphis.

The International Blues Challenge is the world's largest gathering of Blues acts and represents an international search by The Blues Foundation and its Affiliated Organizations for the Blues Band and Solo/Duo Blues Act ready to take their act to the international stage. In 2008 over 90 bands and 60 solo/duo acts fill the clubs up and down Beale Street for the semi-finals on Thursday and Friday and the finals at the Orpheum Theater on Saturday.

According to Detroit Blues Society President Steve Allen: “ The Metro area is truly blessed with ultra-talented Blues musicians by the score. Mike Espy and Yakety Yak and the Front Street Blues Band represent the very best of the very best. The Detroit Blues Society is very proud of them and excited to turn them loose on Beale Street. I strongly believe that their well executed, no-nonsense, traditional style of Blues will make them a force to be reckoned with at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis. We certainly hope that a trophy is in their immediate futures."

Media Contact:
Steven J. Allen
Detroit Blues Society President
Sallen8961@aol.com
248-249-5287