Rees Shad

The road to Memphis begins at Caffè Lena! Some of the Capital Region's finest blues musicians will compete for the opportunity to represent our region at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee, in January 2027. Presented by the Capital Region Blues Network, an affiliate of The Blues Foundation, this showcase is part of one of the most respected competitions in blues music. Performing artists will take the stage before a panel of judges, who will evaluate each act on musicianship, vocal and instrumental talent, originality, and stage presence. The winning solo or duo act will earn the honor of representing the Capital Region on the international stage, joining musicians from blues societies across the United States and around the world. For audiences, it's a rare opportunity to experience an afternoon of outstanding live blues while cheering on local artists as they compete for a chance to perform in the birthplace of the blues. The competing solo and duo performers will be announced prior to the event. Stream this show live at Caffè Lena TV. Livestream available for $5 – 100% of live stream tickets on CaffeLenaTV benefit the artists. Subscribe for unlimited live streaming, two week access to recent shows, and Caffe Lena's video archive.