 Red Eye celebrated the release of its first studio album, Cool Blues, at Charlotte's Speakeasy in Farmingdale on July 3.
You like blues? It's on there. Jump blues, they got you. Ever heard surf blues? Neither did I, but they do it. (And it's pretty cool) Folks can stream or purchase the album on Apple Music, Amazon Music, Spotify and YouTube, by typing in Red Eye Cool Blues. If anyone wants a CD, they can reach the band through its Facebook page  Shameka Copeland is voted BB King Entertainer of the Year and Rick Estrin and the Nightcats are chosen as best band. Click here to see all the winners.
The Long Island Blues Challenge is scheduled on Sept. 19, so mark your calendars for a day of live blues beginning at 1 p.m. at the Warehouse in Amityville.
More details will be released when we get them, but what do you really need to know? Live blues? Check. Nice venue? Check. Good food? Check. Great vibe? check. You're good. The local challenge will be judged according to criteria set by the Blues Foundation. You can read all about it, including judging criteria and all the rules, here. Long Island acts have a strong history in the event, held yearly on the world-famous Beale Street in Memphis, Tenn. Most recently, L.I.'s solo/duo winner, Felix Slim, placed second overall and won the Lee Oskar Harmonica award in 2020.  Attention all bands and solo/duo acts. The cloud is lifting, soon we 'll be playing (carefully) in joints across the region. Blow the dust off those guitars and get to rehearsing. The 37th International Blues Challenge is scheduled Jan. 18-22 in Memphis, Tenn., on the blues holy ground called Beale Street. We are working out details on the local challenge, like where and when, but should have them soon. Watch this space (and Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and your e-mails if you're on our mailing list) and we' ll post as soon as we firm it up. The International Challenge is a blast. Bands from all over the world descend on Memphis for the week. The nights are filled with live Blues from clubs up and down the strip and hordes of people that dig the blues as much as you do roaming the streets and making new friends from all over. If you go once you'll want to go back every year. During the day you ask? Visit Graceland, the Blues Hall of Fame Museum, go to Sun Studios, see STAX records, take a day-trip to the Crossroads, yep THE Crossroads, and try to flag a ride. Eat fried catfish, hot chicken, bbq. Its a little slice of heaven. So musicians, pull together that blues set and let us know you're interested. For details e-mail info@libsny.org, we'll be glad to have you take your shot Shoutout from the Blues Foundation The Blues Foundation, hosts of the yearly International Blues Challenge, gave the LIBS and the Hudson Valley Blues Society a nice plug in its recent newsletter, mentioning the inaugural Downstate Bluesfest. The show was what we hope will be the first of many partnerships with our neighbors in the northern suburbs. We not only raised some dough, but brought together members and fans from both regions to enjoy some much-needed live music. Missed the Downstate Virtual Bluesfest? Watch it here. 
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