Announcement: Voodoo Vinyl going to Memphis for International Blues Challenge

BluesEd is pleased and proud to be sending Voodoo Vinyl to the 2016 Youth Showcase at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee.  Voodoo Vinyl will be performing on the famed Beale Street in Memphis alongside hundreds of national and international touring blues acts vying for grand champion.   The Youth Showcase will occur on January 29th, 2016 at one of the 16 famous venues on Beale Street in Memphis.  Students will have free access to all Blues Foundation events on historic Beale Street during the event including: quarter and semi-final venues as well as finals at the Orpheum Theater. 


Band members of Voodoo Vinyl include:  
​Thomas Palensky, age 17 -  bass guitar
Billy Svolos, age 14 - drums
Graham Brooks, age 17 - guitar and saxophone
Cole Palensky, age 14 - guitar
Carmel Hemphill, age 14 - vocals
Elyse Davis, age 16 - vocals
Gabi Basile, age 15 - trombone (not shown in photo)

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​The Blues Society of Omaha is also sending a band to the IBC.  The winner of the Nebraska Blues Challenge was Hector Anchondo Band featuring drummer Khayman Winfield. Khayman was one of the first graduates of BluesEd nearly 15 years ago and he attributes much of his success to BluesEd.  Khayman said "People ask me all the time 'You are so young and accomplished. How did you get so good?'  I tell them about BluesEd in Omaha and how it prepared me as a Blues musician."  Good luck to Khayman & the Hector Anchondo Band!

BluesEd has sent several other bands to Memphis in the past including:  The Side Effects, Crimson Dawn & Mojo Bag. Special thanks, as always, go to the Blues Society of Omaha for their financial & moral support of BluesEd.  2016 marks the 15th year of BluesEd in Omaha.  BluesEd has grown from one youth development band with 4 students to 39 students in 6 bands.  You can catch our bands performing most weekends in the summer at many area venues including:  Playing with Fire, Jazz on the Green, SumTur Amphitheater, 21st Saloon, Bushwackers, Bellevue Riverfest, Stinson Park, Werner Park among many other great venues.  

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