Southern Arizona's best and most promising Blues musicians will descend upon Club Congress this Sunday at 1 p.m. for the preliminary round in Southern Arizona Blues Heritage Foundation's annual Blues Challenge. A $5 cover (kids 12 and under are free) grants you access to an afternoon of amazing music and entertainment. The finalists from this round of the Challenge will move on to the Finals on September 27th.

Check out the line-up for the 13th:

1:05-1:25               TOM WALBANK & ARTHUR MIGLIAZZA
1:35-1:55               TIME BANDITS
2:05-2:25               THE EARTHLINGZ
2:35-2:55               BLACK CAT BONES
3:00-4:00               LUNCH BREAK
4:05-4:25               SWEET WILLIE D BLUES BAND
4:40-5:00               TALL PAUL BLUES BAND
5:10-5:35               CROSS CUT SAW

We talked to Virginia Migliazza, President of SABHF, about what to expect in this year's Blues Challenge.

Where did your personal love of the Blues begin?

My personal love of the Blues began around 1990, when my son began Blues piano lessons.

Why is the Southern Arizona Blues Heritage Foundation important?

The Foundation's importance to the community is tremendous.  We provide opportunities for the community to learn and enjoy this genre of music.  We are able to showcase local Blues musicians through various different events: Blues Challenge, School House Bluez Program, our free Blues Festival at Reid Park on the third Sunday of October and through opening for national Blues acts coming to Tucson.

Is there anything in particular that makes the southern Arizona Blues scene unique?

What makes the Blues scene in Southern Arizona so unique is the strength and diversity of the talent in this area.  We have many wonderful Blues musicians who have retired here or moved here because of their love of the southwest and, once here, are suprised to find the amount of support for the Blues.

How did the SABHF Blues Challenge start and what inspired it?

This will be our fourth Challenge. It was started as an answer to the Phoenix Showdown, which has been in place since the 1990s.  The Foundation felt Tucson and the Southern Arizona area should also be sending representatives to the International Blues Challenge (IBC) in Memphis, Tennessee.  In the past, anyone from this area had to drive to Phoenix to compete for a chance to attend the IBC.

What qualities did all of the past winners of the Challenge share? Is there something in particular the judges are looking for?

There are five different catagories the participants are judged on: Instrumental Talent, Blues Content, Vocal Talent, Originality and Stage Presence. Each area is given a weighted score pre-determined by the International Blues Challenge. At the end of the final round, the winner is the one with the highest percentage of points from that round. We typically have members of the community, musicians (who have participated in IBC), board members, and people from our sponsors participate sit on the judging panel.

What can attendees look forward to at the two Blues Challenge shows at Club Congress?

Every year the Blues Challenge gets a little more exciting and intense as these musicians vie to represent this area at the IBC. This year should not be any different.