BASEQ Performer of the Year Award 2008 set to kick off!


The BASEQ Performer of the Year Award is set start again in August - thanks to the grand efforts of Coral Saunders - with two heats on Tuesday 19th August and Tuesday 26th August respectively. These will be followed by the final to be held on Tuesday 2nd September. All three events will be at the Jubilee Hotel and will kick off at 7.30pm.
Each of the initial two heats will feature five bands, all of whom will play for 20 minutes. Of the five bands those ranked one, two and three will go forward to play at the final on the 2nd September. Heat One bands are: Jimi Beavis and the 385s; No Problem; Martini ’66; Slider Blues Band and Blind Lemon. Heat Two Bands are: Panga and the True Blues; Steppin’ Out; Blonde on Blue; Ugly Graham and the Zephyr Project; and Sly Jack. That’s a great line up of bands and we thank them for putting their names forward. BASEQ has also been fortunate in obtaining the services of some highly professional judges for the contest. Again we are very grateful.

This is the second year that BASEQ has run the Performer of the Year award. We were delighted with the response for the inaugural contest last year. With 6 bands competing, the winners were Natural Ball with Blind Dog Donny. BASEQ was able to fund Natural Ball and Donny to go to Goulburn for the Australian Blues Music Festival, where they played to enthusiastic blues fans from all over the country. The ABMF was able to provide them with accommodation as well as the gigs. This year’s winners will be offered the same prize and we are very grateful to ABMF for their continued support of our Performer of the Year Contest.

 <--- Natural ball performing at the 2008 Australian Festival of Blues Music in Goulburn NSW.
As a prelude to the Performer of the Year contest, BASEQ committee members Coral and Mike will both be participating in radio shows. Coral and members of Natural Ball will join Klosey (John Klose) of Bay FM (100.3 on the dial) for Blues In the Night on Tuesday 12th August. That’s from 6.00 to 8.00 pm for those in the Bayside area. Mike with Mark and Ben of Natural Ball (who go by the name of King Biscuit as a duo) will be joining Steve Hughes for two hours of Blues on 4OUR Community Radio in Caboolture. That’s also from 6.00 to 8.00pm and on FM 101.5 for listeners in the Caboolture area.

 We warmly invite members and friends to attend the heats and the finals of the competition. The initial heats are free entry. BASEQ will be asking for a modest door contribution of $10 for the finals to assist in raising funds for the winning band’s expenses to the Australian Blues Music Festival. We wish all the contestants for the Performer of the Year Award all the very best and look forward to some fantastic music.


For information about last year's Performer Of The Year contest please click HERE