The 2007 Central Illinois Blues Challenge was held on June 3 at the Mackinaw Valley Vineyard. The annual competition had its strongest lineup yet and attendance at the event was the highest for any of the Central Illinois Blues Challenges to date. This year there was both an acoustic and an electric competition and the winner in each category is being sent to Memphis for the International Blues Challenge. Barb Hamilton (shown in the first two photos below) won the acoustic competition in an earlier competition and opened this day's competition among electric bands. Bands in the competition included:
     
  • Bridget & the Boogiemen
  • Knights of Crisis
  • Rooster Alley
  • The Low Down Blues Band
  • Southside Cindy & the Sliptones
  • Trouble No More
  • Kim Massie Band
  • Melvin Taylor
     
 
 
  
Barb Hamilton
(acoustic winner)
 
 
  
     
Bridget & the Boogiemen
 
 
  
     
     
Knights of Crisis
     
     
 
 
     
     
Rooster Alley
     
     
     
The Lowdown Blues Band
     
     
     
Southside Cindy
&
The Sliptones
 
     
     
     
Trouble No More
     
     
     
James Walker Serves
as A Great Host with
Deborah Mehlberg and
Jay Balmer Assisting
     
     
Kim Massey Band
     
     
     
Steve "The Harp"
Mehlberg Gives a Lesson to an Eager Young Player
     
     
Melvin Taylor
     
     
THE WINNERS

1st Place
Kim Massie Band

2nd Place
Melvin Taylor

3rd Place
Rooster Alley

Finally, everyone who attended came out a winner. How can you lose with such great music?
     
 
Photos by Ralph Weisheit