Local music group Wicked Blues Band will be competing in the “Road to Memphis 2014 Challenge,” hosted by the Maine Blues Society at noon at the Big Easy in Portland on Sunday, May 18.

Wicked Blues Band was formed in the summer of 2012 by Jason Simonds, of Jefferson, Pat Ginnaty, of Bremen, and Annette Rundall, of Nobleboro, playing bass. Bill Batty, of Owls Head, joined as drummer in 2014.

Every year thousands of blues acts compete locally to be one of hundreds of blues acts from around the world to gather in Memphis Tennessee for the International Blues Challenge (IBC). These acts are selected by their local Blues Foundation affiliates through competition only, and are sent to represent their region of the world at the IBC, most at their own expense. Each and every one of the over 200 acts works hard to compete and works even harder to pay their way to the event. It is the highlight of many an aspiring blues musicians to take the stage in Memphis.

This year, Wicked is one of 10 acts that have signed up to compete in Portland where there will be a blind draw to establish playing order. Each act will have 15-25 minutes to impress the judges. The scoring system is multi-layered and is designed to allow the best and most original act to score highest. The competition is divided between Bands and Solo/Duo acts. Winners of the IBC are awarded a recording contract and are booked on national blues festival stage for that year. Winning your region or the national event is something these acts take seriously.

The IBC challenge rules are used for scoring. Find them here.

More info on Wicked Blues Band can be found on Facebook or by visiting their website.

The Road to Memphis is a free event, but donations are being accepted to help the MBS build the Blues Hall of Fame by 'buying a brick.' The Maine Blues Society and the Wicked Blues Band invite you to come to see some of the best blues acts in the state duke it out to see whop goes to Memphis. This year, the bands competing are Blood Orange Martinis, Blues Mafia, Downeast Soul Coalition, Poke Chop, TOWM and Wicked Blues Band. In the Solo/Duo category the acts are True Blue, Pat Foley, Brad Hooper, Eric French, Easy Rider and Hurricane.

The Maine blues Society was formed in 1989 and has a mission to support and promote "the blues" through education and outreach.

More information can be found at the Maine Blues Society website.