Natty Bumpo (right)
Congratulations to Natty Bumpo, host of Breakfast with the Blues on Monday morning on KRVM. Natty is one of the winners of the Rainy Day Blues Challenge and will represent Eugene at the annual International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee.
Below is the press release from the Rainy Day Blues Society
Eugene, Oregon – October 24, 2016 – The Rainy Day Blues Society is proud to announce the winners of the Rainy Day Blues Challenge: The Hank Shreve Band (band winner) and NattyBone (solo/duo winner). These two amazing blues acts have qualified for the opportunity to represent Eugene Oregon at the annual International Blues Challenge (IBC) in Memphis TN. In addition, in partnership with the Puget Sound Music for Youth Association out of Tacoma WA, the Rainy Day Blues Society is sponsoring a youth blues group, Anthony Corso, for the Youth Showcase at the IBC.
The Rainy Day Blues Society is now focused on the Road To Memphis Fundraising Campaign. Jimmy Haggard, President of the Rainy Day Blues Society said, “Now that we have our winners, we call on the Eugene community to pitch in and help cover the travel expenses to Memphis TN for these wonderful musicians. Our goal is $7,500 to cover airfare, lodging and food.”
Highlights of the fundraising campaign are two shows at Mac’s at the Vet, with music, dancing, raffles and silent auctions. The shows are scheduled on Saturday, November 19, 2016 and Saturday, January 14, 2017, with the fun starting at 6:30pm on both days. Some of the Eugene areas best blues musicians are volunteering their time to perform for the Eugene community to help raise the travel funds for their fellow blues musicians. Musicians who will perform at the shows include: The Hank Shreve Band, NattyBone, Brian James, Louis Creed and the Geezers, Jimmy Haggard, and more.
In conjunction with the fundraiser shows, Rainy Day Blues Society has launched a crowd sourcing campaign through Generosity, crowd sourcing for non-profit organizations. So, if you are not able to make it out for a show, you can contribute on-line to support this community cause.
To learn more about the Rainy Day Blues Society and the Road to Memphis Fundraising Campaign, visit the website: www.rainydayblues.org
Pictures of the winners are available here: Hank Shreve Band and NattyBone
As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, contributions to the Rainy Day Blues Society are tax deductible. As a Blues Foundation Affiliate, winners of the blues challenge held by the Rainy Day Blues Society are eligible to compete in the IBC. The IBC is the largest blues gathering in the world.
The Rainy Day Blues Society is a Eugene Oregon based nonprofit organization, dedicated to preserving and promoting blues music as part of our cultural heritage and tradition. Our mission is to raise public awareness and nurture a love and appreciation for one of America’s foundational music forms through education and by fostering an environment in which local blues artists can grow and flourish.