OUACHITA RIVER BLUES SOCIETY

2026 BLUES CHALLENGE

OFFICIAL RULES AND REGISTRATION

ELIGIBILITY

To participate in the ORBS Blues Challenge, you must complete the application process in full and submit your $20 entry fee by the deadline. The first seven (7) Bands and the first seven (7) Solo/Duo musician(s) who fulfill all requirements of the application process will be selected to compete.

How does ORBS distinguish between Band, Solo/Duo, and Youth?

A band is any group with three or more musicians. A solo/duo has no more than two musicians. Both electric and acoustic instruments are allowed in either category, and vocalists are counted as musicians for the purpose of this competition. A Youth participant is any group in which all performing members are under the age of 21 at the time of the 42ND International Blues Challenge, January 19-23, 2027.

***Applicants must submit a recording or link to a performance to ORBS318@GMAIL.COM as part of the application process.***

RESTRICTIONS

Challengers may enter the ORBS BC a maximum of 3 times, after which they may only compete if there are not enough acts to meet the allowed participants. They may not participate in the ORBS BC in three consecutive years — i.e., there must be a break of at least one year after competing two years in a row. A musician may not compete in the band category and the solo/duo category in the same year.

Musicians may be invited to participate in the challenge, but they may not be "pre-selected" and must compete in a fair, live, judged event.

IBC Eligibility (per Blues Foundation rules — applies to advancing to Memphis):

An artist is ineligible for the IBC only if their name has appeared on a final Blues Music Award ballot (formerly the W.C. Handy Awards). Musicians with peripheral or professional contact with a Blues Music Award nominee (touring/studio musicians, etc.) remain eligible, except members of a band nominated for Band of the Year.
Musicians must first enter the challenge of their own/home blues society (or the closest one by distance). If unsuccessful there, they may enter up to 2 additional local challenges within 250 miles of their home blues society that same year — but not challenges held prior to their home challenge. Applicants must reside within 250 miles of Monroe, LA to be eligible to enter the 2026 ORBS Blues Challenge.
Any act that wins first place at the IBC in Memphis in a given category may not enter that category again in the future.

RULES AND SCORING CRITERIA

ORBS Blues Challenge judges are Blues professionals and aficionados with a deep understanding and historical perspective of all blues forms. Any given three-to-four judge panel will include members with varying opinions of Blues, covering the spectrum from the most traditional to soul/blues and rock/blues.

Scoring Categories and Definitions:

Blues Content — The sound and feel of the music should be true to any blues sub-category: traditional blues, country blues, soul blues, blues rock and/or contemporary blues. Judges will be listening for inspired and original song selections or new takes on blues standards. Creative reach is encouraged.
Originality — Original work is encouraged. Cover tunes are allowed, but playing the recorded rendition lick by lick is discouraged, will not be looked upon favorably by the judges, and will be reflected in scoring. Acts must indicate if their songs are original material (this can be done at the start of the set or before each song as appropriate) and/or identify covers played and acknowledge the originator. Failure to do so will result in a 3-point penalty.
Vocals — The act's vocal skills, including tone, musicality, meaning, and expression.
Instrumental Talent — Ability level on all instruments featured within the act. Loops, tracks, or recorded music is discouraged but may be used; it is at the judges' individual discretion how this affects the Instrumental Talent score.
Stage Presence — The ability to command audience attention through manner and appearance on stage. Judges will consider how an act connects with and engages the audience. Proper use of microphones and amplification will be considered.

Basic Scoring Calculation:

Judges score acts on a 10-point scale (10 = highest, 1 = lowest). Weighting:

Blues Content × 4
Originality × 3
Instrumental Talent × 2
Vocals × 2
Stage Presence × 2

Maximum Total Weighted Score: 130

Penalty Points — An act is penalized one point from its Total Weighted Score for each of the following:

Missing act check-in on the day of the event
Failing to check in with the Stage Coordinator at least 20 minutes before the first performance begins
Excessive load-in/load-out time
Failing to acknowledge a cover song and/or credit its originator
Each 10 seconds running overtime
Finishing 3+ minutes before allotted time expires
Showing up late and/or not ready to perform on time
Using tracks or recorded music

ORBS strongly suggests that after check-in, each act remain in its assigned venue area to be immediately available at the Stage Coordinator's direction. The Stage Coordinator assesses Penalty Points per ORBS BC rules.

Affiliates and/or acts are prohibited from contacting any ORBS judge for any reason; any act that does so leading up to or during the Challenge is subject to disqualification. ORBS Blues Challenge Staff are your ONLY contacts for this competition.

SCORING SYSTEM FOR JUDGES

Each judge assigns a Raw Score (1–10) in each category to the Scorekeeper:
- 1–3: Typical of a beginning blues band
- 4–5: Typical of a local weekend band
- 6–7: Typical of an advanced local band, not yet ready to headline a major blues club
- 8–9: Typical of artists who headline major clubs
- 10: Typical of those who play the main stage at major festivals
The Scorekeeper multiplies each Raw Score by its category multiplier to get the Individual Weighted Score.
Individual Weighted Scores are summed for each judge's Total Weighted Score per act.
Penalty points are deducted to produce each act's Net Weighted Score per judge.
Acts are ranked by each judge (1 = highest Net Weighted Score) to determine each act's Final Ranking Number per judge.
The Scorekeeper totals the Final Ranking Numbers across judges (Gross Final Ranking), then averages by the number of judges for the Aggregate Act Ranking.

The act with the best (lowest) Aggregate Act Ranking is the top finisher.

Tie-breaker: The Scorekeeper sums all Net Weighted Scores from all judges for the tied acts; the higher total wins.

Order of Appearance: Random.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

Backline and Equipment: ORBS will provide backline and sound, including a drum kit with snare, amps, keyboards, and mics, based on registration information. Bassists use the provided bass rig. Drummers should bring their own cymbals and kick pedals (thrones/snares optional). Harmonica players may bring their own harp amp. Keyboard players may bring their own keyboard/amp; stands provided. Effects racks and auxiliary equipment permitted — list any additional/special equipment needs on the registration form.

Musicians should bring their own DI boxes. Exceptions to backline/equipment rules require a formal written petition emailed to the Challenge Director (ORBS318@gmail.com) at least 15 days prior to the competition, with a compelling reason, plus a note on the registration form. Space is limited, so not every request can be accommodated.

ORBS reserves the right to use any contestant's name, voice, pictures, likeness, and recordings for advertising, publishing, and promotional purposes.

ORBS conducts this event annually and retains the right to make rule or procedure changes as needed.

Winning ORBS locally: Any act that wins an ORBS Blues Challenge category cannot compete in that same category the next year — regardless of how they place in Memphis. They may compete in the category they were not in (e.g., a Band-category winner may enter Solo/Duo the following year, and vice versa). After sitting out one year, they may compete in any category again.

Example: If your act wins the Band category at ORBS this year and goes to Memphis but doesn't advance, you are still ineligible to enter Band at ORBS next year — you'd need to enter as a Solo/Duo instead (or sit that category out).

Winning at the IBC in Memphis: This is a separate, higher bar. Per Blues Foundation rules, an act that wins first place at the IBC itself may never enter that category again, at any local challenge, in any future year.

ORBS reserves the right to record all performances and retains ownership of all recordings/programs, including rights to edit, broadcast, copyright, and license.

"The performance at the International Blues Challenge (IBC) in Memphis is made possible in part by support from Ouachita River Blues Society (ORBS). The winners of ORBS' local Blues Challenge will receive a travel stipend and ongoing support through the IBC application and competition process. The winners of the ORBS Blues Challenge will acknowledge this support in interviews and public appearances until the Blues Foundation IBC's are complete."

QUESTIONS?

Should you have any questions or concerns, ORBS staff is always an email or phone call away to assist you — please don't hesitate to reach out.

IRA BARGER, CHALLENGE DIRECTOR

Email: ORBS318@GMAIL.COM

Phone: (318) 348-0852