Youth Blues Challenge bands needed; Taj Mahal and Johnny Winter shows upcoming

The Detroit Blues Society is looking for bands to participate in the 2014 Youth Blues Challenge, which will be held Sunday, Aug. 10, at Classic Lanes in Rochester Hills.

Applications will be accepted through June 1. Six bands will be chosen to compete from all qualified applicants. Bands and solo/duo acts are eligible. Original material will be scored higher than covers.

The winning act will move on to the International Blues Challenge Youth Showcase in Memphis in Jan. 2015.

All musicians must be under the age of 21 at time of the Youth Showcase in Memphis in January 2015.

For information, click detroitbluessociety.org, or call Cherie at 248-894-5338.

Upcoming shows

Two blues greats will be performing in the Detroit area in March.

Blues and roots artist Taj Mahal and his trio will be at the Magic Bag in Ferndale on Saturday, March 1.

Taj Mahal

Mahal has been nominated for nine Grammy Awards, winning two for “Senor Blues” (1997) and “Shoutin’ in Key” (2000).

His music features many influences, including blues, Caribbean, West African  and even Hawaiian music.

Tickets are $58. For information, call 248-544-3030 or click themagicbag.com.

Guitarist Johnny Winter brings his “Down and Dirty – LIVE” tour to Callahan’s Music Hall in Auburn Hills on Sunday, March 16.

The concert will celebrate the release of Winter’s "Down& Dirty" movie and career-spanning box set “True to the Blues: The Johnny Winter Story.” 

Winter celebrated his 70th birthday on Feb. 23 with a show at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill in New York.

Advance tickets start at $50.

Callahan’s hosts shows with Joe Louis Walker (Feb. 27) and Commander Cody (Feb. 28) this week. Due to health issues, Jeremy Spencer’s show scheduled for March 1 has been canceled.

Another upcoming show at Callahan’s that is sure to be joyous is Jim McCarty & Friends featuring James Montgomery on Saturday, March 8.

Guitarist Jim McCarty’s resume includes stints with Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels, the Rockets, Cactus, the Detroit Blues Band, and his current group Mystery Train. He is a winner of the Detroit Blues Society’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Boston-based harmonica great James Montgomery has jammed with B.B. King, Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker, Junior Wells and many others, in addition to fronting his James Montgomery Band for over 30 years.

For ticket information, go to atcallahans.com.

To send info to JB Blues, please email Joe.Ballor@dailytribune.com