Capital Region Blues Network Solo-Duo Competition

The road to Memphis begins at Caffè Lena!

Some of the Capital Region's finest blues musicians will compete for the opportunity to represent our region at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee, in January 2027. Presented by the Capital Region Blues Network, an affiliate of The Blues Foundation, this showcase is part of one of the most respected competitions in blues music.

Performing artists will take the stage before a panel of judges, who will evaluate each act on musicianship, vocal and instrumental talent, originality, and stage presence. The winning solo or duo act will earn the honor of representing the Capital Region on the international stage, joining musicians from blues societies across the United States and around the world.

For audiences, it's a rare opportunity to experience an afternoon of outstanding live blues while cheering on local artists as they compete for a chance to perform in the birthplace of the blues.

Performers:
- Mike Herman: A Modern Pioneer in Acoustic Fingerstyle Blues. Growing up on Long Island, Mike took guitar lessons with Toby Walker and traveled through Mississippi, learning from and playing with bluesmen such as Jack Owens, Eugene Powell, and R. L. Burnside, as well as Brownie McGhee in Oakland, California. He earned a Bachelor of Music from SUNY Purchase in 1995, moved to the Catskill Mountains, played in the regional blues duo The Hell Hounds, and began performing solo in 2007. He continues teaching and performing, has opened for Chris Smither, and has recorded and released five CDs, most recently North Country Blues Volume I (2025) and Volume II (2026). www.MikeHermanSolo.com

• Chest’r: Played his first gig in 1960 at the Now Man of Kent in Hoosick on Route 7; the audience was a group of lumberjacks. Over the years he has performed with bands including Chester, Downing Street, The Nomads, Nightlife, and Coachman. After his time with bands, he pursued solo work, performing throughout the southern states and internationally. Notable moments include a concert at ZAK in Gdansk, Poland, drawing the biggest crowd they had in 1994, and a period living in Copenhagen performing six nights a week while teaching guitar at a local music store before relocating to London. www.facebook.com/gittboxchet

• Spendthrift Lover: A newer blues duo with roots from the hollers of Appalachia to the Montreal jazz scene. The duo consists of married couple Brian Axford and Lauren Chiyoko. Brian plays piano, guitar, mandolin, and sings. Lauren is a versatile vocalist who primarily plays guitar and harmonica, and also plays tambourine and occasionally mandolin. https://www.facebook.com/spendthrift.lover

• Rees Shad: Over a prolific 40+ year career with 32 releases and 17 solo albums, Rees Shad crafts short story songs that cross genre lines. His latest release, Porcelain Angel, has been praised for its "grace and elegance" (Americana UK), "all-knowing tonality" (Americana Highways), and for "pushing the boundaries of musical storytelling" (The Rogovoy Report). www.ReesShadMusic.com

Stream this show live at Caffè Lena TV. Livestream available for $5 — 100% of live stream tickets on CaffeLenaTV benefit the artists. Subscribe for unlimited live streaming, two-week access to recent shows, and Caffè Lena's video archive.

Note: Caffe Lena does not permit ticket reselling above face value. Tickets purchased for the purpose of resale may be canceled without notice, and refunds for such purchases will not be granted.