The Basic Timetable

Well I know many of you have been chasing me for the basic timetable so you can start to work out your days. So here it is. Tomorrow I will make the full timetable available as a document you can download if you wish. We are so looking forward to seeing you all back at the Champs and to welcome many new people who have booked this year. Its going to be a great weekend of Music, Dancing, Friendship and fun.

Friday Fun Competition

Solo Blues
Approx 10pm

Saturday Competitions

Doors Open 10.15 am

Lucky Dip
Partnering at 11.00 am

Young, Fun and Feisty
First Song 11.50am

Smooth Blues Fusion - The Juke Joint Trophy
First Song 11.55am

Fresh Fundamentals
First Song at 12.30 pm

In The Zone
First Song at 12.35pm

Valentines Trophy
Songs 1&2 at 14.30pm

Sunday Competitions

Doors Open at 10.45

Smooth, Sassy and Sophisticated
First Song 11.30

Polished and Professional
First Song 11.35

Raw and Ready
First Song 12.10

Swinging The Blues - CurlyWurly Trophy
First Song 12.15

Jack and Jill
Approximatly 16.30

You can contact us via Facebook
Lisa on https://www.facebook.com/lisa.c.graydon

Chris on https://www.facebook.com/mrdjchrisu

The Champs Competition Music

So lets give you the details of the Champs Competition music. I hope you all enjoyed my choices.
I will try my best to compile a Spotify list when I can.

Friday Night Solo Blues

40 Cups of Coffee - Ella Mae Morse

Saturday Competition Tunes. No particular order.

I'm Not Drunk, Im Just Drinking - Di Ann Price
Came To Leave - Shoshana Bean
Cast The First Stone - Paula Harris
Little Wheel - John Lee Hooker
Fine Brown Frame - Nellie Lutcher
Retro Boy - Richard Elliot
Baby What You Want Me To Do - Bonnie Lee
Back Porch Blues - Tom Rigney
Bad Luck Blues - Billy Boy Arnold
My Babe - Snooky Prior

I See Fire (Kygo Remix) - Ed Sheeran
Night Air - Jamie Woon
It Never Rains In Southern California - Albert Hammond
Bette Davis Eyes - Kim Carnes
Go With Me - Dietrick Haddon
I Still Believe in you - Mavis Staples

Nine One One! - R&B Bombers
Bubbly Kisses - Ina Forsman
Buff's Bar Blues - Sensational Alex Harvey Band
Leave My Money Alone - Phillip Walker
I'll Walk Away - James Hunter
Who Is He (And what is he to you) - Lenny Henry
Fever - Ruby Wilson
Stop Breakin' Down Blues - Eric Clapton
Shagging To The Blues - Original Beach Music Band

You're Gonna Get Next To Me - Bo Kirkland and Ruth Davis
Yo Dress Is To Short - Bob Steele
Driftin' Blues - Sam Cooke
Walking Blues - Joe Bonamassa
Behind My Back - Sista Monica Parker
Somebody Call The Cops - Sally Kellerman

Sunday Competition Tracks (A little bit more gritty)

Whoa Yeah - John Studebaker and The Hawks
I'm Ready - Muddy Waters
Checkin' Up On My Baby - Mick Jagger and the Red Devils
Jump The Broom - Mr Sipp
My Baby's Gone - Lightening Hopkins
Juniors Wail (Ft Elmore James) - Junior Wells
This Business Of Love - Domino
Goin' Crazy With The Blues - Hot Sardines

The Man Who Cant Be Moved - The Script
With Or Without You - Cunnie Williams
Down In Mississippi - Mavis Staples
Left Me Singing The Blues - Trudy Lynn With The Calvin Owen Blues Orchestra
Love Uprising - Jackie Wilson
Days Of Depression (Ft Blind Boys of Alabama) - The Reverend Shawn Amos
I'm Mad Again - John Lee Hooker
Grinnin' Like A Cheesy Cat - Mighty Blue Kings
Murder In The First Degree - Elvin Bishop

If You're A Viper - Di Ann Price
The Blonde Next Door - Vann "Piano Man" Walls
Singin' Down at 10th and Main - Curtis Stigers
Chaos In Tejas - Jim Suhler and Monkey Beat
Christine - The Chris O'Leary Band
St Louis Blues - Ella Fitzgerald
Work Song - Nina Simone

As we had more entrants some of the songs were paired up at the last minute to accommodate the splitting of categories into 2 rounds. But it seemed to work ok. I hoped you liked them. I had fun (and some pain) selecting them.

perhaps we might do it all again next year.

Chris Uren

Catching the Blues and Smooth Bug

Now I know many of you who came along to the Champs "Caught The Blues and Smooth Bug". We have already announced that our next Champs will be on the 12th to the 14th of February 2016. But that's a long way away. So here are a couple of suggestions for Blues Comps and Events that you should consider looking at. In Date order.

European Blues Invasion runs from the 19th and 21st June https://www.facebook.com/events/344748909058412/ You will find a considerable number of your fellow competitors attending plus a large smattering of your Judges

Ceroc Brean Sands is a weekender from 9th to the 11th October that features the European Neo Blues Champs. A full weekender for you. https://www.facebook.com/events/330276097157469/

Crystal Blues https://www.facebook.com/events/331420280372303/ takes place at the end of October and is Run by Sara White. An annual event you will almost certainly find people you know attending.

I look forward to seeing you at some of these. So go out and enjoy your Blues and as I find more events and Classes for you to think about I will post them here.

Good, Bad, Ugly part 1. Great Goalkeeping by the team.

This was going to be part one of the 'Good , Bad and Ugly' of the Champs weekend after our review meeting today. But that's been overtaken by the decision to do it all again. So first put 12th to the 14th February 2016 in your diary as a provisional date for next year. That's all I am saying about next year at the moment, because there are things to be said about this years first.

We always said that we would run the event to the best of our ability and then review to see how we did. Then more importantly what the people who came thought of our efforts. Our confidence about next year was buoyed by your reactions and the very positive feedback we have received. However not all was rosy in the garden. So a few of those to be talked about here. Now there is no way I can cover everything in one Blog post so I will break it down over a couple of posts.

Slightly off. We were not particularly happy with the sound in the main room and also the bleed into the second room. And some of you commented on this. Next year. 4 corner speakers and the  provision of greater sound proofing for the second room. I know that some didn't feel the second room worked for them, but an overwhelming number liked it and it's slightly 'off the wall' nature.

Ugly. Registration on the Saturday started off very poorly and a magnificent save by Jess, Sue and Linda from the team kept us afloat. And I mean a save of epic proportions. They stayed cool and professional. This, all importantly, allowed us to keep to time. One of our priorities.

Good. The general Vibe of the whole event seemed to work. You cannot plan for that. It's the setup, crew and the people who make it that way. If we could have bottled the general atmosphere we would be billionaires.

Unclassified. A lot of local dancers came to the event with a "suck it and see" attitude along with some who desperately wanted to take part, but had no partners. I make no apologies for pushing people into taking part and doing our best to find partners at the last minute. Some of those partnerships won medals. I bet most of them come back to compete next year with partners.

I know many of you want me to talk about the music played for comps and I will get around to that. But it's a pretty big job and I want to ensure it is right. The Blog will continue on a weekly basis to keep you updated.

Quick reminder that this Sunday is my Juke Joint event at the Engine Shed. 6 till 10. Hope to see some of you there.

Sunday Winners

Sunday Results

Well another day of competition is over and it was pretty spectacular. A quick post of Sunday results. More to come about the weekend and particularly details of the competition music.

In The Zone

1st Ed Greenwood and Beth Caygill
2nd Roach Tyler and Judy Tyler
3rd Neil Wiffen and Ann Harrison

Raw and Ready

1st Melvin Young and Lynn Davis
2nd Nick Shore and Hannah Lonsdale
3rd Jo Hart and Ann Harrison

Smooth Fusion Blues (The Juke Joint Trophy)

1st Nick Shore and Hannah Lonsdale
2ndMark Oxley and Sarah Oxley
3rd Ann Harrison and Jennifer Cowling

Swinging The Blues (CurlyWurly Trophy)

1st Robert Jeffreys and Anna Jeffreys
2nd Nick Shore and Hannah Lonsdale
3rd Joe Rosa and Zuzanna Lalanne

Jack and Jill (Spotlight Dances)

1st Melvin Young and Chloe Hunt
2nd Robert Docherty and Hannah Lonsdale
3rd Joe Rosa and Lynn Davis

It's been great weekend and congratulations to all who attended. And if you placed then extra special well done.

More to come next week.

The Finger is on the Starting Gun

In less than 24 hours we will open the doors to the venue for the Pre Champs freestyle. Just about everything we can think of is ready. But. Well, we have never done anything like this before so who knows what the next 3 days will bring. We have put together a great team of local dancers together to help us. The venue are right behind us. The judges are ready and waiting and heavy on discussion on a forum you cannot see here. But I know they are looking forward to the task ahead. Having looked through the entry list we have some amazing dancers from far and wide. They range from the new to the Blues and Smooth dance styles up to some very experienced dancers. All in the same room.

There are medals to be won and some very interesting.. well,l I am not calling them trophies. Wait till you get one handed to you. They are different.

So at 8pm tomorrow we open the doors for a freestyle evening of great tunes in 2 rooms. Then Saturday at 10.30 you get your numbers and at 11pm it begins. The full competition schedule is available on a previous blog. I have the music for your competitions sorted. Well I think I have!!!!! Saturday night freestyle and Sunday more competitions culminating in a Jack and Jill and the a BIG chill down on Sunday night.

Lisa and I really hope you enjoy yourselves. Come along to have fun and enjoy the weekend. The next blog will be Saturday night when I can tell you about the first days competitions and all it's winners. Nervous. No not me. I have always had this facial twitch.

The Starting Line

We are at the starting line. Prepared as it is possible to be for something we have never done before. After much thinking, action and occasional setback it is just a few days away. Below is the schedule for the 2 days of competition and it is our intention to stick as closely to this as is humanly possible. Come along and take part, but most of all enjoy yourselves. We will have made mistakes and no doubt have a few issues on the days. But we will do our best to make it a great event. However, it is you the dancers that will make it because that's what it is all about. Come along. Enjoy the music and competition, but above all dance your hearts out.

https://www.facebook.com/download/948494251836320/CopyofBluesChampsProvcomptimetable.pdf  for a PDF Link.

The all important schedule.

Saturday

10.30 doors open

11.00 Lucky Dip Partnering

11 15 Lucky Dip 1a

11.20 Lucky Dip 1b

11.25 Freestyle

11.50 Young Pups Song 1

11.55 Old Dogs Song 1

12.00 Freestyle

12.30 Fresh Fundamentals Song 1

12.35 Polished & Pro Song 1

12.40 Freestyle

13.10 Lucky Dip 2a

13.15 Lucky Dip 2b

13.20 Freestyle

13.50 Young Pups Song 2

13.55 Old Dogs Song 2

14.00 Freestyle

14.30 Valentines Trophy Song 1 & 2

14.40 Freestyle

15.10 Lucky Dip Semi

15.15 Fresh Fundamentals  Song 2

15.20 Polished & Pro Song 2

15.25 Freestyle

15.50 Young Pups Song 3

15.55 Old Dogs Song 3

16.00 Freestyle

16.30 Lucky Dip Final 2 songs

16.40 Freestyle

17.00 Fresh Fundamentals Song 3

17.05 Polished & Pro Song 3

17.10 Valentines Song 3

17.15 Freestyle

17.45 Presentation

18.00 Music until the evening

20.00 The Big Saturday Freestyle

Sunday

10.30 open

11.30 In The Zone Song 1

11.35 Smooth Fusion Song 1

11.40 Freestyle

12.10 Raw & Ready Song 1

12.15 Swingin' the Blues Song 1

12.20 Freestyle

12.50 In The Zone Song 2

12.55 Smooth Fusion Song 2

13.00 Freestyle

13.30 Raw & Ready Song 2

13.35 Swingin' the Blues Song 2

13.40 Freestyle

14.10 In The Zone Song 33

14.15 Smooth Fusion Song 3

14.20 Freestyle

14.50 Raw & Ready Song 3

14.55 Swingin' The Blues Song 3

15.00 Freestyle

15.45 Presentations

16.00 Freestyle

16.30 Jack & Jill

16.45 Final presentations etc

20.00 The Sunday Chill Down

 

And then I will go home and have a VERY STIFF DRINK.

 

 

Who's To Judge

So who will be judging your dancing?

Who are these people who are going to judge your efforts and hopefully help you win a trophy and one of these medals. They were, I can assure you, carefully chosen after a great deal of debate to cover a large range of dance. And they are coming from near, far and wide. Some you will know and some you wont.

They all have several things in common. Vast experience and a great love of dancing just as a start. But most of all they have agreed to come along and make this a great event.

Andy McGregor

Andy is not a stranger to competition Judging.. Many of you will know him as the host of the English Modern Jive Championships.He has 10 years of the circuit under his belt and he will be our lead judge for this event. Check out http://rocsters.blogspot.co.uk/ for some details of Andy's activities.

Aaron Fluff Saunders

Teaching in and around the London area. Fluff has an International reputation for his passion for the Blues. Check out the website at http://www.bluesshift.co.uk/ for some more about Aaron's activities. To quote from his website "Blues dancing is about exploring the music and expressing what you hear."

Velody

Teaching in and around the Manchester area and regularly touring internationally with her band.Velody eats, sleeps and sings the Blues. She also fronts the popular Basement Blues monthly dance event. Check out her website. http://velody.co.uk/

Nath 'Stokebloke' and Essie Jo

The Midlands most popular Blues and Tango events organisers and teachers. Both are seasoned Judges for Blues competitions and bring a wealth of experience and talent. Check out their website http://www.stokies.org/

Frank 'Blueshoes' and Faye

Frank and Faye teach regularly around the Manchester area and focus mainly on Modern Expressive blues. They are often invited to teach at weekenders throughout the UK, and are champions in the Blues competitions world in their own right. Frank and Faye have a Facebook group to let you know what they are up to. https://www.facebook.com/groups/737031976352904/

Asif Malik

Starting off in the world of Modern Jive in 1996, Asif has been dancing and teaching Blues &Swing (Lindy Hop) since 2001. He had the honout of taking part in the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympics.

So there we are. 8 people to judge 11 catagories over 2 days of competition.

Can't wait.

The Final Countdown

 

"It's Getting damned close"

Second to last meeting today to look at entries and figures and it's all OK. Just the inevitable last few entries that will come in over the next week or so that will have to be slotted in. Guys being a bit slow as always, but they will come around. I mean there are beautiful women waiting to be danced with. Several categories close to full and Lucky dip with a fabulous selection of dancers of all abilities really taking shape

 

I have spent this evening reviewing lots and lots of music. Still a few tunes to be chosen for the competitions, but I have in my mind what I want for each category. And I have this Saturday to test a few of them out in the second room at Snickers. 5 hours of Blues music of all kinds to play. t  https://www.facebook.com/events/1565680143646787/

 

 

I am pretty sure we are going to have 3 nights and 2 days of great competition and freestyle dancing.

 

If your still sitting on the fence then don't miss out. Check out the details of the event at http://curlywurlyevents.com/blues-.php. You will kick yourself if you miss out on the first one. If you want more info then you can always get more info From Lisa on text: 07763 134026
email: curlywurlysunday@virginmedia.com