New BluesEd Students
We want to extend a warm welcome to all of our new BluesEd students! With the addition of two more bands, we anticipate our program this summer will be filled with lots of fun and great music! The bands (with new members noted with an asterisk) are as follows:

Crimson Dawn is the only band without any new members this year. Camie (vocals), Carlee (vocals), Andrew (drums), Tag (guitar), Ben (keyboard), and Dain (bass guitar) are all returning to continue to share their musical talents with us.

Mojo Bag is pleased to welcome Jenny (bass)*, Michael (guitar)*, and Caleb (guitar/vocals)*. Returning to the band are Joe (drums), Ali (vocals), and Ed (keyboard).

Us & Them is excited to welcome David (bass guitar)* and Ben (guitar)* to the band. Three members are returning this year: Connor (vocals), Connor (guitar), and Josh (drums).

What Happened? is a new band formed this year with both new and returning BluesEd students. Enya (bass guitar) and Joey (drums) return this year and are joined by new members Graham (alto sax/guitar)*, Grant (guitar/trumpet)*, Sarah (vocals)*, Schylar (tenor/soprano saxophone)*.

Blues Dilemma is our second new band and is comprised of BluesEd students new to the program this year. The members are as follows: Jeremy (bass guitar)*, Grace (vocals/guitar)*, Trace (guitar)*, Joseph (guitar)*, and Erik (drums)*.

Workshops and Performances
We are off and running! With two workshops already completed in April and more planned for the following three months, our students are excited to learn even more from our clinicians, Ron Cooley, Craig Balderston, Carlos Figueroa, and Matt McLarney. In addition, in April, all of our BluesEd bands performed at the Omaha Bowl Expo at Southroads. In addition, Us & Them entertained the crowd at Teacher Appreciation Day at AksarbenVillage. More good times to come!

2012 May / June Performance Dates:
Saturday, May 5 – Omaha Storm Chasers pre-game – 6:00, Us & Them
Sunday May 27 – Ronnie Baker Brooks BSO Performance – Papillion Sumpter Ampitheater – Crimson Dawn
Sunday, June 3 – 2012 BluesEd Fundraiser – Slattery Vintage Estates – 3:00-7:00 – All Bands
Sunday, June 10 – Omaha Summer Arts Festival – time TBD, Blue Dilemma
Saturday, June 16 -AksarbenVillage BluesFest – 4:00, Mojo Bag & What Happened?
Saturday, June 22 – Omaha Storm Chasers pre-game – 6:00, Blues Dilemma

BluesEd Band, Crimson Dawn, Travels to Memphis

On October 23, 2011, two BluesEd bands competed in a Battleof the Bands to determine whether Crimson Dawn or Mojo Bag would represent the Blues Society of Omaha in the Youth Showcase at the 2012 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee. The two bands each performed a thirty-minute set and were evaluated on blues content, vocal skills, instrumental skills, originality, and stage presence. Brad Cordle of the Brad Cordle Band, MarQ Manner, a writer for Shout Magazine, and Ric Cowger of the Omaha Blues Society served as judges. It was a tight contest, but in the end, Crimson Dawn won the honor to travel toMemphis in February.

After polishing their thirty-minute show for several months, the group traveled to Memphis the first week in February, where they all stayed in the same hotel and enjoyed many of the sights that included Graceland, Sun Studio, and The Gibson Guitar Factory. Crimson Dawn played at Club 152 onBeale Streetwhere their awesome performance brought the crowd to its feet. Some of the members of the band also signed up for youth jams at the Hard Rock Café. The band loved being inMemphiswith many other musicians for such an energetic event. They all enjoyed the camaraderie, watching other bands perform, and then implementing what they learned into their own act.

Crimson Dawn would like to extend their gratitude to BSO and BluesEd for offering the opportunity. They all agree that it was an educational, exciting, and heartwarming experience that none of them will soon forget.

New BluesEd Students

BluesEd auditions were held at PS Collective on January 21, 2012. A total of sixteen students auditioned. We are pleased to announce that there will be five BluesEd bands this season. Our kick-off meeting will be held on Sunday, March 18, 2012, at the Georgetowne Club. More information will follow in the next newsletter. We want to extend a warm welcome to all of our new students!