The Jack Daniels Forth Valley Blues Festival has been run and done for another year. Once again the judges had a difficult time deciding who was going to play at the Festival and who the unlucky ones that miss out are. Thanks to all our participants in the playoffs, there was a fantastic range of performers, many of whom displayed that they were talented enough to earn a spot in the lineup, but sadly, places were limited.

The winners of the 2009 Talent Quest are:

Damien Greenwood Memorial Judge's Choice Award
 * C.T. and the Nighthawks from Launceston

Mal Greenop Memorial People's Choice Award
* Halfway to Forth from Devonport

The Committee's Choice Award
* Yonder's Wall from Hobart

Acoustic Choice Award - (joint winners)
* Lester McLeod from Ulverstone
* Toby Garrett from Bicheno

Chris and Maud, from the Forth Pub, picked out two more acts to play at the pub on Thursday and Friday nights so the final lineup from the Talent Quest is:

Thursday night 19th March 2009 at Forth Pub
The Early Settlers from Burnie and Smithton

Friday night 20th March 2009 at Forth Pub
Halfway to Forth from Devonport
The Dudley Nightshades from Burnie

Saturday morning 21st March 2009 at the Festival
Yonder's Wall from Hobart

Saturday afternoon and evening 21st March 2009 at the Festival
C.T. and the Nighthawks from Launceston

Sunday morning 22nd March 2009 at the Festival
Lester McLeod from Ulverstone
Toby Garrett from Bicheno

The 2010 Talent Quest will be run again on each Sunday in February at the Bridge Hotel, Forth. Let us know if you want to participate!

Thanks to everyone that played this year and also to all the people that came along each week to listen to the great music.

The Jack Daniel's Forth Valley Blues Festival held the Talent Quest at the Bridge Hotel in Forth on each Sunday in February.
We had a huge variety of performers and a great lineup of talent performing.

Participants were:
February 1st
Wani Birt (Ulverstone)
Ella Rose (Leith)
C.T. & the Nighthawks (Launceston)

February 8th
Matthew Carr (Penguin)
Nick Hill (Launceston)
Joe Busuttil (Burnie)
Halfway to Forth (Devonport)

February 15th
Dave Lillas (West Pine)
Leah Briggs (Pioneer)
Lester McLeod (Ulverstone)
Toby Garrett (Bicheno)
Guthrie (Launceston)
The Mojays (Shearwater)

February 22nd
Yonder's Wall (Hobart)
Kram Nosirrah (Latrobe)
Tom Vincent (Burnie)
The Early Settlers (Burnie)
The Dudley Nightshades (Burnie)

Thanks to everyone who played and all the people who came along to watch and support them.
Winners announced soon and we hope to see you at the Festival on Saturday the 21st of March.

G'day everyone,

Hope y'all had a fantastic Christmas and New Year!

The Jack Daniel's Forth Valley Blues Festival is calling for participants in the 2009 Talent Quest.

The 2009 Talent Quest has four categories:
The winner of the Damian Greenwood Memorial Judge's Choice Award will play on the main stage during the 12th annual Jack Daniel's Forth Valley Blues Festival on Saturday March 21st 2009.

The winner of the Mal Greenop Memorial People's Choice Award will play at the Forth Pub on Friday March 20, 2009.

The winner of the Committee's Choice Award will play on the morning of the Festival on Saturday March 21, 2009.

The winner of the Acoustic Choice Award will play the morning after the Festival on Sunday March 22, 2009. (Acoustic acts are eligible for all categories).

The 2009 Talent Quest will be held each Sunday in February at the Forth Pub starting at 4:00pm.
A PA will be provided along with a drum kit (bring your own cymbals) and a bass cabinet and amp.
A sound tech will also be in attendance.

A 30 minute set of blues based material would be great!
All participants get a free ticket to the festival.
The decisions of the judges and committee are final.

Let me know which Sunday in February you will be available to play!

The Jack Daniel's Forth Valley Blues Festival will be hosting Heat 4 of the Talent Quest this weekend, Sunday the 24th of February, at the Bridge Hotel Forth kicking off around 3:30 pm.
It's the last heat and we have 6 confirmed starters this week after a couple of late withdrawals due to work commitments.

The 2008 Talent Quest has four categories:
The winner of the Damian Greenwood Memorial Judge's Choice Award will play on the main stage during the 11th annual Jack Daniel's Forth Valley Blues Festival on Saturday March 15, 2008 (won last year by The Middletones).
The winner of the Mal Greenop Memorial People's Choice Award will play at the Forth Pub on Friday March 14, 2008 (won last year by Blue Monday).
The winner of the Committee's Choice Award will play on the morning of the Festival on Saturday March 15, 2008 (won last year by Deviot Blues).
The winner of the Acoustic Choice Award will play the morning after the Festival on Sunday March 16, 2008 (won last year in a tie by Neil Gibson and Jacob Boote).
Acoustic acts are eligible for all categories.

Acts for this week are:
Paul Johns - Forth
Deviot Blues - Launceston
The Dudley Nightshades - Burnie
Katz Rockets - Launceston
The Kellie Collins Band - Launceston
The Muddy Turds - Hobart

Come along and hear some great music and vote for your favourite act.
Support our visitors and make their trip memorable.
Free entry to the heats at Forth Pub!

If anyone else is interested in playing let me know ASAP and we will see what can be organised.
Thanks and see you at Forth on Sunday!

With mainly bands on this week, performers please note we provide the following:
- Barter Drums hand made drum kit (bring your own cymbals)
- PA for vocals and acoustic guitars
- sound technician
- Mark Bass LM II 500 watt head and Mark Bass 104F 4 x 10 cabinet

Bring your instruments, guitar amps and cymbals.

The Jack Daniel's Forth Valley Blues Festival held Heat 3 of the Talent Quest on Sunday the 17th of February, at the Bridge Hotel Forth.
It was a big one with 7 acts and a large and enthusiastic crowd in attendance!

Unfortunately Steph Brett from St Helens was a late withdrawal. We received a phone message that she had been in an accident and broken both her legs. Hopefully this isn't correct and we hope you are fit and well Steph.

SaD, Sean and Dave, from Devonport started the day off with some of Dave's originals.

Marita Mangano from St Helens played some lovely folky blues showing off her strong and sweet voice.

Toby Garrett made the trip from Bicheno to play his resonator guitar and home made lap resonator and laid down some great slide work.

The Middletones, the winners of last years Talent Quest, hit the road early to make the long trip up from Middleton in the Channel. They showed why they won last year, with great originals and fantastic takes of some old classics.

Neville and Michelle of Burnie displayed their strong voices and guitar work with some wonderful duets.

The Bone Rattlers from Hobart really put on a show and had the Forth pub crowd on their feet. If you weren't there then you missed out big time! Check 'em out if you get a chance.

The Mojays from Shearwater might only play in a garage with their neighbours complaining about the noise, but they pumped out some great tunes in their first public performance. Well done fellas.

Thanks to everyone who came and played and all the people there to support them.
One more week of heats to go with the last one on this Sunday, the 24th of February!

The Jack Daniel's Forth Valley Blues Festival will be hosting Heat 3 of the Talent Quest this weekend, Sunday the 17th of February, at the Bridge Hotel Forth kicking off around 3:00 pm.
Its going to be a big one with 8 confirmed starters!

The 2008 Talent Quest has four categories:
The winner of the Damian Greenwood Memorial Judge's Choice Award will play on the main stage during the 11th annual Jack Daniel's Forth Valley Blues Festival on Saturday March 15, 2008.
The winner of the Mal Greenop Memorial People's Choice Award will play at the Forth Pub on Friday March 14, 2008.
The winner of the Committee's Choice Award will play on the morning of the Festival on Saturday March 15, 2008.
The winner of the Acoustic Choice Award will play the morning after the Festival on Sunday March 16, 2008.
(Acoustic acts are eligible for all categories.)

Acts for this week are:
David Hughes - Devonport
Marita Mangano - St Helens
Toby Garrett - Bicheno
Steph Brett - St Helens
The Middletones - Middleton
Neville and Michelle - Burnie
Bone Rattlers - Hobart
The Mojays - Shearwater

Follow the links and have a listen to some of the talent that will be on show this week.
Come along and hear some great music and vote for your favourite act.
Support our visitors and make their trip memorable.
Free entry to the heats at Forth Pub!

Just a heads up for performers.
With so many acts on we want to try and get underway around 3:00 pm and there will be a strict limit of 30 minutes so we don't run too long.
Thanks and see you at Forth on Sunday!

The Jack Daniel's Forth Valley Blues Festival held Heat 2 of the Talent Quest on Sunday the 10th of February, at the Bridge Hotel Forth.

The 2008 Talent Quest has four categories:
The winner of the Damian Greenwood Memorial Judge's Choice Award will play on the main stage during the 11th annual Jack Daniel's Forth Valley Blues Festival on Saturday March 15, 2008.
The winner of the Mal Greenop Memorial People's Choice Award will play at the Forth Pub on Friday March 14, 2008.
The winner of the Committee's Choice Award will play on the morning of the Festival on Saturday March 15, 2008.
The winner of the Acoustic Choice Award will play the morning after the Festival on Sunday March 16, 2008.
(Acoustic acts are eligible for all categories.)

Performers in Heat 2 were all excellent:
Dean Folks - Deloraine, acoustic guitar, resonator guitar and homemade cigar box guitar blues
Wani Birt - Ulverstone, reggae / blues
Marcus Wynwood - Ulverstone, mainly original acoustic blues
Younger Dryas - Launceston, rock blues originals
Zac Lister and Hank - Launceston, funky acoustic guitar and sax originals

We have 8 acts confirmed for each of the next 2 weeks!
Heat 3 this Sunday, the 17th of February.
Heat 4 Sunday week, the 24th of February.
Come along and hear some great music and vote for your favourite act.
Support our visitors and make their trip memorable.
Free entry to the heats at Forth Pub!

Thanks for your support.

The Jack Daniel's Forth Valley Blues Festival will be hosting Heat 2 of the Talent Quest this weekend, Sunday the 10th of February, at the Bridge Hotel Forth kicking off around 3:30 pm.

The 2008 Talent Quest has four categories:
The winner of the Damian Greenwood Memorial Judge's Choice Award will play on the main stage during the 11th annual Jack Daniel's Forth Valley Blues Festival on Saturday March 15, 2008.
The winner of the Mal Greenop Memorial People's Choice Award will play at the Forth Pub on Friday March 14, 2008.
The winner of the Committee's Choice Award will play on the morning of the Festival on Saturday March 15, 2008.
The winner of the Acoustic Choice Award will play the morning after the Festival on Sunday March 16, 2008.
(Acoustic acts are eligible for all categories.)

Confirmed starters for this week are:
Dean Folks - Deloraine
Jesse Higgs - Launceston
Marcus Wynwood - Ulverstone
Kellie Collins Band - Launceston
Younger Dryas - Launceston
Zac Lister Band - Launceston

Plus some special guests (hopefully) or late additions!

Come along and hear some great music and vote for your favourite act.
Support our visitors and make their trip memorable.
Free entry to the heats at Forth Pub!

Heats are run each Sunday in February.

Heat 1 of the Jack Daniel's Forth Valley Blues Festival Talent Quest was held on Sunday the 3rd of February at the Bridge Hotel Forth.
A large and vocal crowd was in attendance and gave all performers plenty of support.

Acts on the day were:
Karen Knuckey - Turners Beach, solo acoustic tunes to start the day off.
Kram Nosirrah - Latrobe, solo acoustic with some backing tracks.
Regulators - Ulverstone (Dave Lillas & Matthew Carr), acoustic guitar duo.
Jacob Boote - Ulverstone, on National Tricone, banjo and ukelele with stomp box.
Moe Grizzly - Hobart, big twin electric guitar assault and drums.
The Riot Act - Hobart, 5 piece funky blues.
Ella Rose - Leith, cameo solo acoustic performance from a talented 11 year old.
Neville & Michelle - Burnie, impro act and they will return for heat 3.

If you are keen to play in this Sunday's heat (or heats 3 & 4) reply back ASAP.
Even though it is a competition we are trying to promote a supportive environment where you can come and play, and every player wins a prize (free ticket to the Festival).

Heats are run each Sunday in February.

The Jack Daniel's Forth Valley Blues Festival will be hosting Heat 1 of the Talent Quest this weekend, Sunday the 3rd of February at the Bridge Hotel Forth kicking off around 3:30 pm.

The 2008 Talent Quest has four categories:
The winner of the Damian Greenwood Memorial Judge's Choice Award will play on the main stage during the 11th annual Jack Daniel's Forth Valley Blues Festival on Saturday March 15, 2008.
The winner of the Mal Greenop Memorial People's Choice Award will play at the Forth Pub on Friday March 14, 2008.
The winner of the Committee's Choice Award will play on the morning of the Festival on Saturday March 15, 2008.
The winner of the Acoustic Choice Award will play the morning after the Festival on Sunday March 16, 2008.
(Acoustic acts are eligible for all categories.)

Confirmed starters are:
Dave Lillas - Ulverstone
Kram Nosirrah - Latrobe
Jacob Boote - Ulverstone
Moe Grizzly - Hobart
The Riot Act - Hobart

Plus some special guests (hopefully) or late additions!

If you are keen to play in this Sunday's heat (or heats 2 - 4) reply back ASAP.
Even though it is a competition we are trying to promote a supportive environment where you can come and play, and every player wins a prize (free ticket to the Festival).

Come along and hear some great music and vote for your favourite act.
Support our visitors from Hobart and make their trip memorable.
Free entry to the heats at Forth Pub!

Heats are run each Sunday in February.