Auditions to determine the opening act of the Billtown Blues Festival began in 1993, as more and more bands began to form and spread the music throughout our region. That first audition was won by the trio Artie "the Cat" Renkel, Nate Myers and Greg Burgess. They opened the 1993 4th Annual Billtown Blues Festival.

In 1997 the Billtown Blues Association Inc. joined the Blues Foundation in Memphis, TN, raising the stakes. Winners no longer stopped with opening our festival. They were now eligible to compete in the International Blues Challenge (IBC) in Memphis, TN. Frank Grace & the Detonators were the first band to go for that prize as the 1997 Billtown Blues Festival audition winners. Billtown's 1998 Festival auditon winners, BC & the Blues Crew, advanced to the finals at the 1998 International Blues Challenge...not bad, considering the competition.

The 1999 IBC was moved from October 1999 to January 2000 as part of the first annual Blues First Convention, sponsored by the Blues Foundation. The 1999 audition winner Big Daddy Dex and the Groove represented the Billtown Blues Association, Inc. at the 2000 International Blues Challenge and the first "Blues First Convention." Representing the BBA at the 2001 IBC was Dan Stevens, and in 2002, Blues and Gasoline.

The 2002 audition winners Mike Guldin and Rollin' and Tumblin also made it all the way to the 2003 IBC finals! This was the second time a band representing the Billtown Blues Association received this honor.

Representing the BBA at the International Blues Challenge in:
2004 - The Lipsmackin Blues Band
2005 - The Blind Chitlin Kahunas in the Band category
          Sean Appel in the Solo/Duo category
2006 - Nate Myers and the Aces
2007 - Jonah Gregory in the Solo/Duo category
          The Blind Chitlin Kahunas in the Band category
2008 - Black-N-Blues in the Band category
          Brennon John in the Solo/Duo category
2009 - Ann Kerstetter Band in the Band category
          V.E. Paul in the Solo/Duo category
2010 - Irving Street Blues in the Band category
          Jack & Lilly in the Solo/Duo category

BILLTOWN BLUES CHALLENGE PARTICIPANTS

2009 Band Winner: Irving Street Blues   Participants: Flicker Blues Band, In The Kitchen,
       The Blind Chitlin Kahunas, Dirty Bird Blues Band, BluesMoon
       Solo/Duo Winner: Jack and Lilly
         Participants: Hannah Bingman & Doug McMinn, Kim and Ed Rhoades

2008 Band Winner: Ann Kerstetter Band Participants: Irving Street Blues, Nate Myers & the Aces,
       The Blind Chitlin Kahunas, The Dirty Nickels, BluesMoon
       Solo/Duo Winner: V.E. Paul Participants: Hannah Bingman & Doug McMinn, Steve Quelet, Jay Short

2007 Winner: Black-N-Blues
Participants: Brennon John (Runner-Up), The Dirty Nickels, Round Dog

2006 Winner: Jonah Gregory
Participants: The Blind Chitlin Kahunas, Dirty Bird, Round Dog

2005 Winner: Nate Myers and the Aces
Participants: Black and Blues, Doug McMinn, Midnight Shift, Octavia and the Earthblood Blues Band, Slaughterhouse Blues

2004 Winner: The Blind Chitlin Kahunas
Participants: Sean Appel, Jay and Rosie Short, Shade Tree Mechanics

2003 Winner: Lipsmackin Blues Band
Participants: The Fat Cats, Fat Vinny & the Wiseguys, Jay Short & Jonah Gregory, Zydecoal

2002 Winner: Mike Guldin and Rollin' and Tumblin
Participants: The Fat Cats, Jay Short & Jonah Gregory, The Jeff Fetterman Band, Shade Tree Mechanics

2001 Winner: Blues and Gasoline
Participants: Susquehanna Sheiks, Shade Tree Mechanics, 100° In The Shade, 9 lb. Hammer

2000 Winner: Dan Stevens
Participants: Cobra Kings Blues Band, Lick Farm, Doug McMinn, Don Shappelle

1999 Winner: Big Daddy Dex and the Groove
Participants: Cobra Kings Blues Band, Doug & Dave, Nuclear Dave & the Reactors, Young Gun Blues Band

1998 Winner: BC & the Blues Crew
Participants: Blues & Gasoline, Cruel 4 Days, Little Sister & the Rhythm Method, R.C. Yetter & Riviera Paradise, The Sirens

1997 Winner: Frank Grace & the Detonators
Participants: AAA Blues Band, Bluezilla, Blues & Gasoline, Crosscut Saw, Cruel 4 Days

1996 Winner: Tom Rosencrans and Nate Myers.
Participants: Blue Willie and Jay Short, The Dave Brumbaugh Band, Greg Burgess Trio, The Nightcrawlers, The John Sullivan Band

1995 Winner: Mo' Blues

1994 Winner: Krypton City Blues Review

1993 Winner: Artie Renkel, Nate Myers and Greg Burgess