2blu

2blu, Birmingham based duo places as FINALIST in the International Blues Competition 2008 held recently in Memphis on Beale Street..

For the 24th year, Blues musicians from around the world came to compete prizes, and industry recognition as The Blues Foundation presented the 24th annual IBC which began Jan 31st 2007.and continued February 1-2, 2008 in Memphis, TN. The world's largest gathering of Blues acts represents an international search by The Blues Foundation and its Affiliated Organizations for the Blues Band and Solo/Duo Blues Act ready to take their act to the international stage. In 2007 over 90 bands and 60 solo/duoacts were there.The 2008 competition brought 160 acts to town with 60 of them being solo or duos.
The competition filled the clubs to capacity up and down Beale Street for the semi-finals on Thursday and Friday and the finals at the Orpheum Theater on Saturday.

2blu performed Thursday and Friday nights at the legendary Pat O’Brien’s pub on Beale Street. Each night every act in that venue performed before a different panel of judges, and, of course, a "pumped up”, blues loving crowd.2blu performed along with acts like the soulful Danny Brooks from Toronto ,Canada,the legendary Cornbread Harris from Minnesota, and Rude Blues from Rome Italy. Both nights were full of great tunes.
2blu was selected by the judges panels to be a finalist; one of 6 finalists out of 60 acts in their category.
2blu is currently working on a new cd called "THE OTHER SIDE" with a release date planned for April 1st or earlier.2blu performed the new material for their sets in Memphis and it seemed to go over great!
You can hear some of the "roughs" for this upcoming project at:
www.sonicbids.com/2blu2

Contact information:
Bruce Andrews
205-835-8489
205-663-9570
2blu.bruce@gmail.com

- Ugot2move

September 2007
The 2007 Battle of the Blues Bands Show at Zydeco Bar in Birmingham,AL. was last Sunday.

The 5 sol/duo acts were the first to hit
the stage and what a great start to the
day. We heard a wide variety of Blues
styles from Delta to Piedmont to Gospel
from these fi ne performers. When it was
over, 2BLU, who is deep rooted in gospel
music, was named the best solo/duo
act in the Magic City. Bruce Andrews
and George Dudley put the crowd into
a frenzy with their spiritually uplifting
performance. Sam Pointer, who specialized
in the fi nger picking Piedmont style
among other styles he has mastered,
came in second place. Troy Bland came
in third with his combo of standard
and resonator guitars. We also want to
acknowledge the other performers who
put together strong sets. Leonard Watkins
entertained us with his serious and
whimsical original tunes. Lenny and
Zachary Trawick came up from Troy to
bring us their unique blend of smooth
South Alabama Blues.
It was now time to pick up the pace
with what I call the electric competition.
The 6 bands battled hard for the next 3
hours. Each group had a signature sound
of its own. ...
Read more at magiccityblues.org. - Magic City Blues News

2blu performs on the National rolling art exhibit THE ART TRAIN USA
April 17th,2007
Artist Bruce Andrews and his guitar playing partner George Dudley make up the musical duo called “2blu”.The guys play mostly regional shows performing acoustic blues based music.
Mr. Andrews’ primary profession is that of a fine artist painting mostly individually commissioned pieces, but when he is painting for “art’s sake”, he paints the blues.
Andrews says “I have dozens of paintings of my blues heroes painted mostly on wooden panels. When 2blu performs, if the venue permits it, we display the art while we play”.
People seem to dig it, Andrews said.
Bruce will be painting and singing while George plays the guitar so come on down to the ART TRAIN!
- Academy of Arts-Shelby County