Press Release

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Also, should I go back to bloggin' gigs? I think I will. Starting tomorrow.

Washington, DC Band Wins International Blues Guitar Award





Matt Kelley, 26, of The Big Boy Little Band, was voted Best Guitarist at the 26th annual International Blues Challenge, held Saturday night, Jan. 23, in Memphis, TN.



The Big Boy Little Band, featuring Bret Littlehales, aka Big Boy Little, on harmonica and vocals, Robbie Leebrick on drums, and Steve Crescenze on bass in addition to Kelley's shimmering guitar playing, hosts DC's only weekly Blues jam at the Zoo Bar in Woodley Park. The band won the chance to compete in Memphis by winning the D.C. Blues Society’s Battle of the Bands in October.



The challenge featured 110 bands and 82 solo/duo acts hailing from 39 states and 14 countries. Bands competed in the semi-finals on Thursday and Friday night on Beale Street, with the top 11 advancing to Saturday’s Finals. In the final round, Kelley clinched the award with a scorching solo on BB King's "How Blue Can You Get". By the end of his solo, the 2000-plus person audience in Memphis' historic Orpheum Theater was on its feet, cheering.



Kelley, who has been playing guitar since he was 13, quit his job as a middle school science teacher 2 years ago to focus exclusively on music. Still, "I was shocked.” Kelley said. “I have never in my life seen so many good bands in one place. That I won the same Albert King Award that guys like Sean Carney won seems unreal.”



Another area band had a strong showing, as well. “That both our band and Baltimore’s representatives [Jackie Scott and the Housewreckers] made the finals shows the quality of blues music in the area,” Kelley said.



For his efforts, Kelley won a customized blue Gibson ES335 guitar, the same kind blues legend BB King plays, with the Blues Foundation logo and a customized Category 5 amplifier.



Big Boy Little Band website: Myspace.com/BigBoyLittleBand , where song samples are available.



The band can be reached via myspace or Matt can be reached individually at smapple@gmail.com or 301-257-6367.