Blues Challenge Competition coming to Fort Smith

By TERRY JOE WILES

It’s time to pick the winners to represent Fort Smith, Arkansas, in January 2026 at the International Blues Challenge on Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee.

Read more: Blues Challenge Competition coming to Fort Smith

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There are two categories — solo/duet and band — in which each will have up to four entries. There’s a lot of talent this year.

Show up, jump, cheer and holler for your favorite. Being put on by the Fort Smith Riverfront Blues Society, the first act will take the stage at 1 p.m. Sunday at Digs Restaurant in the Bakery District.

This is a huge event in Memphis with more than 200 entries on several stages adding several thousand fans digging the music (and the barbecue) from all over the globe.

Oklahoma Blues Society had a first place band — “Smilin’ Vic and the Soul Monkeys” — in 1996. In 1997, Chris Cameron’s band, “Fort Smith Blues Society,” took home the first place prize.

So on Sunday, Fort Smith will select its blues representatives, and you can be there to listen to it all.

The “Third Sunday Blues Jam” will take place immediately after the contest. Everybody loves da blues!

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There will be Jazz at the Museum at Hotel Lowery tonight and is put on by Donna and David Deaton and the LeFlore County Historical Society.

Located in downtown Poteau at the corner of Dewey and Witte avenues, “The Al Grzech Trio” with special guests will bring you a show that includes tidbits of information about the songs, writers and musicians that performed them. It’s entertaining and educational, all in a beautiful setting of the LeFlore County Museum at Hotel Lowery lobby. It’s a free event with snacks and drinks available. It all will start at 6:30 p.m.

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Special thanks to Shelia and David Keith, Raymond and all the kind folks at the Muldrow City Limits for throwing mom a birthday celebration last Saturday night. She loved it.

Thanks to all the well wishers on Facebook. I read them all to her. Age 92 just comes once in a lifetime. Former sports editor/news editor David Seeley just helped his mom celebrate her 99th birthday, which happened on Aug. 30. What a joy it is to still have her!

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Coming up in October, the Turkey Track Bluegrass Fall Festival, which takes place just east of Waldron, Arkansas, will take place Oct. 8-11. There will be an awesome line-up this year, and a shady amphitheater to enjoy all the shows.

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Over in Ozark Arkansas, it’s TeleTime — A Roy Buccanan Tribute with the best pickers in the line-up — James Glen Loveless, Gary Hutchinson, Randall George and Ben Haggard. It will take place from 3-9 p.m. Oct. 11. What a show!

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Poteau’s BalloonFest is Oct. 17-18. All the fun a family can stand, and live music to boot AND a barbecue contest!

Sign your team up today. More information can be found on the Poteau Chamber of Commerce Facebook page.

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As for live music this week, Randy Fennell and Hank McMurtery will be at Little Italy in Mena, Arkansas, from 6-9 p.m. Friday. Then on Saturday, it’s “Randy Fennell and the Oklahoma 59 South Band” at Crocky’s Cafe in Hackett, Arkansas, with the music starting at 6 p.m.

Muldrow City Limits has “Backroads” playing on Saturday night. The music will start at 7 p.m., with the doors opening at 6 p.m. The attendance has been consistently around 100 to140 dancers, so get there early for a good seat.

Poteau’s Chamber of Commerce has a “Ducked Up”Jeep and Car Show on Saturday. Registration will begin at 3 p.m. There will be food trucks (Fat Man’s Barbecue, Poppa Roc’s Pizza and craft beer from Shop Dog and Rough Day Brewing Company). There will be “Catch the Duck” games with prizes, local vendors and live Music in the 220 Dewey District Event Park! There will be lots of cars and jeeps that will line Dewey Avenue for the show and judging. This will be a great event for the whole family.

“Make It a Double” will be at El Toro Mexican Restaurant in Fort Smith on Saturday night. There will be awesome country music from the husband and wife duo of Connie and David Abbott, who will cover all the bases. It’s a joy to hear them in any venue. The music will start at 6 p.m.

Well, that’s definitely NOT all that I have to say but I will leave you with this. Don’t take no wooden nickels!

For additional information about any live-music events or to let me know about any such venues, call or text message me at (918) 649-5736, message me through Facebook or e-mail me at tj.wiles61@outlook.com.

Thanks for supporting local live music.

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