BLUES NEWS

Friar's Point Band Wins Lehigh Valley Blues Network's IBC Challenge Competition

June 13, 2010 - The Lehigh Valley Blues Network held their annual band competition better known as the IBC Challenge, which showcases top blues bands from the Lehigh Valley and surrounding area... The winners of the competition earn the right to represent Eastern Pennsylvania at the International Blues Challenge Comptition held each year in Memphis, Tennessee throughout the famed venues of historic Beale Street.  This year the talent pool was quite rich pitting the incumbant James Supra Blues Band (winners of the 2009 IBC Challenge) against "The Ral Deal" Stroudsburg. Pa., "Jasper Springs" Lehigh Valley, Pa., "Brion Blues Band" Lehigh Valley, Pa. and "Friar's Point Band" Lehigh Valley, Pa.  All  bands have the opportunity to perform a 25 minute set in front of a set of 3 independant judges (selected by the LVBN) and compete of a set of criteria outlined by The International Blues Society. 

It was an awseome show and all bands performed extremely well, but in the end, Friar's Point Band prevailed victoriuos... The band went out and performed 6 original tunes written by members of the band and received a thunderous response upon the ending of their set... The band kicked off their set with "Turn The Other Way" followed up by "I've Got A Feeling Called The Blues"... then with the addition of Miss Bev Conklin to the band, Friar's Point did redition of "You Must Think I'm Blind" written by Miss BC and on her first BC & The Blues Crew CD... It was blues with a twist of Regee and got a tremendous ovation from the crowd... Closing out the set were Friar's Point originals "Art For Money", "To The Point" & "Be Your Man"... All Friar's Point Originals were from their debut CD "To The Point" which won the LVBN's IBC Challenge "Best Self Produced CD of 2009" and competed in the 26th International Blues Challenge in Memphis earlier this year...

This will be Friar's Point Band's second trip to Memphis to represent Eastern, Pennsylvania.  In 2008 Friar's Point won the LVBN IBC Challenge Competiton and competed in the 25th International Blues Challenge... In 2009, the band did not compete in the LVBN Competition due to scheduling conflicts... but this year they got their act together (literally) and achieved their goal of winning the competition and are headed back to Memphis in February of 2011.  The band is not short on experience when it comes to competing in Memphis... The senior experienced member of Friar's Point is Karl Frick Hammond/Keyboardist... This will be Karl's 4th time making the trip to play in the venues of Beale Street... Karl has made the trip with former LVBN winners The Tom Palmer Band, where they made the finals of the competition... He has also made the trip with Mike Guldin & Rollin' & Tumblin' and his most recent trip with Friar's Point in 2009 at the 25th International Blues Challenge... Next would be Bev Conklin... Bev will be making her 3rd appearance in Memphis... BC and The Blues Crew was the first Lehigh Valley Band to make it to the finals of the IBC Competition back in the mid-90's... BC & Wayne Smith competed as Bluzin' earlier this year at the 26th International Blues Challenge in the duo category after winning the LVBN IBC Challenge Competiton in 2009... Brian Berlanda, Chris London, Jim Baldwin & Pat Powers will all be making their second trip to Memphis after winning the LVBN Competition with Friar's Point 2 years ago...

The band will be holding several fund raising events over the next several months to help defray costs of the 5 day trip to the 27th International Blues Challenge in Memphis.  Keep an eye out for the events on the band's websites and they promise you will not be disappointed with the line-up of bands at the events... Stay Tuned Folks, and get on out this summer to see Friar's Point Band as they sharpen their set list for their trip to Beale Street...


OK Friar's Point Fans... It's Official...

April 27, 2010 - After nearly 6 years, our good friend, Lead Singer & Co-Founder of Friar's Point Band, Mary Dunbar, has decided to take an extended hiatus from performing... Mary is planning on focusing her efforts towards her recent promotion at her day job, as a Marketing Representative for a Software Company in West Chester, Pa., as well as starting a family with her husband Doug.  Her new position with the company requires an increased travel agenda which leaves less time for performing and family.   Although Mary is stepping aside, she has committed to continue to work with the band throughout 2010 as she is available.  So all is not lost... For those of you who were at recent Friar's Point Shows (Sportster's in Pottstown, Pa. and Penn's Peak in Jim Thorpe, Pa.) you had the opportunity to see Mary at her very best!!! She will be missed by all of us in the band as well as our fan base... but she isn't going too far... You may see her pop up at shows here and there throughout 2010 with FPB, so keep watching the schedule and our e-mail blasts to see who will be performing with us next... If you are not on our e-mail list and would like to be, send us a brief note at info@friarspointband.com

Please join us in wishing Mary the very best in her career, as well as in starting a family with her husband Doug... We promise... You will see her again!!!

There has been a great deal of discussion as to how Friar's Point Band will move forward without Mary out front... Here is what has been decided... We have auditioned over a dozen girls to fill Mary's role in the band, and although all the girls were talented, we just could not find the right fit for the band... So with the strength in musicianship of the remaining 5 members (Karl Frick - Hammond Organ/Keyboards, Chris London - Lead Guitar, Pat Powers - Harmonica/Guitar/Vocals, Jim Baldwin - Bass Guitar & Brian Berlanda - Drums) we plan to move forward as a 5 piece band and bring in guest vocalists throughout 2010.  Of course Mary Dunbar will be one of the vocalists who will make appearences with the band this summer, and we just received some very exciting news that "The Queen of The Lehigh Valley Blues Scene", Ms. Bev Conklin will be joining Friar's Point Band for several upcoming shows through 2010, as well as compete with the band in the upcoming Lehigh Valley Blues Network's International Blues Challenge Competition on June 13, 2010 for the rights to travel to Memphis Tennessee to compete in the 27th International Blues Challenge in January of 2011.  You will be able to preview BC's performance with Friar's Point on May 8th, 2010 at the Benefit for Victims of Domestic Violence to be held at the Emmaus Fire House #1 in Emmaus , Pa.

We feel blessed that we have friends within the Blues  Community that are willing to jump in and help out... The Lehigh Valley Blues Community as well as the entire Lehigh Valley Music Scene is the very best there is!!!


Friar's Point Gets Airplay Domestic and Abroad...

January 18th, 2010 - Over the past few months Friar's Point Band has been picking up momentum in radio airplay as well as web airplay on weekly shows domestically and overseas... It appears a few overseas radio stations have found Friar's Point on the web and have included tracks off of their debut CD "To The Point" in their weekly programming... So far the band has recieved letters from Radio-Aria out of France which broadcasts not only locally but reaches Belgium, Luxembourg and the south of Germany... as well as VFM Radio 91.6 FM MHz out of Vinkovci, Croatia... On the domestic front, Lehigh Valley Pennsylvania College Radio Stations have also picked up tracks from the debut CD and have worked them into their weekly play lists... The College Stations include WLVR 91.3 FM, WMUH 91.7 FM and WXLV 90.3 FM... Also, Lehigh Valley Commercial Radio Station WZZO 95.1 FM has picked up tunes from the CD and has been playing them on their "Back Yard Bands" program which airs Sunday evenings... Friar's Point has been getting airplay over the past several months and looks to keep their momentum going... (wherever it may take them)!!!

Friar's Point Debut CD "To The Point" Best Self Produced CD of 2009
October 15th 2009 - Friar's Point Band's debut CD "To The Point" has been selected by  The Lehigh Valley Blues Network as the Best Self Produced CD of 2009 in the Lehigh Valley, Pa.  "To The Point" will now go on to be the Lehigh Valley Blues Network's entry for Best Self Produced CD of 2009 in the 26th International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee this coming January.  Along with Friar's Point, The James Supra Band  as well as Bluzin' will represent The Lehigh Valley Blues Network in the Band and the Duo Categories respectively...

You can see all 3 bands at the IBC Fund Raising Event at the Emmaus Fire Company #1 in Emmaus, Pa. on November 8, 2009 from 1:00 PM to 9:30 PM...   


Friar's Point Releases Debut CD
Friar's Point Band recently released their debut full lenght CD "To The Point"... The CD contains 8 original tunes and 2 cover tunes... The orginal music tells the story of their trip to the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee back in February of 2009 and their travels to The Crossroads in Clarksdale Mississippi as well as their visit to Hirsberg's Drugstore in Friars Point Mississippi... The two original songs highlighting Friars Point Mississippi and the history surrounding the legandary town are "To The Point" and "Where It All Began"... The CD itself is a testimonial to the legands and the great blues artists spawned from the Mississippi Delta Region...

"To The Point" has something for everyone... From catchy dance tunes to outstanding instrumentation and vocals... The Cd was recorded at Lakestone Studio in Barto Pennsylvania and produced by the band themselves...  You can preview the CD on any of the band's websites and can be purchased on line at www.friarspointband.com/FPBStore.html or at any of their live performances...



Write-Up In The Examiner's Entertainment Section
The Examiner posted an article by Rob Valine on Friar's Point 's performance at Musikfest 2009... Click on link below to read the article...
The Examiner
What A Summer!!!
Well Summer has come and gone for Friar's Point... After coming into the Festival Season off their Semi-Final Finish at The 25th International Blues Challenge in Memphis Tennessee they rolled through the summer months at Festival after Festival and finalizing their debut CD "To The Point"... Kicking off the summer at the Unicity Festival in Slaisbury Maryland the band had a strong performance and grew their fan base in the southern portin of the regional market... The weather, although threatening, held off and the show went on...

In June the band  played their normal Friday night slot at The Lehigh River Blues Jam in Catasauqua, Pa.  The band put on a very solid performance and played a number of tunes off of their New CD with the crowd response very favorable... From Catasauqua, the band traveled to East Stroudsburg, Pa. for the American Freedom Festival where the band headlined the event and played to thousands of Festival Patrons who received the band with open arms... Crowd Response was outstanding to the band's hour and a half set and solidified the NE market contingent... Then it was off to State College, Pa. for Friar's Point to perform at The Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts... Expanding west for the band proved to be a rewarding experience... Between thunderstorms the sun came out and shined on the band's performance on the lawn at "Old Main" where they again had  a healthy crowd dispite the weather... Over 500 on listeners danced and enjoyed the blues at The Arts Festival  as Friar's Point played... The band not only played their hearts out but their enthusiasm was infectuous and the crowd responded with electricity...

Fast forward a week to Godfrey Daniels in Bethlehem, Pa.  Friar's Point teamed up with their good friends The Guitardogs and played a split bill at the listening club... The response to the two bands was phenominal... Both bands have been asked to re-book the venue in 2010... It was great experience for Friar's Point to play the renouned venue and has elevated their status to a true force in the Lehigh Valley Entertainment Market...

The band also traveled to Fleetwood, Pa. to participate in the Fleetwood Blues Festival... With the line-up hosting some of the area's very best blues acts, Friar's Point played to a crowd of over 2000 and was well received.  Some of the acts that played at the 2009 festival were the likes of Todd Wolfe, Little Ragu, The Blues Factor, Bluestone & Friar's Point...

On August 6th, the band played to a packed Americaplatz at Musikfest 2009... Once again the band drawing over 1000 fans to the venue as the opener for that Thursday evening... It was the pinnacle of their summer performances to play at the event and to gain the exposure the band has worked so hard for since their inception...

Capping off the summer was the band's Debut CD Release Party at TC's Food and Spirits in Kutztown, Pa.  The venue was packed and the crowd and band fed off one another in the small venue... It was an electric atmosphere and the response to the band's original music was overwhelming...

For those of you looking to experience the band for the first time or just see them again, you can catch Friar's Point on October 3rd at Harvest Festival in downtown Bethlehem...

Friar's Point To Perform at Unicity Festival Salisbury, Maryland

Commercial for Unicity Festival
Salisbury, Maryland - Friar's Point  is set to perform at the Unicity Festival on May 16, 2009 in Salisbury Maryland ... The band will be on the  Celebrity  Stage at 3:00 PM... The event will be host to over 5000 patrons and run Friday May 15 and Saturday May 16, 2009... Visit the Unicity Festival Website for more details... www.unicityfestival.com
 

Friar's Point Confirmed For Musikfest 2009

Bethlehem, Pa. - Friar's Point has confirmed their booking at Musikfest 2009... The band will be performing at the Americaplatz located at 10 East Church Street in Bethlehem, Pa. from 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM on Thursday evening August 6th, 2009.  On a side note... Drummer Brian Berlanda will be celebrating his birthday that evening... so come out and join the fun at Musikfest 2009 in Bethlehem, Pa.

Friar's Point Schedule For Memphis IBC Competition

Last  Thursday & Friday evenings, Friar's Point  played the New Daisy Theater on famed Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee for the 25th International Blues Challenge... It was quite the experience for the band and they learned a great deal about themselves as well as the Blues Music Industry.  The band rocked the Theater with their original blues tunes  as well as their original arrangements of classic blues tunes... unfortunately it was not in the cards for the band to win over the judges... the were edged out by Delaware's Roger Girke Band.  This was Roger and his band's 3rd trip to Memphis to compete in the Challenge... They too did an awesome job with their performances and landed themselves a spot in the finals. 

The International Blues Challenge is known as the largest Battle of the Bands in the world... this year it hosted  100 bands in 10 different venues... each venue produced 1 winner which sent them into the finals... 10 bands then competed against the scoring criteria  for the top 3 spots...

It is our goal to get back to Memphis again in 2010 says  Friar's Point drummer Brian Berlanda... We all discussed it after our performances and unanimously agreed that we want to get back here next year and do this again, now that we know exactly what to expect... We feel we have a legitimate chance to make the finals  on our next trip. 

The band would like to thank all of their sponsors, friends , loved ones and families for their unwaivering support ... without them none of this would have been possible...
 

Friar's Point Heads to Memphis
On February 2nd, 2009 Friar's Point heads to Memphis, Tennessee to compete in the 25th International Blues Challenge on "famed" Beale Street... The Point will be competing against 98 other Blues Bands from around the world.  The band will be unveiling their newest "original" music in Memphis in hopes to sway the judges votes in their direction...  The songs will feature the entire band  at different times... and they feel they have several tunes that will bring the house down... Mary Dunbar lays down smokin' hot vocals on the Chris London originals  Dirty Money and To The Point... By the way, Chris London's leads are no less than superb on his originals as well... Pat Powers cranks it up with his original tune Be Your Man ... The band will also be doing two original arrangements of  cover tunes... John Lee Hooker's Boom Boom and Susan Tedeschi's Little By Little... The band is primed and at their finest... Since Karl Frick has joined forces with the band on Hammond Organ and Piano, it has brought the entire rhythm section together  and solidified the bands drive and dynamics... Jimmy Baldwin (Bass) & Brian Berlanda (Drums & Percussion) say that the band is at its all time high...

It appears that the band will have several local fans following them to Memphis... Fans from Stroudsburg to West Chester will be making the trip along with the band and their families to Memphis to enjoy the festivities on Beale Street!!!  As late as last night the band received confirmation that a few of their fans from Chicago and Wisconsin will be making the trip as well...

"We are really looking forward to this opportunity" quotes band leader and drummer Brian Berlanda... "It has been a long road for everyone and we feel we are finally getting some earned recognition."  "We don't have the details yet on the venue w we'll be playing in Memphis or the times, but as soon as we get the information it will post it on the web sites for everyone..."  "All we know right now is that we will be performing on Thursday and Friday February 5th & 6th and possibly Saturday February 7th... So for those of you coming down to Memphis to see us, take your laptops with you... or if you have any of the band member's cell phone numbers give us a call!!!" 

For those of you not able to travel to Memphis to catch the fun, XM  Satellite Radio will be broadcasting the event on the Bluesville Channel # 74 on your satellite radio dial...

The Band would also like to thank all of their friends who helped them with their fund raising concerts for the Memphis trip...
Don't Forget to come see Friar's Point Live on January 17th, 2009 at the Leather Corner Post in Orefield, Pa.  It will be their last tune up before heading to Memphis... See the bands "Schedule" link for more details...


Friar's Point - Finalists In LVMA
Allentown, Pa. -  The Lehigh Valley Music Awards Nominations Committee has tallied all of the votes and Friar's Point has made the top 6 bands in the "2008 Most Entertaining Band" Category...  "We are honored to have been nominated for the Lehigh Valley Music Awards, and thankful for all of our supporters who voted for us in all categories in which we were nominated... To be considered as one of the top Entertaining Bands in the Lehigh Valley is truly an honor..."

Winners of the 2008 Lehigh Valley Music Awards will be announced Monday December 1st, 2008 beginning at 7:00 PM at the Allentown Brew Works - 812 Hamilton St. - Allentown Pa.

Friar's Point Nominated For Music Awards
Allentown, Pa. -  The Lehigh Valley Music Awards announced their nominations last week... This year Friar's Point has been nominated in several of the 2008 Award Categories...  The list includes "Most Entertaining Band", "Best Original Band", "Best Blues Band" and Mary Dunbar for "Best Female Singer"... Voting begins on November 1, 2008 and runs through November 20, 2008... All Lehigh Valley fans can cast their votes on-line at  www.lvmusicawards.com  Finalists will be announced the week of Thanksgiving 2008... Awards will be held on Monday December 1st, 2008 at the Allentown Brew Works - 812 W. Hamilton St. - Allentown, Pa. Beginning at 7:00 PM...


Friar's Point: Metromix Lehigh Valley Band Of The Week
Click Here To View PDF Document


Friar's Point To Compete in The International Blues Challenge - Memphis Tennessee
Friar's Point is the 2008 winner of the Lehigh Valley Blues Network's IBC Challenge (Band Category) and will be traveling to Memphis, Tennessee the first week in February 2009... Joining Friar's Point in Memphis as representatives in the Duo Category are Lori Donovan & Jeff Roberts... Lori and Jeff are repeat winners of this category in the Lehigh Valley and will be making their second consecutive trip to Memphis to compete in the Challenge... Check out their web site

On Sunday October 19, 2008 Friar's Point will be holding one of their upcoming fund raising concerts at the Salisbury Firehouse 1226 Marlow St. Allentown, Pa. 18103 from 3:00 PM - 10:30 PM... They will have a killer line-up of seven of the top Lehigh Valley Blues Artists... Participating bands are, The Blues Factor out of Reading, Pa., The Guitardogs and Johnny T's Rough Mix both out of Bucks County, Pa., Jack Murray & Friends out of the Lehigh Valley, Bev Conklin & Company (1998 International Blues Challenge Finalist - Memphis, Tennessee) and The Sarah Ayers Band (2007 Lehigh Valley Representative at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis)... The concert will be emceed by 99.9 FM The Hawk's Glenn "Mitch" Mitchell... "Mitch" wanted to remind everyone that it is the Philadelphia Eagles "bye week", so all of you Eagles fans have no excuse!!!








PHOTOS FROM OUR OCTOBER 19, 2008 IBC FUND RAISER CONCERT



- Then -
On Sunday December 14, 2008 Friar's Point will be holding their "Northern Exposure" fund raising concert at The Roads End Pub & Club 315 W. Broad Street Hazleton, Pa. 18201... The event will run similar to the Allentown event... Doors open at 2:00 PM and the bands start at 3:00 PM and will run through 10:30 PM... Again there will be a killer line-up of bands... bands currently committed to the concert are YMI, Kartune and Bounty Hunter out of the Hazleton area and from the Lehigh Valley will be Donovan/Roberts, Guitardogs, and the Sarah Ayers Band... The Concert will be emceed by comedian extraordinaire Ed Samler... Ed tells me that it is the Cleveland Browns "bye week", so we would have had a good turnout even if they were playing that week!!!

Come on out and support Friar's Point on their trip to Memphis and here some great local music while you are there...Concessions will be available at both events... (food, drinks, cd's, t-shirts etc.) 

Both Events Are 21 and Older Events!!!

Hope to see you there!!!







We would also like to thank our sponsors, supporters & promoters... DeAngelo Brothers, Inc., The Lehigh Valley Blues Network, WDIY  88.1 FM  National Public Radio serving the Lehigh Valley, and Classic Hits 99.9 FM The Hawk Radio Station serving the Lehigh Valley & Western N.J.... and of course it would not be possible without our families and fans!!! 

Thank you all so very much!!!