November 21, 2004
Monterey Bay Blues Festival Presents "The Battle of the Blues Bands"

The 2004 Battle of the Blues Bands will be held November 21, 2004 in the Monterey Marriott San Carlos Ballroom from 2:00 PM to 7:30 PM. Food & Drink Available. Admission $5.00. Proceeds benefit youth scholarship fund. 

2003 Battle of the Blues Bands fun for Bands and Fans!
In November 2003 ten bands competed in the 3rd Annual Monterey Bay Blues Festival's "Battle of the Blues Bands" at the Monterey Conference Center. At stake was a chance to open the 2004 Festivals Main Stage on Saturday afternoon. 

A crowd in excess of 500 people watched, listened and danced for four and one-half hours as the Kay Bohler Blues Band, Terri Hiatt & Lori Hofer, Bishop Mayfield, Atomic Blues, Marvin Banks, Diva Ladee Chico, Pearl Alley, the Spencer Jarrett Band, Reno Jones and NiteCry all turned in stellar performances. Judges Ms Lottie Mayfield, owner of the Celebrity Ballroom in Daly City, Ms Lucy Cheshire, co-owner of the Monterey Coast Brewing Company in Salinas, Richard Bains, Director of the Music and Performing Arts Department at California State University, Monterey Bay and Karen Tyler, 2002 Battle of the Blues Bands winner, all agreed they had a tough job. Karen Tyler stated, "the music just keeps getting better every year. Choosing a winner is going to be extremely difficult". After a fun filled Sunday afternoon NiteCry was proclaimed the winner with Reno Jones and Marvin Banks in the runner-up positions. 

The Battle was started as a way of giving up and coming bands a chance to play on the festivals mains stage with the many Blues Legends that headline the festival. Jim Claypool, the current Talent Committee and Battle of the Blues Bands chairman, stated that the Monterey Bay Blues Festival is dedicated to bringing the best in new talent to the festival.