he Maine Blues Society, a nonprofit group that spreads the gospel of blues music here in Maine and beyond. The 49-year-old Lewiston resident is a self-described “music nut,” who helps organize blues-based concerts throughout the state and provides support for both established and up-and-coming acts.

The Maine Blues Society, which has many members from the Freeport-Pownal-Durham area, is hosting its Road to Memphis competition on Sunday in Auburn for Maine blues bands and solo and duo acts. Winners will be eligible to compete in the 2014 International Blues Competition in Memphis.

Little recently took a few moments to speak with the Tri-Town Weekly about the state of the blues in Maine, his love of the genre and how he’s the man to call if you need a drummer in a pinch.

Q: For those who do not know, what is the Maine Blues Society?

A: It’s an organization that promotes and expands the enjoyment of blues here in Maine.

Q: How long has it been around?

A: It’s been around since 1989 and was started by WMPG (a Portland-based community radio station operated by the University of Southern Maine).

Q: What sorts of things does your organization do?

A: We have our annual Road to Memphis contest, sponsor open jams throughout the year, and try and bring blues acts from outside of Maine into Maine.

Q: How would you describe the Maine blues scene? This is a part of the country normally not associated with the blues.

A: First of all, there are a lot of festivals up here in the summertime starting with a blues festival in Naples at Bray’s Brew Pub, the Maine Blues Festival in Rockland in July, which in 2002 won the Blues Foundation Promoting Blues award,and also a Damariscotta-based event in August called the DamBlues Fest. There is also a New Hampshire-based festival in the White Mountains that we are a part of. We have a number of younger musicians under 25 that are keeping the tradition alive, which is cool.

Q: Your organization is member supported?

A: Yes, a membership is available to anybody and supports our organizations efforts to promote the blues. Our membership ranks are growing and we do offer lifetime memberships. As an example, I hosted a house party featuring five musicians and over 75 people showed up through the membership word of mouth. It’s one of the many things we do. Someone might call me and ask where they can find a drummer in a half an hour. I hook up musicians throughout Maine so there is a networking aspect to the organization. Sometimes its people looking to start a band or it can be just for one gig.

Q: What is it that attracts you to this type of music?

A: I’ve loved music my entire life and especially the blues, it’s a pure and incredible form of music.

Q: How does your Road to Memphis contest work?

A: We have nine bands and five solo musicians in an open competition. Aanyone can enter. A winner is selected from both the band category and the solo category and we sponsor their trip to Memphis, Tenn., to compete in the International Blues Challenge. These are all Maine bands. This is the 18th year of the contest.

Q: How is the contest judged?

A: There is a score sheet and we adopt the rules from the International Blues Challenge (the governing body who sanctions the contest) and the five judges are from three Maine radio stations. Contestants are judged on blues content, stage performance, vocals and originality.

Q: Do the musicians play both original songs and cover songs?

A: Yes, it can run the gamut, but they score a lot more points for playing original material. The styles can vary from “jump” blues to boogie-woogie.

Q: What has to exist in a song for it to be considered blues?

A: It’s based on a 12-beat rhythm and hopefully lots of harmonica.

President of the Maine Blues Society Duane Little, right, with the Juke Rockets, the 2012 Road to Memphis contest winners. 
Courtesy photo

he Maine Blues Society, a nonprofit group that spreads the gospel of blues music here in Maine and beyond. The 49-year-old Lewiston resident is a self-described “music nut,” who helps organize blues-based concerts throughout the state and provides support for both established and up-and-coming acts.

The Maine Blues Society, which has many members from the Freeport-Pownal-Durham area, is hosting its Road to Memphis competition on Sunday in Auburn for Maine blues bands and solo and duo acts. Winners will be eligible to compete in the 2014 International Blues Competition in Memphis.

Little recently took a few moments to speak with the Tri-Town Weekly about the state of the blues in Maine, his love of the genre and how he’s the man to call if you need a drummer in a pinch.

Q: For those who do not know, what is the Maine Blues Society?

A: It’s an organization that promotes and expands the enjoyment of blues here in Maine.

Q: How long has it been around?

A: It’s been around since 1989 and was started by WMPG (a Portland-based community radio station operated by the University of Southern Maine).

Q: What sorts of things does your organization do?

A: We have our annual Road to Memphis contest, sponsor open jams throughout the year, and try and bring blues acts from outside of Maine into Maine.

Q: How would you describe the Maine blues scene? This is a part of the country normally not associated with the blues.

A: First of all, there are a lot of festivals up here in the summertime starting with a blues festival in Naples at Bray’s Brew Pub, the Maine Blues Festival in Rockland in July, which in 2002 won the Blues Foundation Promoting Blues award,and also a Damariscotta-based event in August called the DamBlues Fest. There is also a New Hampshire-based festival in the White Mountains that we are a part of. We have a number of younger musicians under 25 that are keeping the tradition alive, which is cool.

Q: Your organization is member supported?

A: Yes, a membership is available to anybody and supports our organizations efforts to promote the blues. Our membership ranks are growing and we do offer lifetime memberships. As an example, I hosted a house party featuring five musicians and over 75 people showed up through the membership word of mouth. It’s one of the many things we do. Someone might call me and ask where they can find a drummer in a half an hour. I hook up musicians throughout Maine so there is a networking aspect to the organization. Sometimes its people looking to start a band or it can be just for one gig.

Q: What is it that attracts you to this type of music?

A: I’ve loved music my entire life and especially the blues, it’s a pure and incredible form of music.

Q: How does your Road to Memphis contest work?

A: We have nine bands and five solo musicians in an open competition. Aanyone can enter. A winner is selected from both the band category and the solo category and we sponsor their trip to Memphis, Tenn., to compete in the International Blues Challenge. These are all Maine bands. This is the 18th year of the contest.

Q: How is the contest judged?

A: There is a score sheet and we adopt the rules from the International Blues Challenge (the governing body who sanctions the contest) and the five judges are from three Maine radio stations. Contestants are judged on blues content, stage performance, vocals and originality.

Q: Do the musicians play both original songs and cover songs?

A: Yes, it can run the gamut, but they score a lot more points for playing original material. The styles can vary from “jump” blues to boogie-woogie.

Q: What has to exist in a song for it to be considered blues?

A: It’s based on a 12-beat rhythm and hopefully lots of harmonica.

President of the Maine Blues Society Duane Little, right, with the Juke Rockets, the 2012 Road to Memphis contest winners. 
Courtesy photo