A player in Memphis
Joce Reyome wins top prize at International Blues Challenge
in Memphis, TN [Photo by Cameron Cassidy]
Island blues musician Joce Reyome recently took home the top prize in the Solo/Duo category at the 2025 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee. The five-day event welcomed hundreds of blues musicians from around the world.
Reyome earned their spot in the quarter-finals through the Maritimes to Memphis qualifier competition, presented by the East Coast Blues Society in September 2024 in Dartmouth, NS. Cape Breton’s Jon Hines Trio, a semi-finalist in Dartmouth, also made the trip to Memphis and advanced to the semifinals.
Joce Reyome has been captivating audiences with their dynamic performances on stages throughout the East Coast of Canada, where they now call home. Winner of the 2022 Music PEI Entertainer of the Year Award, Reyome brings authenticity to their performances, turning audiences into active participants in a journey through heartbreak and humour.
“This is a really big step in my career in terms of legitimacy,” says Reyome. “I’ve had wonderful support from Music PEI, Innovation PEI, and the East Coast Blues Society. I couldn’t have done it without them.”
This top prize earned Joce a ticket on the Blues Train in Colorado, a Rhythm & Blues Cruise, a full set of Lee Oskar harmonicas, a cash prize, and a magazine profile.
The 2025 International Blues Challenge, the world’s largest gathering of blues musicians, represents the worldwide search for blues bands and solo/duo blues performers ready for the international stage, yet just needing that extra big break. Run by The Blues Foundation, the event took place on the famous Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee, from January 7–11, with over 20 clubs hosting the challengers and fans.
For more about Joce Reyome, visit jocereyome.com.