College Park to Sing the Blues

Clarence "The Blues Man" Turner won the chance to compete at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, when he topped the other competitors last month at the D.C. Blues Society Battle of the Bands.

Now it's a matter of getting to Memphis.

This weekend's College Park Blues Festival will not only be a chance for you to soak in some soulful rhythms, but will serve as a fundraiser to get The Blues Man there to compete in what Sarah Jazs of the DCBS calls the American Idol of the Blues.

Clarence Turner will perform, along with guitarist Tom Newman, the DCBS Band featuring songster Ayaba Bey, and Warner Williams, who was awarded this summer with a National Heritage Fellowship, the highest honor for a traditional musician, according to The Washington Post.

You'll have the opportunity to dance, enjoy food and holiday vendors, and win prizes from a slew of area businesses like , , and more. A G&L Tribute Series Guitar, valued at $600 and signed by several artists, will also be raffled off.

Check out the YouTube videos with this post, featuring the performers scheduled for Saturday evening.

And even if you're not a blues fan, it's a night to honor veterans, who are encouraged to come in uniform.

What: College Park Blues Festival

When: 6 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12

Where: Ritchie Coliseum, Rossborough Dr., College Park

Cost: Free entry and parking

Artists: Clarence "The Bluesman" Turner (D.C. Blues Society Battle of the Bands winner), Warner Williams, D.C. Blues Society Band featuring Ayaba Bey, and Tom Newman.