On Saturday 26th September, the UK blues community gathered at Marshall Studios, Milton Keynes for this years edition of the UK Blues Challenge for an evening of music and competion in front of a sold out crowd.
With five judges presiding, the evening featured five bands with a diverse range for the evenings contest. The prize, the chance to represent the UK at both the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, and the European Blues Challenge in Portugal in 2027.
This years competition featured:
- Bison Hip
- Hollie Rogers
- Lightning Threads
- The Whisky Flowers
- Will Wilde
Each artist had 25 minutes to perform, with the judges evaluating vocal and instrumental talent, originality, stage presence and blues content, mirroring criteria used at the European and International challenges.
This Years Winners: The Whisky Flowers
After an exciting evening of music, MC Richard Dunning took to the stage to deliver the final results of this years competition. In what was the closest result in the history of the UK Blues Challenge: The winners were declared as The Whisky Flowers. On this occasion the top three positions were taken by four artists, separated by only three points. While The Whisky Flowers had come out on top, all artists attending could be proud of an incredible effort and performance.
The UK Blues Challenge brings together some of the country’s finest blues talent, with the chance to represent the UK internationally at stake. The 2026 event delivered a night of impressive performances, with The Whisky Flowers taking the honours. In what was one of the closest scored competitions we have ever seen, Steph, Aiden, Ben and Elliott are worthy winners and a strong representative for the UK at the 2027 European and International Blues Challenges.