Niwot's Joe Pacheco qualifies for Memphis IBC competition with George Street and the Drive

The International Blues Challenge (IBC), the world's largest and most prestigious blues music competition, will once again bring together hundreds of talented musicians from around the globe. Hosted on the iconic Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee, the competition will run from Jan. 7 to 11, 2025.

Among those set to compete is Niwot resident Joe Pacheco, bassist and backup vocalist of the blues band George Street and the Drive, who, along with his bandmates, earned the chance to perform in Memphis by winning a local competition in October. Niwot residents are familiar with the blues band, as Street and Pacheco teamed up earlier this summer to perform at Niwot's summer concert series, Rock & Rails.

For Pacheco, this opportunity is a long time coming. With 58 years in Denver's music scene, he's a familiar name among the Mile High City's blues community. "We went into the competition with no expectations, so it was a nice surprise to walk out with a win," Pacheco shared. "It's a great accomplishment for any band."

The journey to Memphis began earlier this year when George Street and the Drive competed in the Mile High Blues Society's annual Blues Band Challenge. Though Pacheco has competed in the Mile High Blues Society event five times previously, this year marks the first for the band as a group. The competition's two rounds–held in August and October–saw bands vying for the chance to represent Colorado on the international stage. Pacheco expressed his gratitude to the Mile High Blues Society and its president, George Williams, for making the event possible.

While Pacheco has yet to play in Memphis, the thought of performing on Beale Street holds special significance for him. "I'm excited to get to play in Memphis," he said. "It's a great accomplishment for me for as many years as I've been playing, and a great accomplishment for the band."

As the band prepares, they're focusing on fine-tuning a 25-minute set of original music. "We're going to play our seven best original songs," said Pacheco, highlighting the work of lead singer and songwriter George Street, who founded the band three years ago.

Alongside Pacheco and Street is drummer Doug Dietz, who joined in April. The three have quickly developed a chemistry that they are excited to showcase in Memphis. "We'd like to win and bring the title home," Pacheco said, emphasizing that they are rehearsing weekly to make every second of their set count.

Competing at the IBC is no small feat. With over 200 bands expected to participate, the first two nights are cutthroat, with half of the competitors eliminated each round. "Those who make it to Friday night are the real deal," Pacheco explained. "It's a good time to get on stage and impress the people out there with our music." He sees the competition as an opportunity to further refine his craft, noting, "Doing original work is a nice challenge."

In addition to the honor of competing, the event week offers IBC participants a host of networking opportunities with blues promoters, producers, and other industry professionals. Pacheco hopes the experience will help gain the band recognition, whether in Memphis or back home in Colorado. "Our goal is to get inspired and be able to write our best music in the future," he said. "If nothing happens in Memphis, maybe something will happen in Colorado."

Adding a family element to the occasion, Pacheco's nephew, Anthony Pacheco, will also be competing in Memphis with his band, Sam Barlow & His True Blue Band, after winning their local IBC competition in Texas. This family duo aims to leave their mark on the Memphis blues scene, with Joe and his band eager to take the stage and show the world what they're made of.

As George Street and the Drive look toward January, Niwot will be cheering them on, hoping they bring home a title and the inspiration to continue shaping their unique sound in Colorado's music scene.