Little Stevens Blues School får "Keeping the Blues Alive"-pris!

For en fantastisk og gledelig nyhet: «Keeping the Blues Alive Award» til Little Stevens Blues School! Stemningen stod naturlig nok i taket hos oss da nyheten kom fra The Blues Foundation i Memphis om at de hedrer Notodden Blues Festival sitt mangeårige opplæringsprosjekt for ungdom med den prestisjetunge prisen «Keeping the Blues Alive Award».  Det er blues-verdens fremste utmerkelse og anerkjennelse for aktiviteter for å fremme blues som musikkform. Prisen deles ut med seremoni i Memphis 10. januar. 

«Dette er helt enormt. En fantastisk anerkjennelse for det arbeidet vi har gjort for og med ungdom uavbrutt siden 1989. Dette er den største hedersutmerkelsen og anerkjennelsen vi kan få. Dette er en stor inspirasjon i vårt videre arbeid med opplæring og satsing på unge musikere innen vår musikksjanger. 2024 fortsetter med dette å være et fantastisk år for Notodden Blues Festival. Vi må nå til Memphis for å ta imot prisen. Little Steven har også sagt at han kommer,» sier daglig leder i Notodden Blues Festival, Halvor Sælebakke. 

Begrunnelsen for tildelingen fra The Blues Foundation:
"The Blues Foundation proudly recognizes Little Steven’s Blues School for its exceptional contributions to blues music education through its longstanding partnership with the Notodden Blues Festival in Norway. Established in 1989 as the Notodden Blues Festival Blues Seminar, it stands among the oldest blues education programs for youth, fostering a new generation of blues talent in Norway and beyond.

The program has helped launch the careers of renowned Norwegian musicians such as Amund Maarud, Odd Nordstoga, Vegard Tveitan, Thomas Haugen, and Christoffer “Kid” Andersen, all of whom have become professional touring blues artists and musicians.

Little Steven’s Blues School offers two distinct pathways:
Band Camp 1: An introductory program for youth aged 13–18.
Band Camp 2: A more advanced, career-focused program for young adults aged 19–26.

Since 2015, Little Steven’s involvement has expanded the program’s reach, creating collaborations with the Pinetop Perkins Foundation and the European Blues Union. The school’s faculty includes esteemed Norwegian musicians and notable international guest artists such as Earl Thomas, Johnny Burgin, Bob Margolin, Lowell “Banana” Levenger (The Youngbloods), Canned Heat, Kid Andersen, Bernard Purdie, Doug MacLeod and Little Steven himself.

In 2024, Little Steven’s Blues School was featured in the documentary “Blues Town Rising,” which explores how blues music can drive cultural and community renewal. By inspiring young musicians to engage with and perform blues music, the school plays a critical role in preserving and advancing the blues tradition in Norway."
This program continues to be a beacon for blues education, proving that music can transcend borders and build vibrant communities.