Winning the Regional Blues Challenge earned my band, Torré LaRock Band, the chance to travel to Memphis for the National Blues Challenge. We are incredibly proud and humbled by that accomplishment, and this opportunity could lead to the International Blues Challenge for the winner. The problem is that while we thought winning would include travel expenses, it did not. We won the title, but now we have to find a way to cover the trip ourselves.

Right now, the cost of getting to Memphis simply does not fit into our personal budgets. We need to leave on January 17 so we can make the two-day drive and be there for the challenge starting on January 19. On top of the travel costs, we will also miss the opportunity to work during the 5 days of the festival, plus about 4 total days of travel. That makes this opportunity even harder for all of us to manage financially.

Support for this fundraiser will help pay for the basics we need to make the trip happen: transportation, food, and lodging. Every donation will go toward helping our band get to Memphis and compete at the National Blues Challenge without the full burden falling on each member's personal budget.

If you believe in live music, in independent artists, and in giving hardworking musicians the chance to show what they can do on a bigger stage, please consider helping us. Any amount and any share of this fundraiser would mean a lot to us and help give Torré LaRock Band the chance to make it to Memphis.