Edmonton based blues band The Boogie Patrol can stand “toe to toe” with the best blues musicians in the world, as they proved in Memphis  for the 30th Annual  Blues Challenge last month.
 “ We were sent there by the Edmonton  Blues Association to represent  Northern Alberta. There were bands from all over the United States, Canada, Israel, the Philippines,” said Boogie Patrol frontman/ harp player “Rotten Dan” Shinnan.

The trimmed down blues juggernaut come to the Slice, Feb. 21.
The Boogie Patrol include "Rott'n" Dan - Harmonica & Lead Vocals; Yuji Ihara - Guitar & Backing Vocals; Nigel Gale - Bass & Backing Vocals and JJ - Drums & Percussion.

“ There were 158 bands. We did all right. We made it to the semi-finals with 46 other bands, but we didn’t make it to the finals. But it was great,” he said.

“We’re always stretching it. We play more than just the blues. But the blues is where it all comes from,” he said.

“It was interesting to see everybody else’s take on the blues and to see how they appreciate and appreciate our take on it,” he said.
 They played three shows on the same bill with a lot of other bands. This was their second visit to Memphis for the International Blues Challenge.

“ We also went to Mississippi to jam at some juke joints there,” he said.

“ The highlight for me was we went to Al Green’s church service in Memphis. There weren’t many people there  but there was so much energy. And Ron Wood from the Rolling Stones was there,” he enthused.

 “ It was an inspirational trip in different ways than one. And we showed we stood toe to toe with anybody,” he continued.
 Last year was a good year. They were nominated for a Maple Blues Award, but didn’t win.
“We’re looking at the bigger picture and looking at how to take it into the future. You’ve got to build your credit,” he said adding the band is constantly evolving.

 They have removed the keyboards from their sound.

“ We’ve been without keyboards for a year now. And we’ve got some new songs. And some of the songs off the last CD (“I Try and I Try and I Don’t Know What To Do… The Plan Was Set Some Time Ago And We Must Follow Through”) we just don’t play anymore,” he said.

 It has been a couple of years since they  played Lethbridge, so they are excited to return.

“We are looking forward to it. It has been too long,” Shinnan said.

 There is a $10 cover for the show which begins at 8 p.m.