BETHEL – The Funky Red Barn will host the third Road to Memphis Competition as part of the Maine Blue Society’s search for one band and a solo/duo act to represent the state at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis in February of 2008.

Previous competitions were held in Portland and in Rockland, and an overall competition for venue/regional winners will be held May 6 in Topsham.

Brooke and Barry Hallett, owners of the Funky Red Barn, purchased the former “Backstage” location several years ago, in hopes of creating a blues scene in Bethel – while maintaining a comfortable local gathering place.

Earlier this year, the Halletts began featuring open blues jams from 4 to 8 p.m. on Sundays. They invited local music legend Sam Chapman to host the event and to draw from his 30-plus years of professional music experience and contacts.

The result has had a domino effect.

With the closing of The Midnight Blues Club in Auburn, the region was left without a gathering place to hear or dance to the blues. Before long, musicians reunited with former band members, some from nationally touring acts over the last several decades. Chapman himself toured the country as a Hank Williams impersonator in a ’50s act. Others like Rolly York, Andy Cummings and Leroy Pappas, who make up the Funky Red Barn’s house band, invited others they had toured with as well – and the jams continue to grow.

Besides competing in Tennessee, the winners of this year’s Road to Memphis Blues Challenge will appear as performers at the second annual Maine Blues Festival to be held this June in Naples.

The competition at the Funky Red Barn will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 29, followed by a jam. The barn is at 19 Summer St. The overall competition May 6 will be held at 2:30 p.m. at Sea Dog Brewing in Topsham,

Usually, The Funky Red Barn does not charge admission, but on April 29 a $5 donation will be asked at the door -but no one is obligated to pay and no one will be turned away. Supporters and enthusiasts are encouraged to make contributions to help offset the cost incurred by winning artists traveling to Memphis to compete. The Maine Blues Society contributes $500 to each of the winning acts from Maine.

For more information, call the Funky Red Barn at 824-3003; or go online to www.funkyredbarn.com.