Thanks to Swift Current Online and Shawn Mullen for the write up and radio spot on Whitey Somers Music competing this coming January in Memphis representing the Saskatoon Blues Society at the International Blues Challenge.
Local News
Shaunavon musician heading to Memphis
Written by Shawn Mullin Tuesday, Oct 14 2025, 4:23 PM
A Shaunavon roots and blues artist is heading to Memphis.
Whitey Somers won the Road to Memphis challenge at Buds on Broadway in Saskatoon.
The win qualified him to participate in the International Blues Challenge.
"It's an honour," said Somers. "I've been at this for a very long time, and it's nice to be recognized for my work. It's really nice to represent the Saskatoon Blues Society. They're a great bunch of folks and looking forward to representing Saskatchewan and the Blues Society down in Memphis."
Somers won a competition that required him to show his songwriting skills.
"It's pretty strict rules," he said. "You have the 25-minute set that you have to stay right on time. I did completely original music for the show. They prefer that you do. I did 25 minutes of original roots and blues, and that's what got me there."
Now he heads off to Memphis in January with an opportunity to compete with some blues greats from across North America.
"One of the main things is the fact you get to connect with a bunch of peers and colleagues and a whole bunch of industry eyes as well," Somers said. "It'll be a great learning experience. There are some panels I'll attend and I'll be competing as well, but just the chance to be down where the heartbeat of the blues is. Memphis is where it all sort of came from, and so it's going to be very exciting to go down and experience that for sure."
Somers will again be playing all original music during the competition.
His music career dates back 49 years through stints living in Ontario, Alberta, BC, and now in Shaunavon.
Somers is raising funds to help him get to Memphis through the buy me a coffee website.
