An emerging blues band from the United Kingdom will get a big break at this year's Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival, thanks to an innovative new partnership between the Festival, NB Tourism and Parks, and Fredericton Tourism.

The provincial government is hosting a battle of the bands contest in the United Kingdom to find a blues band worthy of the Harvest stage. The winning band will receive a trip to Fredericton in September, where they will perform at the festival.

"The contest is another exciting way to promote the festival as a major international attraction and build upon the efforts of city and provincial tourism officials to position the festival and New Brunswick as must-visit destinations in the U.K.," said Brent Staeben, artistic director of the festival. "We are thrilled with the response we have seen to date from bands in the U.K., and we cannot wait for the winner to be chosen so we can start positioning them as a major part of Harvest 2011."

Of nearly 100 blues acts that submitted to the competition, 30 were choosen to compete in five heats across the United Kingdom. The first heat took place on Friday, January 21st in Nottingham, England, where Cherry Lee Mewis was named the winner, who will advance to the finals. See a video from her winning performance here.

The other four heats will took place the week of January 24, and the best emerging blues band from each will compete in the finals in London on March 29th.

Harvest's Music Director, Brent Staeben will serve as a judge at the finals in London, as well as New Brunswick most successful blues export Matt Andersen, who will also perform as a guest at the finals.

For more information, visit www.tourismnewbrunswick.co.uk or www.facebook.com/NewBrunswickBattleoftheBlues