A second Regional Blues Challenge, planned for Sunday, has been canceled due to lack of interest from musicians – but organizers say they’re not giving up on keeping the music in Vicksburg.

&#8220I want to keep Vicksburg out there – keep it on the map and show that Vicksburg has a viable blues society,” said Lucille Ridges, former president of the Vicksburg Blues Society who stepped down as president in order for her band, Lucille, to compete in the band category. Even though she said she doesn’t normally enter competitions, she said she wanted to help the society.

&#8220To keep the blues society in the game, I had no choice,” she said. &#8220I’m doing it for VBS – this is my love.”

The society was formed in 2002 after the dedication of Willie Dixon Way, a street named for the local blues legend. Since then, Ridges and other blues enthusiasts have been working to promote the society. The regional challenge, which began last year, was a way for blues musicians to establish themselves in Vicksburg and prepare for the International Blues Challenge in Memphis in February.

Cee Blaque and Greg Osgood competed in the solo/duo category last year and didn’t win, but Blaque said it made them only try harder. Now, they will move on, by appointment, to represent the Vicksburg Blues Society in the solo/duo category at IBC in February.

For those musicians who were wary of being a part of this year’s challenge, Ridges hopes they will come back next year with a different outlook.

&#8220They’ll realize they have more opportunity here,” Ridges said. &#8220No matter what – we’re going to come out of this smelling like roses.”