Héctor Anchondo Band

For Héctor Anchondo, the third time really became the charmed one. Anchondo entered the 2020 International Blues Challenge in the solo/duo category and came away with the top prize: winning the solo/duo category. He also took home the Memphis Cigar Box Guitar Award for best guitarist in the solo/duo competition, where he performed representing the Blues Society of Omaha. It was Anchondo’s third year performing at the IBC as the BSO’s artist. In 2015 the Héctor Anchondo Band made the semifinals (from about 250 artists down to 50 semifinalists) and in 2016 the Héctor Anchondo Band went all the way to the finals, playing in the top eight bands chosen by judges from the week of performances.

Being a winner in the International Blues Challenge is a prestigious honor. For Anchondo, it was the culmination of over two decades of work. “Winning this feels like reward for having stuck with music for 24 years,”…