After seven years of honing their craft, local blues band Kilborn Alley received international attention with their nomination for "Best New Artist Debut Album" for their "Put it In the Alley" CD.

Three of the five members of the band hail from Champaign Illinois Andrew Duncanson (guitar), Chris Breen (lead guitar), and Josh Stimmel (bass), all 25 years old. The band's full time lineup also includes Joe Asselin on the blues harp (harmonica) and Ed O'Hara on percussion.

Front man and lead vocalist Duncanson has been playing the blues style guitar since he was fifteen, at a time when Stimmel was focused on rock. "We didn't really have anything musically in common. He was into rock and I was into blues, and he started loving the blues more and more."

"We met in math class," chuckled Duncanson, recounting how he and Stimmel met.

The band first started practicing together in January 2000, while Andrew was still in high school. "The band started practicing pretty regularly in a garage in January 2000 when Andy was still in high school. Their first gig was in April of that year at the Neil Street Pub," recalls Andrew's father Tom Duncanson, who also helps arrange bookings for the band.

The band started as a four man combo, when according to Duncanson, he saw a talented harmonica player in a competition at the now-closed Blues Creation in Urbana who he thought would fill out the band's sound. "I met Andy at an open mike night at the Canopy Club about six months after I moved here. But we argue back and forth about how that happened," Asselin said with a wry laugh. Asselin, 29, is a native of York, Maine, "and I was more known as guitar player back home."

In 2004, the band had two drummers, and when Will Smith started having health issues, veteran percussionist Ed O'Hara filled the slot full time. "I've played all over the country," said O'Hara, the obvious veteran of the group at 53. O'Hara grew up in Maryland, but has played in bands across the country, primarily blues. "I was with the Blues Deacons when I started playing part of the time with these guys. It was partly a money thing, the Deacons were only playing one or two times a month. But I also saw a sound and an energy with these guys that intrigued me."

According to Duncanson, the band is doing 150 to 200 shows a year now.

"They've been a support act for me when I've played in the Champaign area. They've been my opening act, or come to see my show. Over the years I've developed a friendship with them. It was real easy working in the studio with them. They were looking to put out a better quality CD. I told them to only get excited about working with me if something comes of it," veteran bluesman Nick Moss said, recalling his history with Kilborn Alley.

The band has started creating some major excitement in the blues world, and has played at blues legend's Buddy Guy's Place in Chicago, and has been the opening act for such veterans as Kenny Wayne Shephard as well as Moss.

Currently, the band is in negotiations for a European tour, and a summer tour of Alaska.

The band's first CD "Put it On The Alley" is available from Blue Bella Records out of Elgin Illinois. Blue Bella is an indie label with several blues titles on the book. Blue Bella is owned by Nick Moss and his wife Kate. Moss is currently nominated for Blues Band of the Year and best Blues Album of the Year, and has received eight nominations during his career.

The band's music has a definite individual feel to it, but some of it reminiscent of the early Rolling Stones. The lyrics are flavored with local references, especially the song "Going Home To My Baby," inspired one night when Duncanson and some friends were hanging out in West Side Park. "One night there was this really good looking hooker out there, and that's where it came from (when asked about the lyrics). I was a young teenager at the time, it was a real awakening experience seeing her out there and wondering why."

Like most blues musicians, making a living at the genre is tough. Their side jobs range from drywaller, to pizza maker, to furniture assembly, but it is obvious their love is the music they are honing together.

But according to Duncanson "My favorite part is when we hit the stage at 9 o'clock and start creating the music." The band's next local performance is scheduled for January 26th at the High Dive but most likely will not feature the blues, since it is a "Cover Up" competition, in which the band will be covering the music of another performer.