It’s after 1:30 a.m. and the last chord has just been struck in Harpers Ferry’s annual Boston Battle of the Blues Bands. The event, co-hosted by the Boston Blues Society, has been held at the club since the early ’80s, and at this wee hour of Friday July 19 it feels as if we judges had been there since the ’80s as well. As we and a large contingent of the competitors’ fans wait for the votes to be tallied in the club’s office, I look over my notes:

• Erin Harpe: singer from, uh, Love Whip. Memphis Minnie tune. Nice fingerpicking, pleasant voice, but one-dimensional delivery. Doesn’t really sink her heart into lyrics. If she upped the emotional content of her vocals and varied her tempos more, she’d kill. But not terribly original.

• Rockin’ George Leh: blues shouter. Grabs his throat and shakes it for vibrato. Nice guttural low-end growl, akin to Tuvan throat singing. Big vocal range. Soulful harp solo. Originals that sounds like originals. Good ensemble sound. Down on his knees, jumping, rocking. George has great stage presence. Barks like a dog, but on key, and gets crowd to bark too. Joe Turner medley good; "Stand by Me" bad.

• Sweet Willie D & Continental Walk: six-man group with horns open with instrumental. Whoops, it’s jazz. Fedoras and suits — ick, Blues Brothers. Willie D comes on in flowing white African tunic. Looks great, but narrow vocal range, just a few notes. Low-key presence. Good players but too much playing. Bored.

• Sam Hooper: energetic, but songs have June/moon choruses, lyrics. Flute is refreshing, sometimes inaudible. Arrangements rote, jive funky blues. Everybody plays well, but music has no heart.

• JJ Sadler Blues Band: Berklee students. Singer is female belter with strong presence, voice. Hyperventilating piano solo; should listen to Otis Spann. "Georgia on My Mind" with just piano and voice seems contrived. Two guitars; Tele player gets it. Lots of songs about sex. Never a bad thing.

• Peter Parcek: guitar trio. Monkeys in lyrics — always good. Slide-guitar instrumental "When the Saints Go Marching In" set to New Orleans parade beat. Bold melody, ripping tag. Originality in writing and soloing. Nice guitar mastery, tone, and taste. Low-string bends cool. Closing medley of standards leaves room for creative improv.

I finish as club owner Charlie Abel and DJ Holly Harris step to the mike. "And the winner is," Harris announces, "Peter Parcek." Next year Parcek’s trio will represent Boston at the Blues Foundation’s national competition in Memphis. Good luck!