Rusty Wier challenge, Rd 1 Wk 3, 12.22.13
The whole gang, and one photo-bomber. Can you spot him?
Round 1 has come and gone, and 21 musicians are remaining in the running for the final prizes in the 4th-ever Rusty Wier singer-songwriter challenge. This contest is sponsored by host venue Love & War in Texas (Plano), which is offering as prizes an opening set in their 2014 Shiner Sunday series, plus a season ticket for two to the entire concert series. Other prizes include studio time with Bent Leaf Studios in Denison, and some radio with on KHYI, 95.3.
The third week of this first round was Sunday, Dec. 22, and 10 of the 12 contestants scheduled to perform did so, the other two had to opt out because of sickness. Those participating were Cye Carter, Bryan Adam Joyner, Nick Flint, Matthew Jolley, Tracie Merchant, Chad Purdom, Rory Payne, Danny Zagotta, Ty Young, and Trace Thompson. Each brought three songs to the stage, in song swaps that let the evening move fast and joyfully. The outside patio, which is now more an inside patio what with all the improvements that owner Tory and all the gang have done to enclose and heat it, was filled with friends and family and even with other singer/songwriters who had tried out but didn’t make it that far. That’s just the way Texas and Oklahoma musicians are — big people with big hearts for big music!
Roger Russell, Tricia Aker, Brett Dillon (coordinator) and yours truly here were the score-givers, aka judges, and these scores were compared with the previous 24 musicians of the past two weeks. From their scores, here’s who is moving on into Round 2: Jason Lovell, Town Walsh, Danny Zagotta, Justin Alan Pickard, Rory Payne, Tin Man Travis, David Byboth, Shannon Choate, Kyle Brooks, Chase Carpenter, Scott Sean White, Thawind Mills, Cye Carter, Chad Purdom, Ty Young, Byron Dowd, Tracie Merchant, Heath Webb, Cole Risner, Will Hancock, and Alex Gates. Not a shabby songwriter in the group!
But it’s not over yet! Now, there’s 3 weeks of seven performers each, beginning this coming Sunday, and this time they’ll have a chance to perform four of their originals. This first group of seven will be: Jason Lovell, Town Walsh, David Byboth, Scott Sean White, Thawind Mills, Chad Purdom, and Heath Webb. It all starts at 4 p.m., and there’s never a cover charge to get in.
Category: *- Features, 2014
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In the music production business, including event production, booking, photography, reporting, and other such essentials, since 1980.Subscribe
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