Rusty Wier contest, Semi-Finals, Wk 2
Brett Dillon and Mark Shelton, 2013 Rusty Wier contest winner.
Well, next week, there will be a lot of shouting going on at Love & War in Texas, Plano. Not that there hasn’t been all along, with the support the nearly-100 musicians had in this year’s Rusty Wier Singer/Songwriter contest, but now that it’s narrowed down to the final 7 — well, I just hope that L&W has that patio roof nailed down solid.
This past Sunday (Feb, 16) brought out seven incredible men of talent: Ty Young, Danny Zagotta, Tin Man Travis, Cole Risner, Jason Lovell, Justin Alan Pickard, and Byron Dowd. They each presented 3 original songs and covered one by the late Rusty Wier. And the crowd went wild — for each performer!
There was a special treat Sunday afternoon when last year’s winner, Mark Shelton, joined the group, and host/coordinator Brett Dillon introduced him back on the patio stage. Winners the years before that were Michael Prysock and Guthrie Kennard, and this 4th year of the contest will bring one of the following artists into that “winners list.”
Moving on are Justin Alan Pickard, Jason Lovell, Scott Sean White, Byron Dowd, David Byboth, Danny Zagotta, and Chad Purdom. Originally, there were to have been 6 who moved on, so must have been a 100% tie in the judges’ scores to have 7 in the finals.
This coming Sunday, and NOTE this time change, 5 p.m., being on the patio at Love & War in Plano will be a good place to be, and it may just be me, but I’ll bet anyone a Shiner Beer that many of those who didn’t make this top 7 will also be there. That’s the way these musicians have been all along — supportive of their peers.
Love & War is on the northeast corner of Plano Parkway and U.S. 75.
Category: *- Features, 2014, Love & War in Texas
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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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