White Elephant Saloon, finals
Josh Halverson and Big Joe Walker
For photos, click on the links below
It’s over for another year, and the 12 bands who were involved have all made new fans and expanded their musician brotherhood base. Not bad for seven weeks of participation in the White Elephant Saloon’s 10th annual Texas Music Showdown.
The final night, Wednesday, April 1, found Josh Halverson and his band vying for top honors against Big Joe Walker and his band. Judges Brett Dillon (KHYI and contest coordinator), Tye Phelps (Love & War), Stephen Pointer, Scott Copeland, and Dave Perez selected Big Joe Walker band as the winner.
Big Joe, who plays both acoustic guitar and keyboards, and the guys — Chris Johnson on drums; Adam Carrillo on bass; Casey Green on lead guitar; and Michael Pool on fiddle (and who, btw, is now also
Big Joe Walker
working with Red Dirt legend Brandon Jenkins) — earned themselves a wheelbarrow-full of prizes. These are: A spot on the Raz on the Braz music festival in June; an 8-hour block of recording time with Bent Leaf studio in Denison; digital distribution and CDs of those recorded songs by Smith Entertainment; personal guests of Donnie Nelson in the Presidential Suite of the Mesquite Championship Rodeo; 3-day VIP pass to the 2015 Austin City Limits fest, compliments of Tim Love; an open slot on one Shiner Sunday at Love & War in Texas; radio interview with Dillon on KHYI; performance at a Texas Legends basketball game, compliments of Donnie Nelson; automatic entry into the 2015 Shiner Rising Star band contest; gift certificates and a
Josh Halverson
cowboy hat from Wild Bill’s Western Store; an ad in Buddy Magazine; a shopping spree at Bill’s Records in Dallas; eight $15 meal coupons to Sweetie Pie’s Ribeyes in Decatur; and two night stays at the Pine Meadow Cabins in Broken Bow, Okla.
Big Joe Walker spotlighted Josh Halverson in an encore song-set after the win was announced — showing the camaraderie and mutual respect that prevailed throughout the entire contest.
Keep an eye on the White Elephant Saloon and KHYI Websites for info on the 2016 Texas Music Showdown, which will probably begin applications this winter. And make note of all the good music the White Elephant Saloon brings to the Fort Worth Stockyards.
For Big Joe Walker band photos, click here
For Josh Halverson photos, click here
Category: *- Features, 2015, Other venues
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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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