“Local Talent Live” contest upcoming

Mary Jane Farmer | September 22, 2018

Mary Jane Farmer for Scene In Town

Denison’s Music on Main and its partner, Overdrive Entertainment, have been excellent about using local talent to open up the Music on Main concerts each summer. They are seeking out other bands to be involved in the 2019 season, and reserving one spot for the winner of a band contest which begins later this year.

Music on Main is a weekly summertime concert series in downtown Denison that began in 2002 and has grown in popularity each year. In 2018, the crowds surpassed a total of $15,000 attendees during the 3-month series, which featured local favorites opening for regional favorite bands.

As an example of organizers’ passion for showcasing local talent, the 1018 schedule saw locals Sons of Fannin opening for Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown, and local Travis Parker up before the Metroplex’s Max Stalling.

Called the “Local Talent Live,” the contest will focus on finding that one band with superior musicianship that will add even more depth and soul to the season.

“We get a lot of inquiries to book bands, and this will provide an opportunity for the public to hear more artists as well as to highlight our local venues inside (the city’s) entertainment districts which offer music year-round,” said Donna Dow, Denison Main Street’s director. “

Here’s how it will work: Bands choosing to participate in Local Talent Live must submit three songs via YouTube links, sent via email to ashley@overdriveent.com. Those entries must be submitted before Oct. 1. These must include one original song and the others can be original or cover songs. They must have been videoed live, no studio recordings accepted. And the performance showing on the YouTube videos must show the band’s behavior to be family friendly. Music on Main is definitely a family-friendly concert series.

Bands will be screened and those invited to perform at Local Talent Live will be given 30-40 minutes on stage. And to demonstrate their market draw, each artist in each competing band will be provided with $50 tickets to sell at $10 each.

Competing bands will be scheduled to compete at one of the different Denison venues, with either 2 or 3 competing each time. The competitions will be on Thursdays. Each Thursday, judges will pick one band to move into the next round. “Organizers may issue a life-line option to an artist at their discretion,” according to a press release issued.

Finalists will compete on February 21, March 7, or March 21.

On March 21, the winning band will be named, and the 2019 Music on Main concert schedule will be announced.

If anyone needs more information, that can be obtained by emailing Ashley@OverdriveEnt.com.