Brett Dillon (right) opening up the first night of Rusty Wier contest
For all pix, click on the link at the end of this short review. (Oh, and photographer Mary Jane didn’t get exemplary pix of everyone, but she has promised to try again next time!) Feel free to use any of the photos.)
Well, the 5th yearly Rusty Wier singer/songwriter challenge hit its first official round Sunday (Dec. 21), with 12 of the 37 artists singing three songs each on the Love & War in Texas (Plano) stage. They competed song-swap style, three at a time.
The contest has actually been going on a few weeks, on Tuesday nights, with about 60 musicians trying out to be a part of this yearly contest. Thirty-six were chosen, but organizer Brett Dillon (KHYI 95.3) said he went ahead and added the 37th one, a young man who just moved to the area from California, because the try-out scores were so close.
This first week had Matthew Jolley, Dale Riley, Will Hancock, Tin Man Travis, Nick Flint, James Dunning, Gigi Gosta, Travois Bolt, Mick Tinsley, Aaron Shook, Ben Dunlap, and Matt Grigsby on stage. All songs were originals.
These earned scores from judges Dillon, Trisha Aker, and Roger Russell, who also serves as sound man for the contest. They were not just competing against each other, but competed against all 25 still to compete in Round 1.
Next Sunday (Dec. 28 at 4 p.m.), the contest continues at Love & War in Texas, which is at the northeast corner of Plano Parkway and U.S. 75 in Plano. No cover charge for these contests.