Country showdown for emerging artists
IT’S time to warm up those vocal cords and tune those guitars, with entries for this year’s Royal Queensland Show (Ekka) Country Music Showdown Competition presented by Ringers Western now open.
The competition offers a $10,000 prize pool and has helped launch the careers of Queensland’s up-and-coming country artists for the past five years.
Last year’s junior winner Blake O’Connor is set to release his self-titled EP later this year and has just finished touring Australia with country music couple Brooke McClymont and Adam Eckersley on their Highway Sky Tour.
Ekka visitors will get a glimpse of the young artists at this year’s show, performing in a true live music experience at the XXXX Stockmen’s Bar and Grill, supported by South West band.
Contestants will be offered more than just the chance to perform in front of a live crowd – they’ll also be in the running to share in the showdown’s $10,000 prize pool.
Top prizes include a Taramalin Sound Package and $2000 cash prize for competitors in the open category (17 years and older) and Troy Cassar-Daly scholarship to the Tamworth Academy of Country Music 2019 for those in the junior competition (12–16 years).
❝ It also provides emerging artists with a chance to be heard. — Brendan Christou
This year’s competition will be MCd by Australian country music star Brooke Schubert, who was a contestant on the popular television show The Voice in 2017, and who will be performing on the Stockmen’s stage throughout Ekka.
RNA chief executive Brendan Christou said the Ekka was about celebrating all that was great about our state and encouraging development and growth throughout all industries, including the arts.
“The Ekka competition has unearthed fantastic talent and allows people to experience all that country music has to offer,” he said.
“It also provides emerging artists with a chance to be heard and it wouldn’t be the Ekka without country music.”
Ekka visitors can check out the competition on the last Saturday of the show, August 18, between 10.30am and 6pm.
Think you’ve got what it takes to get your name in lights in Nashville?
Then enter now at www.ekka.com.au.