Kids talent finals at Songbirds

Seven talented groups and solo artists under the age of 18 will compete in the finals of the Songbirds Kids Talent Show tonight, March 12, at Songbirds Guitar Museum.

The group and solo winners will earn the right to perform two songs on the Chevy Stage at this year’s Riverbend Festival, $250 cash and the chance to record a song in Songbirds Studio. In addition, one guitar player from the entire competition will earn a rig upgrade plus 12 weeks of advanced lessons from the Songbirds Foundation.

The event was created by Amber Carrington, a Top 4 finalist on “The Voice,” who is now marketing/social competitors being chosen from entrants who submitted a videotape and written statement about themselves. When Carrington staged the first such event last year, everyone who entered made it to the preliminaries. This year, only the best 17 made the cut.

“I wanted to make it a little tougher,” she said.

A panel of judges chose the finalists and the audience will pick tonight’s winners. Being able to perform on the same Songbirds stage where greats such as Dick Dale, Doyle Dykes and Vince Gill have performed is pretty special, she said.

“The opportunity to put a child onstage and have their voice be heard is amazing. And for winners to also get to record a song is amazing.”