Battle of the local bands
By Sean Chase
Staff Writer
Local bands are being invited to compete for an opportunity to headline Pembroke’s Waterfront Festival.
The Ottawa Valley Musician Development Program, in association with the Renfrew County Community Futures Development Corporation and the city’s recreation department, is a contest that will see three local groups selected to share the limelight at the 2008 Waterfront Festival.
“Local musicians will have a chance to win an opening spot at the Pembroke Waterfront Festival,” said Russell Dennis, program assistant with the economic development, recreation and tourism department.
The winning band will open for great Canadian acts Honeymoon Suite, David Wilcox and Rik Emmett. Bands must submit their CD for judging purposes to the recreation department by July 18.
“Everyone is welcome to enter as long as at least one member of your band resides in Renfrew County,” said Mr. Dennis
An independent, unbiased jury will judge each band and will then select five bands to move to the contest phase.
Those five successful acts will compete in a “Battle of the Bands” on Thursday, Aug. 7 during a free show at the festival. Each member of the audience will have one vote to select the winner.
All bands will remain for the duration from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. with the playing order not being preannounced.
Once the votes are counted, the winner will be announced that night.
The winning act will open for Honeymoon Suite, David Wilcox and Rik Emmett and receive a cheque for $1500.
The two runner-up bands will open for Crystal Shawánda and Johnny Reid on Saturday, Aug. 9 and for Valdy and Shane Yellowbird on Sunday, Aug. 10. Each will receive $750.
The department also announced that local talent Ben Rutz will be playing fiddle with Johnny Reid on the opening Friday night.
Meanwhile, the festival will again be the scene of some big Canadian acts. This will be the first Pembroke appearance for Honeymoon Suite, a two- time triple Platinum band that was named Juno Group-of-the-Year in 1986. They topped the charts in the 1980s with hits “New Girl Now” and “Stay in the Light”.
Blues guitarist David Wilcox and Rik Emmett, founder of the Canadian rock band Triumph, will be making return visits to the Waterfront Festival.
The application package for the contest can be downloaded at www.pembrokefestivals.com. A com pleted application and CD must be in to the recreation department by Friday, July 18.
schase@thedailyobserver.ca | 
