Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/109021
Huske Unplugged Plugs Performers Into the Industry by JANICE BURTON the music and ensure that aspiring musicians have "the skills, knowledge and strategic Since 1957, a small club in Los Angeles has been rocking the music world. The planning needed to achieve success in the music business." Troubador has welcomed and launched the careers of musicians like Bob Dylan, The addition of PCG Nashville to the competition has resulted in changes in the Elton John, the Eagles, Neil Young, James Taylor, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, The way the competition is judged and the way songwriters enter. Knack, Guns and Roses and Pearl Jam. It's stage is legendary, a place where the There are now two categories for contestants to enter. The first is for performers dreamers, the poets, the singers and musicians go hoping for a chance to make it between the ages of 12 and 30. Performers who enter in that big. A lot of them do. category will compete to win a $15,000, six-month scholarship You might ask what The Troubador has to do with Fayetteville, to the PCG facility in Nashville. Those over 30, will compete N.C., and the answer is simple. Fayetteville is also a place where for a $3,000 cash prize. Collins explained that the addition of dreamers, poets, singer and musicians are looking for their big the scholarship category will allow young artists to gain the break. And for a lucky few that search starts on the wooden floor experience and shaping needed to really succeed in the industry. of Huske Hardware House. Collins' daughter, Summer, is currently enrolled in PCG, and Since 2011, Huske has played host to a singer/songwriter is learning a lot about the industry and is making the necessary competition that brings some of the areas brightest and best contacts to move forward with her career. to downtown to share their talent and their souls. Held each The finales of this year's event will be judged by Bernard Wednesday night, the competition has grown with each iteration, Porter, who is the president of PCG. With more than 25 years and this year it's gone over the top. The first iteration, was put in the industry, Porter is recognized nationwide for his skills together in the hopes that it would draw area performers. The in artist development, and in fact, was instrumental in signing idea was brought to Huske owner Josh Collins by Greg Biltz, a Jason Aldean to Broken Bow Records. Collins believes having musician and emcee of the event, who saw the need for such a Nathan Fair at the grand finale of the someone of Porter's standing in the industry involved in the venue in the community. Over the years, the competition has 2011 competition. competition will bring more attention to the performers who are brought hundreds of talented writers/performers to the Huske competing. stage, many of who have gone on to bigger and better things. As in year's past, performers have the opportunity to sing two Biltz thinks this year will be no different. "Nobody does it any better," said Biltz, prior to the second night of the competition, songs. The first song can be a cover, but the second song must be an original. Each week, the top two performers will move forward in the competition, with everything "not in Raleigh, not in Wilmington. This is where it's happening." coming down to the finale in late March. Sign-ups for the event begin at 7 p.m. each From its small beginnings (Collins put up a $2,000 cash award), the competition Wednesday night, with the showcase beginning at 8 p.m. For updates has bloomed and taken on a life of its own. This year, Huske has teamed up with on the competition, visit Huske Hardware House on Facebook and PCG Nashville, a Nashville-based development company, to give performers a leg up check out information about the in the industry. PCG Institute is an innovative artist development company dedicated JANICE BURTON, Associate Publisher, competitors in upcoming editions to addressing the unique needs of the recording artist. The artists and managers at of Up & Coming Weekly, one of the Up & Coming Weekly, COMMENTS? the institute take what they call a "customized scientific approach to development, editor@upandcomingweekly.com. sponsors of the competition. producing balance in all areas of the artist's mind, body and spirit." They look beyond WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM FEBRUARY 13-19, 2013 UCW 9