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.
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Huske Unplugged: And the Winners Are ... by STEPHANIE CRIDER At 8 p.m. on April 17, it was standing-room only at Huske Hardware House. Huske Unplugged artists with resources that will likely help each songwriter get at After weeks of whittling down the competition, it was time for the semifinalists in least a few steps closer to realizing their full potential shows just what a champion the Huske Unplugged Singer/Songwriter competition to put their best foot forward Josh is for the competitors and what a valuable resource he is to the community for and impress the judges. At stake were $3,000 in cash or a year lease on a Chevy offering to provide the venue. Cruze, a day of recording in a state-ofPerhaps the biggest winner of the night was Biltz, who served as the art studio at Manifold Recording and the host. He walked into Huske Hardware two years ago looking for a $15,000 scholarship to PCG Nashville, a gig. He had a chat with Josh and walked out with a plan to showan artist development agency showcascase songwriters. Two years and 96 songwriters later, a recording ing performers of every genre and a studio, an artist-development agency and local businesses are reachcompany that screens artists for The ing out to support, mentor, develop and move Huske Unplugged Voice. songwriters forward. An advocate for songwriters and musicians, What started in 2011 as a low-key Biltz couldn't be more pleased. venue for songwriters to showcase their Before the event he predicted that "The PCG Nashville judges are abilities turned into a celebration of going to be knocked back in their seats when they hear the talent we talent that saw artists thriving, a comhave here." munity responding with exuberance He was right. and professional music executives from "The talent was exceptional," said Porter. "The two winners could Nashville embracing the synergy of the hold their own in any city in this country, and there are several peoevening. While two outstanding musiple from this contest that we are going to be watching." cians walked away with the prizes, they As for the awards, the cash prize/car lease went to Ethan Hanson. were not the only winners that night. Autumn Nicholas won the scholarship category and best overall with The audience won and it was clear a song that she wrote just two hours before she walked on the stage. Autumn Nicholas poses for a picture with Huske Hardware they knew they'd scored a night of In addition to winning the cash, Porter offered to make sure owners, Tonia and Josh Collins and Bernard Porter, owner of amazing entertainment â for free. In the producer of The Voice sees PCG Nashville. Hanson's video. "Of course there fact, songwriter Ethan Hanson pointed are no guarantees in the music busiout before he took the stage that "âĶI ness, but I think he has what they know this is a competition, but I really believe that music is something that are looking for," said Porter. brings people together and that is why I am here tonight." On his Facebook page, Hanson Hanson proceeded to bring the house down with a lively performance. posted his thanks, "Thank you so The contestants were amazing and the intermission included performuch everyone for the well wishes mances as well. Local celebrity (and daughter of Huske Hardware owners for last night! It really means a lot. Josh and Tonia Collins) Summer Collins performed at intermission. Country I want to give it up to all the musimusic performer Brian White performed several songs as well. White, an cians that played at Huske last night, award-winning country music artist, has earned a Grammy, a CMA Horizon everyone really did a great job! What Award and an ACM Top Male Vocalist among other accolades. He's also I thought was really cool was the part of PCG Nashville and served as one of the Huske Unplugged judges. sense of community and support last Britton Cameron, a PCG Nashville executive, one of the judges and also night. Everyone was showing love a performer and producer in his own right, graced the stage as well. He and support for all the hard-working performed a song that he'd written honoring fallen soldiers â a topic that people involved, and I am grateful to resonates here. be a part of this community. Huge The songwriters won, too. The format of Huske Unplugged has always thanks to Josh Collins for making been to showcase songwriters. It's about highlighting the content. Ethan Hanson poses for a picture with Huske Hardware this all possible! The best prize was "Some songwriters are not performers. A lot of songwriters don't perform owners, Tonia and Josh Collins and Mike Lallier, owner of meeting Bernard, Bryan, Britton at all, they just write songs. I want to provide them a place to do that. We Reed Lallier Chevrolet. and Ken at PCG Nashville and never wanted this to become American Idol Fayetteville," said Greg Biltz, the man who came up with the idea of Huske Unplugged. "I want to keep it about making an awesome connection ... the material because that is what will bring in songwriters, and so far it has worked." Once again I can't stress how grateful I am to be part of a network of so many great For this event, though, the songwriters got to hear from music industry profespeople, musicians and supporters alike. Us musicians couldn't do it without y'all! Big sionals. The PCG Nashville judges were quick to point out the strengths of each thanks to Greg Biltz for all the time you've donated to support this awesome cause. contestant, lift them up and offer strategies and tactics to help them progress both May I say the generosity of Mike Lallier knows no bounds, thank you so much! And as artists and in the industry. In fact, for many of the songwriters, making it to the once again, thanks to all my family and friends and supporters and fellow musicians!" semifinals of Huske Unplugged gave them access to resources that would otherwise Autumn Nicholas posted a thank you as well. "Wonderful job, everyone did amazbe hard to secure. The PCG Nashville executives spent time with the contestants ing!! Thank you everyone for such a beautiful night filled with all sorts of talents!! prior to the event, giving the talent an opportunity to hear more about what it takes Thank you Josh and Tonia Jones Collins and Greg Biltz and all the PCG guys and to move their career to the next level. For a few short hours they had unfettered aceveryone who helps and auditioned, it was an amazing evening that I was honored to cess to professionals who were eager to see them succeed and willing to give them be a part of!" pointers on how to do it. Now that Nicholas is partnering with PCG Nashville, Porter has yet another gem The judges didn't walk away empty handed either. They gained access to a numto polish. "It is just a matter of hard work and treating it like a business and not letber of inspiring, motivated and hungry artists â raw talent waiting to be polished ting the things of the world get to you," said Porter. "Its about integrity and honesty and sent out to change the world. and remembering who you are and how you treat people. I've seen many talented "I was really blown a way last night by a number of these kids," said Bernard people lose everything because of how they handle their personal Porter, owner of PCG Nashville. "Who knows what can happen from here? We lives and it doesn't have to be that way. As long as you are trying to are interested in coming back and keeping this relationship going (with Huske work on being a better person it will make your career better and Unplugged). We had a great time and were impressed by the people of Fayetteville." your life better." It was a win for Huske Hardware, too. Josh Collins believes so firmly in supportKeep an eye out next fall for aning local talent that for two years, he generously offered up cash prizes to Huske other round of Huske Unplugged. STEPHANIE CRIDER, Editor. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcominUnplugged winners. As the father of an extremely talented performer, Josh knows There is no telling where this gweekly.com that it takes more than talent to succeed in the music industry. Connecting the might go. 10 UCW APRIL 24-30, 2013 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM