NASHVILLE, TN. (Top40 Charts/ J.C. Andersen Official Website) - The drinks were flying, the crowd was cheering and the music was rocking last night, as the first series of the World-Famous Wildhorse Saloon House Band Search Contest kicked off during an unforgettable competition.
Six bands competed during the first of five live auditions, and at the end of the night, country-rock act The J.C. Andersen Band qualified for the live finale scheduled for Wed., July 1, 2009 at the Wildhorse Saloon. The band will compete with other qualifying bands for the coveted top entertainment spot at downtown Nashville, Tennessee's number-one dining and entertainment destination.
The audience really got into the competition, as they crowded the dance floor and cheered for their favorite bands. Kristen Pena and Erin Moskal, visiting Nashville from New Jersey for a business conference, commented, 'All the bands tonight have had a great vibe and all sound amazing. They have really connected to the audience, and we are having a great time.'
Four celebrity judges were on-hand to help pick the winning band. Among them were Ira Dean, one of the founding members of country act Trick Pony, who got their start as a Wildhorse Saloon house band; Michael Knox, producer for country star Jason Aldean; Jeff Howard, talent agent for Agency of the Performing Arts; and Ron Kerere, general manager for the Wildhorse Saloon. And emceeing the event was 'hick-hop' artist Cowboy Troy, who will be hosting the entire contest series.
'I'm very surprised at the caliber of musicianship I've seen,' Knox said. 'I thought we would see house band after house band tonight, but what we've see are truly remarkable bands who can hold their own. This first round of competition has set the standard high, and choosing one band in the finale will definitely be tough.'
The World-Famous Wildhorse Saloon House Band Search Contest is scouting bands nationwide for this competition, and this is the perfect opportunity for bands to get noticed-and possibly signed with a major Nashville recording label. Four additional live auditions will take place May 6 and 19, 2009 and June 3 and 17, 2009, leading up to the live finale on July 1, 2009. Interested bands should send an electronic press kit to Kara Ryan at
[email protected].
For pictures from last night's event, please click here: https://www.gaylordoprylandsales.com/press/wildhorse/house-band-search/. For more information on the Wildhorse Saloon, please call 615-902-8211. For rules, regulations and contest details, visit www.wildhorsesaloon.com
