By Staff
Beaufort County Idol ready for second year
By MIKE VOSS
Contributing Editor
Music in the Streets kicks off its seventh season at 6 p.m. tonight in downtown Washington.
As part of Music in the Streets, Beaufort County Idol returns for a second year.
Beaufort County Idol’s monthly competitions are held at 7:30 p.m. at each Music in the Streets event. Like last year, the competitions will be staged in front of the former Bank of Washington building on West Main Street. The top three performers in those contests will compete in the Beaufort County Idol finale set for the afternoon of Oct. 31 at the Turnage Theater.
After a series of preliminary competitions, Washington resident Leah Clark claimed the first Beaufort County Idol title Nov. 15, 2008.
The Web site is www.beaufortcountyidol.com.
Four contestants have signed up for May’s contest, as have four others for June’s competition. Contestants may sign up until 7:15 p.m. the night of a competition, but each contest is limited to a maximum of 15 people.
This year, contestants may sing a cappella or use background soundtracks, Rumley said. Performers should meet in the vacant lot adjacent to the former Bank of Washington building at 7 p.m., she said.
The judges for tonight’s contest are Joe Sizemore, former band director at Washington High School; Nannette Garrett, bass player with the rock band Garrett; and Chynna Bonner, a local gospel singer.
Music in the Streets, sponsored by the Historic Downtown Washington Merchants Association, is held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. the third Friday of each month from April through October. This year’s Music in the Streets dates are April 17, May 15, June 19, July 17, Aug. 21, Sept. 18 and Oct. 16.
Sidebar
What’s on tap tonight
at Music in the Streets
Among tonight’s scheduled performers are bluesman Eddie Lilley, keyboardist Lorenzo Wertz, violinist Paula Tisdale, bagpiper Dan Chisholm and bluegrass musician Rob Cuthrell. Joining them are Linda Carver Clark, who performs an assortment of music; Michael Pilgrim, who plays violin and dobro; Gellin, an acoustic, eclectic all-purpose band, Steven Carver, who performs a variety of music; Marantha, a gospel group; Living Waters, which performs Christian rock and DJ Jackie and Jane Haislip, beach and shag music.
The performers will be located at venues on Main and Market streets.
The Down East Rods &Classics car club returns this season. Strolling performer Robin Potts, a Music in the Streets veteran, returns with her accordion. A face-painter will be on hand, too.
Aside from what’s available at downtown restaurants, hot dogs, hamburgers, cheeseburgers, bottled water and soft drinks will be available from street vendors.