By By MIKE VOSS
Contributing Editor
Beaufort County Idol is moving.
This month’s Music in the Streets will feature the latest segment in this year’s Beaufort County Idol competition, but at a new location. Instead of taking place on the front steps of the former Bank of Washington building on West Main Street, it will be staged in front of the former city hall on North Market Street. Some people refer to that building as the DeMille Building.
“It was really our only option, as it provides space out front and storage for all the equipment,” Vail Stewart Rumley, coordinator of Beaufort County Idol, said in an e-mail.
Rumley expects a large number of contestants Friday evening. The competition begins at 7:30 p.m. Because of heavy rain last month, not all contestants who signed up for that competition got a chance to compete. In addition to contestants who signed up for Friday’s competition, Rumley expects some of July’s contestants who were rained out will re-enter the contest and perform this month.
Finalists from the previous Beaufort County Idol competitions this year are Jessica Smith, Destiny Tyson, Teresa Prichard, Joseph Conner, Lindsey Grissom, Mackenzie Roberts, Sarah Hardison, Travis Pierce, Jonah Taylor, McKenna Cox, Kim Allen and Molly Hardison.
The Beaufort County Idol finale is set for Oct. 31 at the Turnage Theater, with the winner performing as the opening act on Nov. 7 when then Idol winner opens up for Tim Waters, who grew up in Beaufort County and was a contestant on the “Nashville Star” TV program.
“We’ve got some good musicians for Friday,” said Jule MacKenzie, music coordinator for Music in the Streets.
New to the Music in the Streets lineup is Slatestone’s own Paul Norman, who plays steel guitar. MacKenzie said. Veteran Music in the Streets performers returning Friday night include Donald Underwood Thompson, a guitarist-vocalist who plays a variety of music; Michael Pilgrim, who plays violin and mandolin; Paula Tisdale, a violinist; the Beaufort County Traditional Music Association, which organizes a jam session during the event; Steven Carver, who plays rock ’n’ roll; and the Music in the Streets shaggers, who dance to music provided by radio personality Alan Vick and are organized by Sue Francis.
Music in the Streets, which begins at 6 p.m. and concludes at 9 p.m. today, also features Down East Rods &Classics’ display of muscle cars, hot rods and other vehicles.
Music in the Streets is organized by the Historic Downtown Washington Merchants Association.
After this Friday’s event, the remaining Music in the Streets dates for this year are This year’s Music in the Streets dates are Sept. 18 and Oct. 16.
For more information about Beaufort County Idol, visit its Web site at www.beaufortcountyidol.com. Vail Stewart Rumley may be reached at 252-946-2072 or by e-mail at vsrumley@earthlink.net. Musicians and street performers interested in performing during Music in the Streets should contact Jule MacKenzie at 252-945-2410.