ArtPrize Musicians’ Showcase returns for 2013 to boost third annual song competition

After scrambling to find sponsors, St. Cecilia Music Center will once again put ArtPrize song entrants in the spotlight, with 50 artists and bands playing a Sept. 20-22 showcase.

 

It’s game on for Year 3 of St. Cecilia Music Center’s ArtPrize Musicians’ Showcase.

The three-day affair that kicks off at St. Cecilia on Sept. 20 during ArtPrize will spotlight 50 musical artists and bands with song entries in this year’s international ArtPrize competition.

Although the future of the showcases was uncertain even a few months ago, Cathy Holbrook, SCMC’s executive director, said St. Cecilia finally was able to secure several sponsors for 2013’s indoor and outdoor performances.

“We still would like to find a couple more sponsors to cover all the costs, but we had enough covered that we felt we could move forward,” said Holbrook, who’s “very excited” the showcases can once again be held inside Royce Auditorium and outdoors in the parking lot at 24 Ransom Ave. NE.

Sponsors include West Side Beer, The Wheeler Foundation, Royce Rolls Ringer, REVUE Magazine, Godwin Plumbing, One Trick Pony, Diversified Financial Concepts and, of course, Mackinaw Harvest Music, led by producer/musician Michael Crittenden who helped initiate the concept of songs as ArtPrize entries.

This year, 82 artists have submitted songs to ArtPrize, about the same number as 2012, when 79 songs were entered. As it did last year, those entries will be part of a separate songwriting competition hosted by St. Cecilia Music Center that offers $10,000 in prize money split between winners in five categories. Get more details about the song contest and previous winners in this Local Spins story.

Performers scheduled to play the ArtPrize Musicians’ Showcase include well-known West Michigan artists such as Steve Talaga, Roger MacNaughton, Tommy B and The Verk, Dennie Middleton, Tokyo Morose, Chasing the Sky, J. Oscar Bittinger, Kelsey Rottiers, Josh Rose, Jimmie Stagger, Karisa Wilson, Hannah Rose Graves, Thirsty Perch Blues Band, The Moonrays and many more.

In addition, this year’s ArtPrize – which runs Sept. 18-Oct. 6 – will feature “busking” stations in five spots around Grand Rapids to give musicians a chance to further spread their musical message. After ArtPrize’s opening weekend, stations will be located inside and outside St. Cecilia Music Center, and at the Blue Bridge, Rosa Parks Circle and Lyon Square. The daily busking performances will continue through Sept. 29.

Here’s the complete schedule for the Sept. 20-22 Musicians’ Showcases:

FRIDAY SEPT 20
ROYCE AUDITORIUM STAGE
3:00 Ann Marie Church
3:45 Ryan Wilson
4:30 Michael Schaeffer
5:15 Steve Talaga
6:00 Roger MacNaughton
6:45 Cole Hansen
7:30 Adrian Krygowski
8:15 Sara Azriel
9:00 Chris Hansen
OUTDOOR STAGE
3:30 Anita Schmaltz
4:00 Dan Hazlett
4:30 Elle Pohlman
5:00 Mike Lonzon(Willy Wompa)
5:30 Wade Whittington
6:00 Amanda Vernon
6:30 Michael Cohen
7:00 Coldville
7:30 XIT18
8:00 Tommy B and the Verk
8:30 AOK
9:00 Tokyo Morose
9:30 Dennie Middleton

SATURDAY SEPT 21
OUTDOOR STAGE
Noon Susan Picking
12:30 Chasing the Sky
1:00 Slow Buffalo
1:30 Andrea Matthews
2:00 Jimmie Stagger & John Fritz
2:30 Kelsey Rottiers
3:00 Matt Hannegraaff
3:30 J. Oscar Bittinger
4:00 Romano Paoletti/Heart and Bones
4:30 Josh Rose
5:00 Troll for Trout
5:30 Glen Danles Brand
6:00 Slow Log
6:30 Karisa Wilson
7:00 Hannah Rose Graves
7:30 Moonrays
8:00 The Willeys
8:30 Juxtapose
9:00 Water Clocks
9:30 Thirsty Perch Blues Band

SUNDAY SEPT. 22
ROYCE AUDITORIUM STAGE
Noon Tom Messink
12:45 Tracy Kash Thomas
1:30 Eric Johnson
2:15 Brad Fritcher + trois
3:00 Pete Kehoe
3:45 Michelle Chenard
4:30 Cameron Blake
5:15 Frank Nawrot

Email John Sinkevics at jsinkevics@gmail.com.
Copyright 2013, Spins on Music