Ah, the signs of the Summerfest approaching are all around us. You can almost smell the faint aroma of fish, shirtless body odor, sun-baked spilled beer and deep fried goodness wafting through the air! And yet another sign that the time is near is the announcement of the finalists for Summerfest’s “Land The Big Gig” contest: Flavia & The Red, 1703 and Jamie Lono.
More than 100 musicians and bands from across the country submitted video auditions and were voted on by John Q. Public for the opportunity to compete at Summerfest for a share of $45,000 worth of cash and prizes. After the dust of 200,000-plus online votes settled, three finalists emerged, poised to face off in a July 4 battle royale at the Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard hosted by none other than our own “greatest thing to happen to the eyeglass industry since the invention of tiny screws” Danny Gokey.
The finalists should make for a fairly entertaining collection of talent. California-based Flavia & The Red will look quite at home on the Big Backyard stage with its bluesy funk-infused vibe that includes frequent soloing from multiple members.
The local representative (recently by way of St. Paul, Minn.), 1703, is the brother/sister acoustic duo of former Burlington residents Rachel and Brandon Dawley.
Rounding out the finalists is Chicago singer Jamie Lono, who has already showcased his soulful crooning style on the second season of NBC’s The Voice.
A celebrity panel of judges (in addition to Gokey) will be on hand to crown a victor, who will take home a top prize of a cool $25,000. This is yet another reason to get your butt out to Summerfest – which, in case you’ve been living under a rock, kicks off June 27.
