South Stage Cellars/ Britt Rising Stars competition returns

Last year Jacksonville launched the Rising Stars competition, a celebration of local musicians. We discovered the wealth of musical talent right here in our valley, and enjoyed their artistry as a community. Now, it’s time for a new round!

Building on the success of the first season, the Rising Stars competition returns this month, in a celebration of music, community and service.

It all started last year with an idea from Porscha Schiller, the Marketing and Events Director at South Stage Cellars. The tasting room on 3rd Street has local musicians perform regularly, and the more Schiller worked with the artists, the more she realized how much talent was right here in our backyard. “When I started to see the high level of musicians in the Valley I wanted to plan an event that would showcase these amazing performers and marry it with a local nonprofit.”

That thought turned into the idea for a series of showcases for these artists, and help them build audiences. In addition, she also thought there must be a way to build this event, and do some good along the way. Thus, Rising Stars was born.

Schiller says, “The heartbeat of this event is the local musicians performing for the audiences who support local non-profits. I see this as the perfect marriage between musicians and the community. I am very proud to be part of this relationship.”

What makes this event so unique is that marriage Schiller mentions. The artists are supported through an opportunity to play for the public. The community support? That comes in through the public voting system, in which audience members at the Rising Stars qualifying rounds pay $2 per vote for their favorite performers. Last year, those voting proceeds totaled more than $7000, which was donated to Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) in 2012.

This year La Clinica was selected to benefit from Rising Stars.
La Clinica was founded in 1988 to serve the primary and preventive health care needs of the migrant and seasonal farm workers in Jackson County. In 2001, in response to an increasing need for affordable primary health, La Clinica expanded its scope to serve every member of the community. All services are offered regardless of a patient’s ability to pay, and on a sliding-scale basis for the uninsured and low income.

With the success of the competition in 2012, South Stage wanted to make the event grow in 2013.

Part of that growth came in the form of a new partner, when Britt came on board as a co-presenter for the competition. Britt’s Executive Director Donna Briggs attended Rising Stars last year, and knew that she was witnessing something special.”
“I had the pleasure of attending the final weekend of the South Stage Cellars/Britt Rising Stars competition last year and walked away a fan,” says Britt Executive Director Donna Briggs. “This partnership is a great way for Britt Festivals to support regional artists and the local economy.”

The winner of the competition will receive a $1000 cash prize, donated by Jacksonville resident Brenda Smith, the CEO of Excel Managed Care. Britt’s support also comes in the prizes. The 2013 competition winner will perform as an opening act on the 2013 Britt main stage lineup (pending artist approval). In addition, the winner will receive prizes from Blackstone Audio and Harry & David.

Schiller says, “The response has also been over whelming with the performers who want to be involved. I keep on adding to our waiting list everyday. The more musicians that hear about the contest want to perform for the public, and of course have the opportunity to play at Britt. The thread that ties this all together is the compassion that the musicians have to support La Clinica and their community.”

Each night is open to the public, with no cover charge. Competition rounds, listed below, run from 4-8 p.m., with each act performing for thirty minutes (with time in between to change sets). Audience members should check in at South Stage Cellars tasting room (some rounds will take place in Redman’s Hall). Guitar Center is generously donating the sound system for the event.
For more information, call South Stage Cellars at 541-899-9120.

Schedule as follows (acts are listed in order of appearance):
March 9:
Shybo, Game 6, Ponderosa Breeze, Frankie Hernandez

March 16
City Squirrel, Dave Barnes & Jeff Judkins, Kieran Devine, Ryan Vosika

March 23
Dan Doshier, The Knots, Living on Dreams, Jim Friend

March 30
No competition Easter weekend

April 6
Ila Selene, Brian Griffith Trio, Sam Cavanaugh, Pangia

April 13
Mandee, Calysta & Paul Schleming, LEFT, Matt Hill Trio

April 20
Jef Ramsey, Allison Scull & Victor Martin, The Mackay Project, Charles Guy and Michael Whipple

April 26-27
Rising Star competition finals
Britt stage in Jacksonville (indoor performance – stage doors will be closed with the artists and audience on the stage)
6-9 p.m., with winner announced at the end of the night on April 27.
South Stage Cellars wine will be available for purchase, and Jacksonville Inn will provide food available for purchase at the final rounds.