by Sara Hacking,
Staff Writer
Local country music crooners with Nashville dreams have two more chances to try out for Wadena's fourth annual Colgate Country Showdown.
Contestants have an opportunity to compete at the state, regional and national levels. The national grand prize winner will be awarded $100,000.
"It's kind of a radio version of 'American Idol,'" said Sherry Linnes, promotion coordinator for KWAD and Superstation K-106.
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Country music star hopefuls from around the country enter the contest through their local country music station.
Several preliminaries have already been held in Wadena County. There are still opportunities to enter at 8 p.m. June 15 at the Wadena VFW and 8 p.m. June 19 at Sebeka Liquors.
The local semifinal is scheduled following the parade June 21 with performances by the Wadena VFW. Semifinalists will advance to the local finals July 14 and perform with the Wayne Renn Band. Two performers will be chosen for the state finals. One representing KWAD and one representing Superstation K-106.
They won't have to travel far to compete at that level, though. For the first time, the state finals will be held in Wadena, Linnes said. About a dozen contestants from around the state will compete Aug. 24 at the Wadena VFW.
Local organizations have worked for a long time to bring the state finals to Wadena, she said.
"It's a great way to help us promote Wadena and bring something to town that's a little bigger," she said.
Linnes said that although only soloists have entered locally, the competition is open to bands as well.
"It would be really cool to have a band enter," she said.
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Linnes emphasized the showdown is not a karaoke competition. However, the preliminaries are done karoake-style. Music is provided but contestants are welcome to bring their own CDs or accompany themselves with a guitar.
"It's completely up to them," she said.
Volunteer judges score the competitors using an official Colgate Country Showdown form.
The competition is tough, Linnes said.
"It's about what you wear, how you are on stage," she said.
Some contestants sing beautifully but don't know how to interact with the audience, she said.
Linnes is glad she isn't the one doing the judging, she said. By the end of the competition she's gotten to be pretty good friends with the performers.
Family members and friends are welcome to show up and support the performers at all levels of the competition, she said.
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Big dreams are at the heart of the competition.
"They're all looking for their big break," Linnes said. "They're ... looking for someone to notice them."
Country music superstars such as Martina McBride, Garth Brooks and Neal McCoy have all competed in the Colgate Country Showdown.
The Wadena area has a bounty of talent to share, according to Linnes.
"We have some amazing singers and talent," she said. "It's always a great time."
