Settin’ the Woods on Fire: Country Showdown in Ritter Park

Settin’ the Woods on Fire: Country Showdown in Ritter Park
by Duke Landers

“Who knows, there may be a great song out there somewhere in somebody’s dresser drawer, just waitin’ ta be sung.” –Hank Williams Sr.

The Colgate Country Showdown, America’s largest talent showcase, along with WTCR and the Greater Huntington Parks and Recreation district, gave Ritter Park a Nashville flare by presenting a free concert in Ritter Park on Saturday.
The performances consisted of 17 total contestants, all dreaming of stardom, with only 10 aspiring talents to be chosen to advance to the showdown finals. Under a uniform system of judging, the contestants were rated in 5 categories including marketability, vocal/instrumental ability, originality, stage presence/charisma, and last but certainly not least, talent.
Unfortunately, I had arrived late in the show, as my photographer, Mr. Ed Marcum, is a diabetic, and needed to be rushed home for his insulin shot. I did mange to catch the close of Amanda Hill to an impressive audience reaction. Stephen Salyers then followed her with original and covered material, getting a swell of response to his country ballads.
Finally, the moment of truth had arrived, the announcement of the showdown finalists.
As the seconds counted down, restless friends and relatives were shifting in their lawn chairs as the nerve shattered contestants were eagerly anticipating what could be their “big break.”
Once the sponsors had made their closing statements, the long awaited list of finalists were finally announced as follows: (in no particular order) The Back Road Sweethearts, Samantha Dawn, Shawna McCown, Micheal Moore, Don Hanshaw and Kanyon, Rebecca Jane, Dennis Smith, Lyndsey Caudill, Amanda Hill, and Stephen Salyers.
You can catch these talented up and comers on July 28th, at 2:00 p.m. at Camden Park for the showdown finals. So if you find yourself somewhere on that lost highway, broken down and longin’ for a good ‘twang, then get your lonely old self on out there and support the local talent!



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				Settin’ the Woods on Fire: Country Showdown in Ritter Park by Duke Landers “Who knows, there may be a great song out there somewhere in somebody’s dresser drawer, just waitin’ ta be sung.” –Hank Williams Sr. The Colgate Country Showdown, America’s largest talent showcase, along with WTCR and the Greater Huntington Parks and Recreation district, gave Ritter Park a Nashville flare by presenting a free concert in Ritter Park on Saturday. The performances consisted of 17 total contestants, all dreaming of stardom, with only 10 aspiring talents to be chosen to advance to the showdown finals. Under a uniform system of judging, the contestants were rated in 5 categories including marketability, vocal/instrumental ability, originality, stage presence/charisma, and last but certainly not least, talent. Unfortunately, I had arrived late in the show, as my photographer, Mr. Ed Marcum, is a diabetic, and needed to be rushed home for his insulin shot. I did mange to catch the close of Amanda Hill to an impressive audience reaction. Stephen Salyers then followed her with original and covered material, getting a swell of response to his country ballads. Finally, the moment of truth had arrived, the announcement of the showdown finalists. As the seconds counted down, restless friends and relatives were shifting in their lawn chairs as the nerve shattered contestants were eagerly anticipating what could be their “big break.” Once the sponsors had made their closing statements, the long awaited list of finalists were finally announced as follows: (in no particular order) The Back Road Sweethearts, Samantha Dawn, Shawna McCown, Micheal Moore, Don Hanshaw and Kanyon, Rebecca Jane, Dennis Smith, Lyndsey Caudill, Amanda Hill, and Stephen Salyers. You can catch these talented up and comers on July 28th, at 2:00 p.m. at Camden Park for the showdown finals. So if you find yourself somewhere on that lost highway, broken down and longin’ for a good ‘twang, then get your lonely old self on out there and support the local talent!