Lake Country Open Mic Contest returns for it's sixth year

The Open Mic Singer/Songwriter Competition presented by the Okanagan Music Group and Legion Music Group will be returning for its 6th consecutive year and this time it is going to be bigger and better than ever.

For the first time in its six years, the event will be opening up the auditions to Kelowna and Vernon musicians from ages 12 and up, in addition to the Lake Country artists it has been welcoming since day one.

Over the last few years, the growth of the event has been exponential. "When we started five years ago, we only had around five participants, and now this year the registration forms online have just been piling in." said Jennifer Boal, the event's founder.

“It's all about bringing more opportunity and industry knowledge to the local scene, to bolster it” said Aaron Gordon, a coordinator of the event.

Musicians who want to show off their talent are welcomed by a panel of knowledgeable judges to give their all in a series of auditions that will be taking place every Thursday from March 2nd to April 13th in a number of locations spread across the three cities.

The auditions, however, are not like something you’d see on Canadian Idol, they are quite the opposite. Laid-back with a warm and welcoming vibe, the artists can feel at ease while presenting their original songs and know that the feedback they will receive will be valuable no matter the outcome.

“When artists are unsure about what to do next in their careers, by just taking part in the audition rounds they can get some feedback from the panel of judges who some of which have been in the industry for nearly 20 years,” said Gordon

“The whole idea of our competition is that the moment you are on stage, everyone is there with you and they are listening and supporting you. We are there to help you build courage and confidence” added Gordon

Once selected, finalists will have little time to prepare their two best songs for their final show on April 22nd at the Creekside Theatre in Lake Country, where they will showcase their skills one last time in an effort to take home the title and some stellar prizes.

Some of the prizes include studio recording time, a branded logo and website, as well as a number of performance opportunities at local events.

"I feel as though, every year the competition has opened more and more doors for participants," said Boal

"Every year it is a goal of mine to add performance venues like Peach Fest, to increase the exposure for these musicians and to help get their original songwriting out there" added Boal

For more information and details you can visit the event’s website.