On Sunday April 13th, six of the areas top country acts attacked the Emerald Theatre in Detroit for a showdown that would bring the two winners a chance to open for Nashville Recording Artists "Emerson Drive" when they appear at the Emerald on April 27th.Photos of the event and more information can be seen at www.DetroitCountryMusic.com.
Crossroads, The Gigantics, Tracy Maree and Robyn Lee, Wildfire, The William Wyatt Band, and the Wrenfields gave it their all in hopes of being the crowd pleaser and winning the popular vote to take one of the two top spots.
The William Wyatt Band opened the evening with their saxophone enhanced countrified rock stylings. Wildfire was pure country as they had a flawless set ending in "Courtesy of the Red, White & Blue" which drew thunders from the crowd. Crossroads had the whole theatre footstompin with incredible fiddle work by Janel deVries. The Wrenfields then took the stage in their pinstriped suits and took everyone to a higher plane with music from their new CD "Seconds" . Next was the song stylings and folly of Tracy Maree and Robyn Lee, two sisters out of Washington Michigan who had the crowd cheering and smiling at their stage show. Rounding out the night was the incredible Country Rock sounds of The Gigantics. All in all it was three and a half hours of incredible country music.
The show was produced by Astrum Entertainment for the emerald and emceed by Larry Garcia of DetroitCountryMusic.com and he praised all the groups for coming out and giving such and incredible show, but we all knew only two bands could snag the brass ring on this one and open for Emerson Drive. The votes were counted and the audience selected the William Wyatt Band and Crossroads as the bands to come back on April 27th for the big show. The theatre exploded as the bands were named, it was obvious that the winners had their crowds on hand.
The Emerald Drive concert is sponsored by Astrum Entertainment and WYCD (Detroit's Country 99.5 FM) Tickets are available at Ticketmaster and the box office of the Emerald Theatre. By logging on to DetroitCountryMusic.com you have the opportunity to win one of three pairs of tickets to the concert which will be given away Friday the 18th.