THE OTTAWA VALLEY MUSICIAN DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE PEMBROKE WATERFRONT FESTIVAL AND RENFREW COUNTY COMMUNITY FUTURES DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION... PRESENT THE BIG OPENER CONTEST

Why?
The Waterfront Festival is all about Canadian music. So what better way to showcase some of our most impressive local talent, than through the Ottawa Valley’s biggest annual music festival? This year, local musician – Ben Rutz will be coming home to headline the Friday night of The Waterfront Festival playing fiddle with Johnny Reid. Here’s your opportunity to get some exposure and a pay cheque for your band by winning an opening spot on either Friday, Saturday or Sunday’s lineup.

Who?
Any local band is entitled to enter this contest. The minimum requirement in order to be considered local is: at least one
member of the group must reside in Renfrew County.

What?
The O.V.M.D.P is a three-stage program, designed to fairly select 3 local bands, who earn their time in the limelight and a taste of the big stage at the 2008 Pembroke Waterfront Festival.

1. Jury – The first stage is a juried competition. Bands will be asked to submit a CD for judging purposes. An independent, unbiased jury will judge each band (they will not be told the name of any band). The jury will select which 5 bands move on to the contest stage.

2. Contest – 5 successful bands will move on to compete in a “Battle of the Bands” on Thursday, August 7th on the big stage at the Festival. Each member of the audience will have one vote to select the winner. The show will be free and will last from 7PM to 10PM. All bands must remain for the duration. The playing order will not be pre-announced. Each band will be announced as they go on stage. At 10PM the votes will be counted and the announcement will be made on MyFM and Star96 that night. Five bands will be selected for this part of the process.

3. Performance – The winning band will open for Honeymoon Suite, David Wilcox and Rik Emmett at the Waterfront Festival and receive a cheque for $1500. Two runner-up bands will open up for Crystal Shawanda and Johnny Reid on the Saturday and for Valdy and Shane Yellowbird on the Sunday, and each will receive $750.

When
Get your completed application and CD to the Recreation Department by July 18th to be considered for selection for the contest night.

Where
The Recreation Department is located upstairs in the Pembroke Memorial Centre, 393 Pembroke Street West, Pembroke ON, K8A 5N5.

How
The application package can be downloaded here

The OVMDP is a joint program of the RCCFDC and the City of Pembroke Recreation Department.