Seven local singers and songwriters closed the show with performances touching on multiple genres of music at the South Cariboo Fall Fair in 100 Mile House, Sept. 6.
While Cariboo Idol contestants are usually in competition with each other for top prizes, performing solo at various community fundraising events throughout the summer, this year was a little bit different.
Some of the idols accompanied each other on stage this season, one brought up a band, and all seven, after three contestants dropped out earlier in the year, received a cheque for their participation.
“This year was good to allow the idols to bring other people up on stage with them,” explains organizer Rob Fry.
“In the past, they were on their own. It was all about them. This year was about performing.”
Cariboo Idol, a music contest for local performers meant to benefit community fundraising events, is in its eighth year after starting in 2004, and taking a few breaks in between.
This year's contestants – Tanya Guenther, Britta Westerager, Jillian Thomson, Stephen Perry, Alyssa Lindberg, Tyrell Norton and Kira Saenger – also received three hours of studio time to record songs and a video clip.
On stage inside the South Cariboo Rec. Centre in front of Fall Fair visitors, Perry and Lindberg, who have a one-year-old son together named Odin, performed songs by Mumford & Sons, Lorde, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
“We play music together at home all the time. We thought it would be fun to perform together,” says Lindberg, in her second year as a Cariboo Idol.
This was Perry's first.
“It was educational, that's for sure,” he says of the experience.
“I learned a lot about playing on stage. You take a different look at it when you go up there.”
The couple have started writing original material together and they're hoping to record some in the studio.
This was Westerager's second experience as a Cariboo Idol.
“It's really nice to get yourself out there, and to see what everyone else can do,” she says. “And it supports the community. I love that.”
She sang songs by Cher and Gnarls Barkley.
“It's nice to be together with everybody. You make such good friendships.”
Guenther plays with a local bluegrass group, Front Porch, which joined her on stage at the Fall Fair. Back in May at her first Cariboo Idol audition, she said, “Anytime you can perform and help charity or another organization, it's worthwhile.”
Saenger, a Cariboo Idol contestant for a second time, plays guitar and sings.
She performed songs by Sublime and The Black Keys, accompanied by her cousin on guitar, at the fair. She recommends the Cariboo Idol experience to anyone looking to get on stage and sing.
“It was fun, definitely.”
Norton, a first time idol, echoes that sentiment.
“Whoever wants to get up, just go for it. It's quite the experience.”
Norton plays guitar. He sang something by Theory of a Deadman at the fair, and he's working on one of his own songs to take to the studio.
“[Cariboo Idol] was educational. It definitely kept my music ability up.”
Thomson sang a folk song she wrote, titled On my own.
It's her second time being a Cariboo Idol. She's very soft-spoken but likes to be up on stage. The experience this year was “a lot of fun”, she says, and it helped her gain more confidence.
“I've written a few songs and been on the radio, and I play at the [South Cariboo Farmers' Market].”
Her future plans include recording an album.
“I'm excited.”
