This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Six musical acts are competing for a chance at stardom — which will start with an opening gig next month for Cold War Kids in Sandy.
The show — the Live Wholly Festival — has Cold War Kids, the California indie-rock band, as headliners. It's a free show, set for Saturday, Sept. 17, at the Sandy Amphitheater, 9400 S. 1300 East, Sandy.
The opening act will be chosen by an online poll, which launches Sunday, and the website has video of the finalists in performance. The poll, and the festival, are sponsored by the Wholly Guacamole brand.
Here are the six finalists, chosen from open-mic sessions across the country:
• Brad Blackburn, a blues-influenced songwriter from San Antonio, now living in Nashville.
• Semaj Douglas and Jordan Lorrius, elementary school teachers from New Orleans who perform urban folk under the name Love Evolution (a k a Semaj & Mr. Lorrius).
• Nici Peper, an acoustic Americana singer from Wisconsin.
• Mack Sterr and Mark Dennison, an indie-folk/pop performer from Detroit-via-Chicago, and his Chicago-based cajon drummer.
• Olivia Thai, a musician/songwriter/entrepreneur from Arcadia, Calif., who won among online submissions.
• Vanessa Wheeler, a performer born in Brazil and living in Los Angeles, who mixes sounds from both locations.
The winner will travel to Utah to perform before Cold War Kids' set, and will receive a $10,000 cash prize. The music festival will include Salt Lake City musicians, local cuisine and chef demonstrations — much of it incorporating the sponsor's guacamole.