Rich Howells

PHOTOS: NEPA Scene’s Got Talent, Week 3, 09/15/15

PHOTOS: NEPA Scene’s Got Talent, Week 3, 09/15/15
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No one expected a 15-year-old high school student with a little ukulele and a great big voice to walk into Thirst T’s Bar & Grill in Olyphant on Tuesday, Sept. 15 and win the audience vote at Week 3 of NEPA Scene’s Got Talent, but that’s just one of many things we love about the event – it’s always unpredictable.

Another thing we love is discovering new talent and letting them shine, so everyone took notice when our youngest participant yet, Awnshae Smith, took the stage and sang a few covers, including “That’s It, I Quit, I’m Movin’ On” by Sam Cooke. She had a lot of competition, too, as this was the busiest night of Season 2 yet with 24 excellent acts. Read an interview with Smith in this week’s NEPA Scene’s Got Talent spotlight.

Week 3 performers:

Music: Adam Fox, Brandon McKenzie, Awnshae Smith, Katie Evans, Joe Quincy, Joe Craig, Pulak, Robert Stevens, Russell Austin, James Barrett, Katie and Aaron, Hoppy Slot Mess, Grant Williams, Adam Bailey, Fiddy Shades, Markus A. D., Candi Vee and Nick Van Wagenen, and Umbriel

Comedy: Ted Hebert, Michelle Morgan, Zack Hammond, Ray Meoni, Tyler DiBenedetto, and Jill Chiaro

Umbriel returned to the stage at the end of the night to headline after winning last week’s audience vote with their “acoustic indie soul” music. Smith won $50 in cash, provided by Fireball Cinnamon Whisky, and the chance to headline the next event on Tuesday, Sept. 22, along with a slot in the Finals Showcase on Dec. 1, where the 12 winners from 12 consecutive weeks will compete in front of a panel of judges for the grand prize – a winter getaway package with ski passes and more, $250, an interview broadcast on Fuzz 92.1, and a free 10-hour recording session at TwentyFiveEight Studios in Scranton. The second place winner will receive $100.

Sponsored by Samuel Adams; LT Verrastro, Inc.; Fireball Cinnamon Whisky; Fuzz 92.1; TwentyFiveEight Studios; and Thirst T’s, NEPA Scene’s Got Talent takes the format of an open mic night and turns it into a friendly competition, inviting local musicians, comedians, poets, performance artists, magicians, actors, and more to perform on Thirst T’s stage every Tuesday at 7 p.m. through Nov. 17.

At the end of each night, audiences who have enjoyed the free live show will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite act. The winner each week will receive $50 in cash and the headlining slot for the following Tuesday, and all other performers are encouraged to compete again as often as they’d like or simply show off their talents for fun. Everyone participating is featured weekly on nepascene.com.

Photos by Daring Damsel