Country Idol-ers sing for crown in Cloverdale

Tom Zillich

There's no shortage of challengers for the crown of Cloverdale Country Idol.

The newest attraction at the Victoria Day weekend event will see more than 40 local singers in a contest based on the hit reality-TV show.

To arrive at a final list of more than 40 contenders, contest co-ordinator Annie Andrews sorted through applications from 18 men, 18 women and nine kids.

"The response has been really good, and there's some dynamite talent here," said Andrews, who helps run a roving karaoke system and Cooper Studios, a music school and talent agency.

The competition starts Friday evening on a stage at Clover Square Village. The music continues there on Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., and then shifts Sunday to the rodeo fairground's Western Show Stage for the finals, from 4 to 5 p.m. Finalists will be outfitted in duds from Malary's Fashion Network.

Country Idol hopeful Darcy Cavanah, a North Deltan, is an avid karaoke singer who works at Shaw Cable in his time away from the microphone.

At the rodeo, the Williams Lake native is planning to sing the Rascal Flatts hit, "Bless The Broken Road."

"It's a real woman pleaser," Cavanah says with a laugh.

Given the smash success of the Idol franchise on TV, he's not surprised by the level of interest in Cloverdale Country Idol.

"People like to see competitors get eliminated, the cutthroat stuff," Cavanah says. "This is a chance for people to see that kind of action live.... It'd be great to have a few hundred people there, to get us pumped for the music."

The Cloverdale Country Idol winner will be showered with gifts, including a 30-hour modeling course, clothes, vocal coaching and recording session.

The four-day, 59th annual Cloverdale Rodeo and Country Fair kicks off Thursday with a "Marty Party" featuring country star Marty Stuart, on stage at the Longhorn Saloon starting at 8 p.m. Also Thursday is the annual Bed Races in downtown Cloverdale, starting at 6 p.m.

Gates open Friday at 4 p.m. with midway rides and the Jest in Time Circus of Fools, followed by events such as a logging show, the Wild West cooking stage, BMX bike demos and, of course, rodeo action.

The rodeo's annual parade rolls at 10 a.m. Saturday through Cloverdale streets. Grand Marshall this year is B.C. Lions quarterback Dave Dickinson.

Fairground gates open at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

Cloverdale is a popular stop on the pro rodeo tour, attracting top male and female contestants with more than $200,000 in prize money.

For complete details, phone 604-576-9461, or click on www.cloverdalerodeo.com.

posted on 05/18/2005