BIG RICK & THE BOMBERS WIN 2002 TALENT SHOWCASE

Raleigh-based Big Rick & The Bombers won the 16th Annual Piedmont Blues Preservation Society’s Talent Showcase, capping a two-day competition Saturday and Sunday, August 10th and 11th at Chumley’s in High Point.

Greensboro’s Kings & Peaches finished second, and Winston-Salem’s Peter May placed third in the Talent Showcase that featured 14 bands from across North Carolina.

As winners of the Talent Showcase, Big Rick & The Bombers will represent the Piedmont Blues Preservation Society at the International Blues Challenge, scheduled for February 2003, in Memphis. They will receive a travel allowance from the PBPS and transportation courtesy of Smith Stokes Chrysler Dodge Jeep Chevrolet in Reidsville.

The band will also receive paid bookings at the 17th Annual Carolina “Lite” Blues Festival in May of 2003, The Rhinoceros Club in Greensboro, Mojo’s in Charlotte, and Coaches Sports Bar and Grille in Fayetteville. Also, three hours of studio time at Gowithit Publishing in Greensboro will be awarded to the group.

Big Rick & The Bombers is truly a multi-cultural blues band. Bandleader/bassist/vocalist Rick Nunez is from Puerto Rico, guitarist Mark VanMourek is from Holland, and drummer Simone Adorni is from Italy.

Rounding out the band is vocalist Lynette Barber, originally from Columbia, NC and keyboardist Fred Westbrook, originally from Sunbury, PA.

When asked what placing first in the Talent Showcase meant to his band, Rick Nunez said, “It just means that hard work pays off. We do this for the love of it."

Guitarist Mark VanMourek added, “For me, the timing is right. I’ve got my own album out now (entitled Passages).”

“But I’m just glad we could do this for the big man,” he added, gesturing towards Nunez. “Rick has a big heart; he’s a good guy.”

Second place finishers Kings & Peaches featured a dual guitar attack of Charlley Ward and Jimmy Foster. Joe Dean played drums and Paul Sedlick was on bass.

Kings & Peaches will get the nod to play next September’s Bull Durham Blues Festival in Durham, NC (Big Rick & The Bombers previously played the festival as the winner of the now-defunct Triangle Blues Society’s talent contest).

The group also receives a paid booking at Ritchy’s Uptown Restaurant and Bar in Greensboro, as well as cash and prizes.

Solo artist Peter May, who placed third, accompanied himself on acoustic guitar and acoustic slide guitar. As the highest placing acoustic act, May will receive a paid booking at M’Coul’s Public House in Greensboro. In addition to cash and prizes, May will also open for Big Rick & The Bombers at Mojo’s in Charlotte.

The final round, which was held Sunday night, consisted of the aforementioned three performers as well as acoustic blues duo Scratch & Sniff from Greensboro, consisting of Alan Steele on guitar and vocals and Paul Londraville on harmonica; Mill House, from Oak Ridge, NC, consisting of Matt Hill on guitar and vocals, Jonathon McMillan on drums, John Sumner on bass and Rick Sanderford on harmonica; and Pajama Don from Thomasville, NC, consisting of Don Harrington on bass and vocals, Elisabeth Harrington on flute and Jim Suiter on guitar.

The Talent Showcase was an exclusive presentation of the Piedmont Blues Preservation Society; a non-profit, all-volunteer organization dedicated to keeping the blues alive. For more information, call (336) 275-4944 or visit their web site at www.piedmontblues.org.