OTIS ORCHARDS WINS BEST BLOOMSDAY ENTERTAINER
Thursday, May 16, 2019
Newbies Capture Best Bloomsday Entertainer Title
Spokane, WA, May 16, 2019—Runners and walkers must not have been too tired this year after climbing Doomsday Hill, because they clearly enjoyed the marimba music near the six mile point. In post-race voting, Bloomies gave the nod to a marinba band from Otis Orchards Elementary, located on the course at Broadway and Lindeke, as the “Best Bloomsday Entertainer” among a group of 31 official performers along the 12-kilometer route. It was Otis Orchard’s first year playing music on the Bloomsday course.
Four-time champions Nixon Rodeo, rock and rolling in their traditional location at the base of Doomsday Hill, were close behind in the vote tally, with the Angela Marie Project, situated on Ft. George Wright not far from Spokane Falls Community College, finished third for the third consecutive year. This year marked the sixteenth annual contest to choose the Best Bloomsday Entertainer.
Whatever their preference in entertainment, Bloomsday runners, walkers and wheelers seemed to enjoy the performances, as they cast over 1,800 votes, over 500 more than last year. Voters were able to select their top three performers this year, as they could in each of the past four years.
“With the glorious weather, everyone was having a great time and enjoying the music,” said Bloomsday volunteer Crystal Yurik, who organized the entertainment. “Congratulations to Otis Orchards for standing out in a course full of great entertainment.”
The bands scheduled along the route this year included (in order by location along the course) Cathedral Choir of Our Lady of Lourdes (Choir Music), The 8 Tracks Rewound (Classic Rock), Rock Club (Rock Cover Band), Wilsonlikethevolleyball x Colton Droubli (aka Gypsy Temple) (Rock Alternative), JuTe (Acoustic guitar with a hint of folk/country/classic rock), Too Many Men (Variety of Pop & Rock), The Towerz (Soloitst), Legacy (Bluegrass), Phoenix Wind (Rock Duo), Station 7 (Classic Rock Covers), Specialty Music (Popular Music), Rockwell (Classic Rock/Country), Student Jazz Ensemble (Old Time Jazz Band), David Gordon (Rock plus Alternative), Best Backing Tracks (Solo Artist), Angela Marie Project (Energized Originals), Glorify Band (fka Salt) (Christian Rock), The Nixon Rodeo (Rock & Roll), Chris Ellenberger (Soloist/Singer), Summit View Swank (Folkabilly/Americana/Rock), Burle Craven (single Act/Old Rock/Country), Twenty Dollar Bill (Rock), In Tune (Oldies/Country), Otis Orchards Elementary (Marimba Band), Late Night Snaq (Classic Rock), Rail Canyon King's Kids, Itt’z Cuzzen (Classic Progressive Rock Cover & Original), Neema Gospel Youth Choir/La Patience Africa Band (African Gospel Choir/Congolese Band), Shaliach Band (Jewish Folk & Faith), Random Generation (Classic Rock), Quarter Monkey (Original Rock), Last Chance for Gas (Classic Rock/Christian)
Otis Orchards will earn the top prize of $500 in this year’s Best Bloomsday Entertainer contest, while Nixon Rodeo and the Angela Marie Project will get the 2nd and 3rd place awards of $300 and $200. Additional cash rewards will be paid out through random drawings.
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