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PHOTO STORY: Belmont's Best Shine on Curb Event Center Stage


Elana Parvis performs centerstage with her background vocalists centerstage, Braden Simmons
Elana Parvis performs centerstage with her background vocalists centerstage, Braden Simmons

A multi-genre, spanning showcase of the best artists Belmont has to offer took place over the weekend in the Curb Event Center. 

 

Belmont’s showcase series closed out with its annual Best of the Best Showcase on Saturday night. 

 

Despite the dreary weather outside Belmont students, faculty and others filled the arena to get a glimpse of the artists on display. 

 

Opening the show shrouded in darkness with ambient red light was the Battle of the Bands winner RAWHONEY. They returned with their synthetic pop-rock sound that Bruins may remember from their showing at Freedom Plaza earlier this year. 

RAWHONEY. rocks out as the crowd rocks out in the Curb, Braden Simmons
RAWHONEY. rocks out as the crowd rocks out in the Curb, Braden Simmons

All of the songs they performed are on the band's newly released EP and were largely filled with a lot of angsty lyrics and aggressive instrumentals. The band came out in T-shirts, jeans and sneakers and rocked the Curb Event Center. 

Ryan O'Connor shouts out to the crowd during the final song as his band shreds guitar riffs, Braden Simmons
Ryan O'Connor shouts out to the crowd during the final song as his band shreds guitar riffs, Braden Simmons

Their set ended on a song with a heavier sound that reverberated the screaming lyrics throughout the curb and the lead singer largely screamed as heavy guitar riffs thundered behind him. 

 

The crowd bobbed and cheered from its seats. 


Kevin Bull Jr. hits some complementary bass notes for RAWHONEY., Braden Simmons
Kevin Bull Jr. hits some complementary bass notes for RAWHONEY., Braden Simmons

Following an abrupt ending from RAWHONEY., the showcase transitioned to songwriter Natalie Dickerson from the Fall Songwriter Showcase. 

 

She brought a far airier sound to the stage following a raging song from RAWHONEY. 

 

She sang her first song about waking up from a dream of loving someone as she strummed softly on her guitar. 

 

The crowd erupted as she strummed the final notes of her songs. 

 

Donned in a pastel orange dress, Christian Showcase Winner Meredith Aguirre opened with airy vocals that reverberated throughout the Curb Event Center.  

 

She performed a song about having faith as she was covered in a spotlight while the rest of the band crashed behind her. 



Spring showcase winner Natalie Dickerson serenades the Curb crowd, Rachel Suggs
Spring showcase winner Natalie Dickerson serenades the Curb crowd, Rachel Suggs
Aguirre croons out to the audience as she begins her set, Braden Simmons
Aguirre croons out to the audience as she begins her set, Braden Simmons

Eventually, her sound transitioned to a calmer, more melodic sound while images of stained-glass church windows flashed on the screen behind her. 

 

Her vocals blended beautifully with her backup vocalists as they harmonized and she got the whole crowd clapping, as she swayed across center stage. 

Aguirre raises her hand during her set, Braden Simmons
Aguirre raises her hand during her set, Braden Simmons

As she sang out the final notes and her band crescendoed, the crowd erupted. 

 

In a white shirt and black pants, Mack Ashbaugh was next up as the other fall writers showcase winner. 

Ashbaugh strums out his set of songs to the Belmont crowd, Braden Simmons
Ashbaugh strums out his set of songs to the Belmont crowd, Braden Simmons

He strummed a quiet melody to a silently listening crowd as he sang his first song about trying to take in everything that he could, which he dedicated to his sister and mom. 

 

The crowd applauded at the conclusion of his two-song set. 

 

Pop Showcase winner Izzy Potter strolled on to stage in a flowing white top and black skirt outfit and brown boots. 

Potter taking to the stage and beginning her three-song set, Braden Simmons
Potter taking to the stage and beginning her three-song set, Braden Simmons

Her ephemeral sound was complemented well by her backup vocalists and striking bass notes. 

 

Wheat fields sprawled across the background as she sang a fun, folksy song that the drums thumped along to. 

 

She closed out the set by having her two backup vocalists sing alongside her center stage before she walked off stage. 

 

Strolling on to stage in a flannel and jeans was spring songwriter’s round winner Greyson Gainey. 



He came out with a harmonica holder around his neck and a guitar strapped around his shoulder. He began with a tender song strumming the strings and tapping the body of his guitar. 

 

The crowd applauded as he left and before remembering to come back to retrieve his harmonica holder. 

 

A trumpet begins to blare as red lighting takes over the stage, building up anticipation for the Country Showcase winner Aniston Pate, who came out in an entirely white outfit and hat, contrasted by black boots. 



Pate performing centerstage while playfully singing her lyrics, Braden Simmons
Pate performing centerstage while playfully singing her lyrics, Braden Simmons

She came out to her bumping songs that got toes tapping in the curb event center. 

 

The drums thumped a slow steady beat that led into Pate’s “Honkeytonk without a Woman,” as the horns blared again. 


Pate's fiddle player plays out notes during her set, Rachel Suggs
Pate's fiddle player plays out notes during her set, Rachel Suggs

Pate closed out by thanking the crowd for coming out and told them to tip their bartenders before heading out. 

 

Kendal Nicole. the second winner of the Spring Singer Songwriter Showcase, was up next on stage.

Nicole on stage strumming out her guitar on stage, Braden Simmons
Nicole on stage strumming out her guitar on stage, Braden Simmons

She played a soft strumming melody before singing out to the crowd, donning a black dress and strumming a white guitar. 

 

Her airy vocals carried throughout the curb event center as the crowd listened intently to her crooning about a guy missing a girl who heads off to college. 

 

Her second song was a similarly heartfelt piece that had guitar strums behind her powerful and airy vocals. 

 

The crowd applauded once again as she exited the stage. 

 

Finally, the R&B showcase winner Elana Parvis, or at least her voice, was up next. 

Parvis performing centerstage while her backup vocalists dance in the background, Braden Simmons
Parvis performing centerstage while her backup vocalists dance in the background, Braden Simmons

All students could hear was Parvis’s voice calling out.  

 

But the crowd got to its feet as Parvis strolled on stage in a sparkling white dress while the horns blared some funky notes. 

 

The crowd clapped along to the beat of her first song and the horns supplemented and emulated her vocals. 

 

Almost the entire front section closest to the stage had audience members out of their seats. 

 

Most of the band members carried an air of a smooth jazz band decked in dark blazers, shoes and pants to go alongside matching black sunglasses. 

 

Her final song, similar to the last time she performed, absolutely got a rousing reception from the audience that peaked at her pausing during the final chorus of the song where the audience went berserk. 


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This article was written by Braden Simmons with contributory photography from Rachel Suggs

 

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