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Speak Up

With an electric performance that captured a packed house at Dolan's Pub in Fredericton, Carleton County's Telfer won the Harvest Galaxie Rising Stars Showcase.

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Carleton County's Telfer took home $1,500 and a slot in the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival's Free Kick Off show on Sept. 10 with a win at the Harvest Galaxie Rising Stars Showcase.

The four-piece New Brunswick band wowed voters with their musicality and funky originals at the show presented by the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's continuous music network, Galaxie.

"We didn't know what to expect," said band leader Tommy Green Jr. "We're honoured. We decided to enter for exposure and to get connected with other artists. It's been a very meaningful experience and we're proud to say the music comes first.

"The Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival is such a prestigious festival. And if there was any festival in Canada we'd want to be a part of, it would be Harvest. Some of our heroes are playing at the festival this year," he said.

As winners of the showcase, the band won $1,500 in cash and an opening slot at the Wednesday night Free Kick Off show on Sept. 10.

Telfer won the showcase competing against four other finalists that featured many of the brightest up and comers on the New Brunswick music scene. The winner was determined by a panel of music industry judges, the live audience Wednesday night at Dolan's and, for the first time, online voting on CBC's Web site.

Telfer consists of Tommy Green Jr., Matt Piper, Bobby McIssac and Jon Goud. The other four finalists included Woodstock native Andy Brown; Fredericton's Cathy Hutch and Mike Cadillac and The Rockin' 88's; as well as Jens Jeppesen and The Hands of Time from New Denmark.

"The Harvest Galaxie Rising Stars Showcase can be a key launching pad for emerging New Brunswick artists, with national exposure through Galaxie and at the festival. Telfer has the potential to turn some heads. It was a great night of music and a very talented band took home the prize," said festival music director Brent Staeben.

Previous winners of the showcase have leveraged their winning to achieve nationwide exposure and further their own successful careers as esteemed musicians.

By winning, Telfer also receives an invitation to perform on stage at CBC Radio's Information Morning Jazz and Blues Breakfast show (Friday, Sept. 12, 6 to 8:30 a.m.) also at the Aliant Mojo Tent, alongside former Galaxie Rising Star winner Matt Andersen (Andersen was part of the band Flat Top that won in 2002). The show is a fundraiser for high school bands in Fredericton.

"For the first time, music fans were able to vote online at CBC.ca/nb for their favorite finalist in the CBC Galaxie Rising Stars competition. In just over two weeks, the site registered more than 1,300 votes. We're thrilled with the number of people who voted online, and the additional exposure our site provided these talented emerging artists. Congratulations to Telfer and we look forward to having the band perform on our annual Information Morning Jazz and Blues Breakfast at the Aliant Mojo Tent on Sept. 12," said Mary-Pat Schutta, program manager CBC Radio.

The Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival introduced the Rising Stars Showcase in 2002 to help New Brunswick artists gain exposure on the regional and national stages as well as catch the eye of industry heavyweights attending the festival.

The Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival will run from Sept. 9 to 14. Tickets can be purchased at Harvest Central (81 Regent St.), by phone at 1-888-NB BLUES, or online at www.harvestjazzandblues.com.