Smokin’ On the Suwannee BBQ Festival this weekend at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak

All proceeds will go to benefit the Suwannee FFA Chapter

SPIRIT OF THE SUWANNEE MUSIC PARK, LIVE OAK, FLA - Oh, the enchanting smell of finger-licking good barbecue cooking on the grill! But the taste will be even better when the Florida BBQ Association (FBA) sanctioned Smoking’ On the Suwannee BBQ Festival cook-off kicks off this weekend at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park! What are you waiting for! Head on out this weekend and taste some award-winning barbecue and watch these cooks work their magic!

There will also be a Spotlight on Local Talent event Friday night and “the Dog Hunt Man,” David Cooler, Saturday night in the Music Hall. If the barbecue doesn’t make you howl with delight, South Carolina’s own David Cooler is sure to do the trick! Bring your dancing shoes Saturday night!

This very first BBQ Festival is put on by locals Damon Wooley, the contest organizer, and Suwannee Senior Future Farmer’s of America (FFA) Advisor De Broughton. These two have been working hard to make this event a huge success to help provide a sound financial future for the Suwannee FFA. FFA has earned the reputation for molding young people into the future leaders of America. Suwannee FFA has always stood at the front of the line when it comes to training young FFA members in leadership, public speaking, community opportunities and business management and as standouts among their peers.

Competitors in the BBQ cook-off will work in teams to barbecue the best chicken, ribs, pork and brisket possible to be judged by FBA Certified barbecue Judges during the contest. Teams will begin preparation Friday for the Saturday cook-off. Visitors can sample barbecue prepared by teams from all over the Southeast including Georgia, Florida, Alabama, South Carolina and Tennessee. During this family event, visitors are invited to stay for the 5 p.m. awards ceremony on Saturday.

About 50 contestants have already signed up to compete for the prize money. But, it’s not just the prize money that causes these barbecue specialists to travel all over the USA, cooking prize-winning barbecue all the way.

The overall winners and category winners will receive cash prizes and earn valuable points towards FBA Team of the Year. The Grand Champion of the BBQ Festival will quality for the American Royal BBQ Championship in Kansas City and also be in a drawing to compete in the Jack Daniels World Championship in Tennessee.

Admission at the gate is $2 per person or $5 per carload. Admission Friday night to the Music Hall is $5 and $15 Saturday night. As always, the SOS Café and Restaurant at the Music Hall will have delicious foods and beverages available at regular prices each night.

If you haven’t signed up to be a sponsor of this great event, get moving! Contact Wooley at 386-590-6038 or Broughton at 386-688-0454 pronto! It will not only help your business, it will warm your heart and help provide trained leaders for America’s future. And you get a few great perks as well. Call now, you’ll be glad you did!

For more information about overnight or weekend accommodations or to learn more about the Smoking’ On the Suwannee BBQ Festival, Spotlight on Local Talent, David Cooler “The Dog Hunt Man,” Gator Chomp Romp, Colt Ford Show or the many other upcoming events, please call 386-364-1683 or go the SOSMP website at www.musicliveshere.com. We’ll be looking for ya’ll!

10-year-old singer/guitarist wins Colgate’s North Florida Country Showdown!

SPIRIT OF THE SUWANNEE MUSIC PARK, LIVE OAK, FLA - She may be little, but she’s loud and talented - and she’s the 2009 Colgate County Showdown North Florida finalist Emily Brook! “I just love performing,” Emily said later after it had sunk in that she will be representing North Florida in the state finals Oct. 25 in Pensacola.

Colby Craig of Lake City was named first runner-up in the NF competition.

The event was sponsored by WQHL 98.1 and the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park. Kevin Thomas, WQHL radio personality, was the emcee for the exciting event. Thomas was also the emcee last year for not only the North Florida events, but the state finals as well.

Before a packed audience of friends, family and well-wishers who came to cheer on 16 finalists July 17 at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park, this little strawberry-blond stick of dynamite from Wellington, Florida took the stage near the end of the first round of competition. The audience was silent - how could a child that young have the type talent the judges were looking for? But, by the time she had wowed them with her singing, her infectious smile, her guitar playing and her stage presence, the audience was cheering and clapping loudly for her. Well, here’s the rest of the story. When she returned for her second set of the night, it was apparent this little lady has what it takes. The judges didn’t take long after the competition ended to name her the winner. “When I heard them call my name I was very excited!” Emily said. “It was kind of late after the show so I didn’t get to call any of my friends,” Emily said in a phone interview. “The next day I called some of them and they said ‘Congratulations!” and ‘That’s great!’”

Knowing she could move on to the national finals if she wins just two more times has Emily overjoyed. “I’m just dying to go the Ryman Auditorium and Nashville! Tennessee is a good place to be!” She should know - she and her family visited there recently for the CMA fan week activities, spending the night on the streets in line to see Taylor Swift the next morning. It wasn’t exactly a quiet night…Emily was asked to sing instead of paying for a magazine about Taylor Swift and that had the more than 600 people in line cheering and asking for more. The next several hours Emily was a street performer, playing guitar and singing by request while her mom watched in amazement. The next day, she performed for Taylor Swift’s mother!

Emily said she believes she gets her musical ability from both parents. Her dad played guitar during high school and occasionally plays in their hometown. “I’ve been singing since I was three and in my car seat!” Emily points out when asked about her talent. “We are always riding along singing and doing air guitar!” this soon-to-be fifth grader laughs.

Only eight months ago, she began performing publicly at the Hurricane Grill and Wings in Royal Palm Beach every Saturday night. Emily had only taken guitar lessons for about a year and a half from Mark Boreffi of Boomers Music in Wellington when Boreffi asked her to join him every Saturday night at the Hurricane for his show and do her own 30 minute set, singing and playing guitar! Performing is now in Emily’s blood! Emily’s mother said owner Robert Clark told Emily’s dad he could come over and play his guitar there anytime he wanted, but he had to bring Emily along! Due their daughter’s newfound performance popularity, her mother said she and Emily’s dad are now comfortable just being referred to as “Emily’s parents!”

There’s nothing Emily likes better than getting before a crowd to entertain. When it’s her turn on stage, she takes ownership of the stage, smiling that charming smile while she wraps the audience around her little finger!

That charm, coupled with her amazing talent, could help her to win the state competition where she would receive $1,000 and go on to the regional competition. Regional winners go to Nashville in January of 2010 where they will vie for the coveted Best New Act in Country Music title and a $100,000 check!

Last year’s state winner, Johnny Bulford of Orlando, won the state title at the SOSMP and went on to win the national competition and a $100,000 check!

For more information about the SOSMP, more exciting upcoming events like the huge, sanctioned BBQ Festival this weekend, July 24-25 with a Spotlight on Local Talent July 24 and David Cooler “The Dog Hunt Man” July 25, Michal Bailey and A Night of Detroit Blues Aug. 7, The RedCoats Beatles’ Tribute Aug. 8 and Colt Ford Show Aug. 28 with Johnny Bulford, go to www.musicliveshere.com or call the SOSMP at 386-364-1683. We’ll be looking for ya’ll!