Live Band Karaoke Returning After 2024 Vocal Showcase Contest!
The Yolo County Fair’s most popular event, the “Vocal Showcase,” formally and traditionally known as the “Yolo Idol,” continues to draw hundreds of ardent fans to watch Yolo County contestants. The anticipation is palpable awaiting the lineup of this year’s karaoke contestants! The Yolo County Fair’s Entertainment Director Ericka Davis is “Over the Moon” to announce this year’s karaoke contests!
After the formal Vocal Showcase, “Live Band Karaoke” proved to be an exciting new feature last year, so we’re excited to bring it back! Fairgoers will be able to choose a song from an extensive song list, step up to the microphone and front the band as the lead singer! Live Band Karaoke elevates the karaoke experience, and we're thrilled to reintroduce it this year!
2024 contestants for the formal karaoke contest are allowed to play an instrument as well as perform their own original songs if they wish or they can choose the traditional option of singing along to a karaoke track which is still the most popular option. Applicants are encouraged to submit a video, YouTube link, or recording of themselves along with their application. With so many applicants submitting for this year’s Vocal Showcase, this will give Ericka Davis a chance to assess the talent and narrow the number of contestants.
The Vocal Showcase contest will take place Thursday, August 15th from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm. After the beloved regular singing competition, fairgoers will have an exciting new opportunity to sing with a live band until 10:30 pm. Signups for “Live Band Karaoke” will take place on a first come first serve basis! This returning musical experience is sure to entice our talented community to shine bright this exciting Thursday night at the fair!
Judging for the Vocal Showcase will be based on vocal quality, difficulty of performance, stage presence, appropriateness of the song selection and appearance. The Top 3 contestants will be selected by judges to sing a second song, which will determine the Vocal Showcase winner, runner up and third place contestant. The winners of both the Vocal Showcase and Live Band Karaoke Contest will take home $300 and the second and third place contestants will take home $150 and $100, respectively.
Last year’s 2023 first place winner of the Vocal Showcase, Woodland Resident Amelia Robinson-Burmester is invited to sing an encore song while the judges deliberate. She will also sing the National Anthem for this year’s Yolo County Fair’s Saturday Night Demolition Derby on 8/17/2024. The City of Woodland has also invited Amelia to sing the National Anthem at this year’s 4th of July Firework Show held at Woodland High School on Thursday 7/4/2024. We’re thrilled to announce this newly added “perk” for the winner of the coveted 1st place spot at the 2024 Vocal Showcase!
Master of Ceremonies will be Woodland’s own recording artist and performer Ericka Davis, who’s dedicated passion of encouraging local talent to shine has motivated her to direct the show for over 10 years and is celebrating her second year as the Yolo County Fair’s Entertainment Director. She’s thrilled to announce an extra special panel of 3 experienced judges including last year’s returning judge representing the Hispanic community, Marlene Dolores Rodriguez “La Guera del Acordeón.” Marlene is a Mexican singer-songwriter from Modesto California. Her music has debuted on international television like Telemundo and Univision, and she performs across the United States, Mexico and Canada! Her band “Banda la Nueva Villa” was nominated for the best Latin group in the Modesto area in 2022 and will be headlining on Sunday August 18th, at the Yolo County Fair.
Along with Marlene, the judging panel for this year’s Vocal Showcase boasts a tremendous amount of talent and experience that includes returning judge Bobby Rogers, a beloved and longtime Director of Music at Woodland Joint Unified School District. He recently began his new adventure as Professor of Music at Woodland Community College.
Then, rounding out the esteemed panel of judges is an exciting new addition representing Yolo County’s music scene Chuck “JonEmery” Dodds. Chuck, a local singer-songwriter and founder of Left of the Dial Promotions, aims to enrich, inspire, and connect our community through all-ages and inclusive music-centric events across various art platforms. He’ll be a valued addition to the panel! Don’t miss this year’s Vocal Showcase and support our local talent!
Ericka Davis
(530) 383-2199
entertainment@yolocountyfair.net