Lethbridge’s amazing array of country picking talent showed their stuff, April 14 during the finals of the Canadian 
Country Weekend country talent at Boss Hog’s.
Eight local acts were competing for a mainstage slot at the Canadian Country Weekend in Fort Macleod, Aug. 12-13.
Breanne Urban and Southern Flyer won against some tough competition which included solid sets from Alyssa McQuaid.
Karen Romanchuk who was backed by her band, Darwin Romanchuk on drums and bassist David Popovich, played an upbeat set of two originals and ended with a Townes Van Zandt song.
All of the finalists brought their fans beginning with Charles Shade, who sang three big country hits solo and had his fans cheering for him.
Alyssa McQuaid drew huge cheers right from the beginning of her set which included a heart-wren
ching version of her song “Getting By,” which she sent out to her friend whose parents recently passed away in a car accident.
She ended on an upbeat note with Sugarland’s “Stuck Like Glue.”
It was great to see local revamped outlaw country quartet the Smokin’ Pistols with a new bassist and drummer.
Shael Pezderic sang lead vocals for two of the three songs and did an excellent, twanging job of them.
They ended with a crowd favourite “Two Shots of Whiskey, One shot of Hell,” which had the audience calling for an encore.
It was a pleasure to see several acts I had never heard before.
I enjoyed Jessica Halvorson’s set. She beamed through three songs including an excellent version of “Piec
e of My Heart.”
Shalisa Leisch and Randy Martin came all the way from Brooks to compete.
Leisch had a few technical issues and knocked over her guitar at the beginning of her set, but sang a
n excellent version of Gretchen Wilson’s “Here For the Party,” and sang a pretty hot original “I’m Rough and You Like It.”
Lethbridge College 
students Leanna Santangelo and Riley had amazing fan support as Riley played guitar.
She took centre stage and belted out a variety of hits including Kelly Clarkson’s “Behind These Hazel Eyes” and Carrie Underwood’s “Cowboy Casanova.”
Breanne Urban and Southern Flyer killed it in the last set of the night with two of Urban’s originals and a sizzling version of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing.”
They ended up winning the competition to open on the main stage for a variety of stars including Terri Clark, Gord Bamford, George Canyon and Ian Tyson.
However, organizers were so impressed by the talent coming out to these auditions, that they are considering having a second stage in the beer gardens featuring the other finalists who have been invited to play.
— by Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor
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