ORANGE, Calif. — Some stars are discovered by agents, some become famous through social media — but until now, none have been discovered by a guacamole company. This summer, the makers of WHOLLY GUACAMOLE® products are giving one talented act a rare chance in the spotlight — an opening gig for a concert featuring national recording artists Cold War Kids, and a cash prize to help make their musical dreams come true.
In June, the brand launched a cross-country tour, hosting open-mic nights in search of America’s most talented and authentic musicians, selecting finalists from Nashville to Los Angeles, and a sixth was chosen from online submissions. The list of finalists includes:
- Brad Blackburn, Nashville — A young songwriter, Belmont music student and native of San Antonio, Blackburn’s classic bluesy style and smart lyrics impressed the crowd at Nashville’s iconic Bluebird Café.
- Mack Sterr and Mark Dennison, Chicago — Originally from Motown, Sterr’s unique brand of indie/folk/pop brought the house down at Chicago’s famous Elbo Room. Dennison, who is also from Chicago, accompanied Sterr’s winning performance on a cajon drum.
- Semaj Douglas and Jordan Lorrius, New Orleans — Performing as Love Evolution, these elementary school teachers’ urban folk sound won at the NOLA House of Blues.
- Nici Peper, Minneapolis — Born and raised in the Midwest, Peper is an acoustic Americana songbird with soulful and honest lyrics that enchanted fans at the Riverview Café in Minneapolis.
- Vanessa Wheeler, Los Angles — A native of Brazil, Wheeler’s unique blend of Brazilian beats and California indie sounds captivated the crowd at the historic El Cid in L.A.
- Olivia Thai, Pasadena – Thai is a southern California triple threat – songwriter, musician and entrepreneur – who came out on top in the online submissions at livewhollytour.eatwholly.com
Winning performances from each open-mic night winner may be viewed here.
America will vote online for their favorite performances to decide the grand prize winner, beginning August 21. The winner will travel to Salt Lake City, Utah, where they will perform an opening set for Cold War Kids at the LIVE WHOLLYTM Festival, a first-of-its-kind outdoor music festival on September 17 at the Sandy Amphitheater. The winner also will receive $10,000 to pursue their musical dream — proving dreams can come true when you stay authentic.
Each person who casts a vote for their favorite musician is entered for a chance to win a trip for two to Salt Lake City to see the Cold War Kids and the winning artist perform at the LIVE WHOLLYTM Festival.
The LIVE WHOLLYTM Festival will also include local Salt Lake City musicians, local cuisine, chef demonstrations — and, of course, plenty of WHOLLY GUACAMOLE® products. The WHOLLY GUACAMOLE® brand street team, which is currently bringing their products’ natural deliciousness to a dozen cities nationwide, will also appear at the LIVE WHOLLYTM Festival.
“We never compromise when it comes to using real ingredients in WHOLLY GUACAMOLE® products, and the talent we’ve witnessed through the LIVE WHOLLYTM Tour and Festival has been a true reflection of the same kind of authenticity,” said Nikki Frisz, brand manager, Fresherized Foods. “We can’t wait to award one of these incredible talents with an opportunity of a lifetime and watch them perform on the big stage in September.”
Fans can interact with WHOLLY GUACAMOLE® products and the LIVE WHOLLYTM Tour and Festival on Facebook @whollyguacamole and on Twitter and Instagram at @eatwholly or by following #LiveWhollyTour and #LiveWhollyFestival. The campaign supporting the tour includes social media, digital media, experiential marketing and an Instagram video series.
For additional information on the WHOLLY GUACAMOLE® Brand LIVE WHOLLYTM Tour and Festival, visit livewhollytour.eatwholly.com.
About Wholly Guacamole:
The WHOLLY GUACAMOLE® brand is a brand of MegaMex Foods, one of the largest manufacturers of pre-prepared Mexican food across the country. A global leader in food safety, quality and innovation, the WHOLLY GUACAMOLE® brand uses High Pressure Processing (HPP) to create WHOLLY® products. All WHOLLY GUACAMOLE® products are available nationwide in the produce or deli section of grocery stores. Products are made with hand-scooped Hass avocados and are gluten free and kosher certified. For more information, visit www.eatwholly.com.
Source: Wholly Guacamole
