This article originally appeared in the April 2024 issue of Warrenton Lifestyle magazine.
Click here to view the electronic version.
On a typical Thursday night, friends and family gather for pizza, burgers and beer at Remington’s Craft & Crust Pizza Tavern. Cowboy He also features sports on TVs in the hut and bar.
And there’s also karaoke. Every Thursday and often Friday, karaoke DJ Linda Bradshaw enlists her 12 to 18 singers to serenade a friendly audience, following the lyrics displayed on an overhead screen. But in April, Craft & Crust takes it up a notch.
Think of it like “The Voice” without John Legend or Reba McEntire. And there were no thousands of screaming fans. But don’t forget there’s pizza.
2024 Karaoke Singing Talent Contest
Location: Craft & Crust Pizza Tavern, 204 East Main St., Remington.
Dates and Times: Preliminary rounds will take place on Fridays, April 12th, 19th, and 26th, and May 3rd and 10th. As a finalist, he will compete in a head-to-head competition on Friday, May 17th.
Prize: $500 for first place. He will receive a $50 gift card for the runner-up.
“It” is the 2024 Karaoke Singing Talent Contest. Local judges with professional vocal qualifications select the best voices in a six-week elimination style singing competition. Two finalists will be chosen each week until May 10th, and 10 of them will compete for the award in Week 6, May 17th.
More than 25 singers have already registered for the contest. Leland Shook, Josh Chinall and Brittany Scott of Remington, Angie Gentry of Brandy Station, Earl Outland of Manassas, Lee Blount of Colonial Beach and Kathleen Kinsolving of Herndon in February He came to the restaurant at the end of the month and was doing a music workshop in preparation for the contest.
Brittany Scott sings “Lost Cause” by Billie Eilish.
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Oatland added an extra kick to Dolly Parton’s “Smoky Mountain Memories.” Blount provided Billy Joel’s “Piano Man.” Scott channeled Billie Eilish singing “Lost Causes,” while Kinsolving performed Maria Muldaur’s “Midnight at the Oasis,” with dance and sensuality.
Earl Outland sings “Memories of the Smoky Mountains.”
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Shook sang Joel’s “She’s Got a Way About Her” solo, but then joined his wife Danica for a fun version of Simon & Garfunkel’s “The Boxer.” Danica Schock turned down her idea of entering the contest herself, and Bradshaw explained why: Once Danica is in, no one else is. ”
Her heartfelt rendition of “Me and Bobby McGee” proved Bradshaw right. Although she will not be competing, Danica Shook has agreed to serve as a judge for the contest. She will be representing Fauquier Her Community Theater.
Every Thursday and often Friday, karaoke DJ Linda Bradshaw enlists 12 to 18 singers to serenade a friendly audience, following the lyrics displayed on an overhead screen.
robin earl
The panel of judges will vary each night and select the finalists based on vocal talent (70%) and stage presence (30%). Bradshaw acknowledged that all of the judges are professional musicians. For example, Maddie Mae owns Remington’s Sound House, a music school and songwriting studio. She is a prolific performer, and she released a record in 2020 called “Quiet Corners.” May is a familiar face in Leamington and she can be heard at local festivals and charity concerts.
jury panel
Maddie Mae, owner of Remington’s Sound House and prolific performer
Chris Bauer, violinist, guitarist, pianist, composer, owner and instructor of Modal Music Studio in Warrenton
Faye Coates, Remington Baptist Church Music Director
Craig Dye, music archivist and former music educator in Manassas City Public Schools
Stephen Moran, Remington United Methodist Church Music Minister.He studied composition at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Virginia.
Dan Mudge, guitarist, performer, owner and instructor of Modal Music Studio in Warrenton
Danica Shook, former member of the Silver Bells (a trio that sings with Warrenton’s Silver Tones Swing Band) and frequent performer and vocal director of musicals at Fauquier Community Theater
Haley Wilson, professional vocalist and instructor at Modal Music Studio in Warrenton
Rachelle Yoder, program director at Allegro Community School of the Arts in Warrenton
Dan Mudge, guitarist and owner of Modal Music Studio, said the competition’s judging is consistent with Modal Music’s commitment to serving the community. “We love being involved in the community. We perform at the Warrenton Farmers Market and partner with local bookstores to host open mic nights. We also provide our students with performance opportunities. We want to offer that and encourage people to take part in the karaoke competition, but of course it’s not our judging night.”
He is enthusiastic about Craft & Crust’s latest musical adventure and looks forward to supporting the competition. “It’s great that they’re competing over multiple nights. It should be a lot of fun.”
When Craft & Crust Pizza Tavern opens in December 2021, owners Jim Peterson and Dawn Lana, Michelle and Ronnie Brand, and Cecil Coleman will bring the new restaurant to residents of Remington and beyond. It was envisioned as a gathering place for families. Still, they hoped to be able to offer live music and karaoke.
Peterson said she’s happy to offer karaoke nights for community building. “Everyone seems to really like it. We have a lot of different age groups, and sometimes the kids sing too.”
Bradshaw has been hosting Craft & Crust karaoke nights for three years, but the singing contest will be the restaurant’s first.
Craft & Crust Pizza Tavern | 204 East Main Street, Remington | Craft & Crust Pizza.com
