CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — There's a new singing competition sparking exciment among the Coastal Bend region and surrounding areas — its called Gulf Coast Idol.
The three-day singing competition, created by local country artist Sergio Espinosa, is designed to showcase undiscovered talent and give performers a platform to be heard. Held at Old Kress Live, the event will bring together 20 singers who will compete for prizes and a chance to advance their music careers, with the final winner chosen by the public.
For Corpus Christi rock musician Leon Calderon, opportunities like this don’t come around often.
“I always dream of making it big. You know, you never know. I'm still dreaming that,” Calderon said.
Calderon found success in the 1980s with his band Purple Mushroom, and he continues to look for ways to grow as an artist.
“We're still aspiring, we're still wanting to continue with this hopefully. I'm hoping for a new album,” Calderon said.
While he believes the Coastal Bend is full of talent, Calderon says the local music scene can be limited.
“This is a good town. It's okay as far as the music scene does. There's not so much to go on,” Calderon said.
That gap in opportunity is what inspired Espinosa to launch Gulf Coast Idol.
“There's a lot of potential here in Corpus and that's what this event is about. It's about highlighting the undiscovered talent here in Corpus Christi,” Espinosa said.
“We're kind of making it our own — it's a little bit of a mix up of the voice, American idol, X factor, America's got talent,” Espinosa said.
The competition has been in development for some time and arrives as Corpus Christi’s music scene continues to grow. Visit Corpus Christi says more opportunities are on the way, especially with the city’s new music and film commissioner, Drew Mayer-Oakes, set to begin his role in February.
“There will be opportunities to showcase that talent that lives here in Corpus Christi so that we can connect them to venues that will be willing to feature them. There's many projects in the works,” said America Segura, director of communications for Visit Corpus Christi.
Winners of Gulf Coast Idol will receive prizes aimed at helping advance their careers. First place includes a recording session, professional photoshoot, a $500 cash prize, and a national anthem performance during Hooks opening week. Second place will receive $350, a Kress “skip the karaoke line” card, and discounted studio time. The third-place fan favorite will win $150 and a Hybrid Records gift card.
For Calderon, the competition is a chance for local artists to take a leap.
“Let the world hear you. You know what you can do. You have something to offer,” Calderon said.
Espinosa says Gulf Coast Idol is open to anyone 18 and older who can commit to live performances if selected for the top 20. He hopes the competition becomes an annual event and that the community rallies behind this year’s show and future seasons.
Registration is free and open through February 6. Gulf Coast Idol will take place February 24–26 at Old Kress Live and is free for the public to attend. Organizers especially encourage the community to attend the final night, when the winner will be decided by audience vote.
For more information, follow @gulfcoastidol on social media or register online at:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSejil8Q9jkit3QumkQjypMYJ61jNgsT4Ugy4SLl7orWMfZwXA/viewform?pli=1
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