Best of local music at Art in Your Ear

The public is invited to the finals for the second annual Art In Your Ear Amateur Songwriting Contest at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4 at Shannon Hall in the Eastside Community Center, 14 N. Van Buren St., Batavia. The contest is sponsored by the Art In Your Eye Festival, Hix Bros. Music, 95.9 The River, and O'Brien's Pub & Grill. Tickets are not required and there is no entrance fee. O'Brien's will be offering food and spirits at the event.

Many of the finalists will be performing their own songs, with the assistance of the Art In Your Ear "Earchestra" contest band, provided by Hix Bros. Music.

Scott McKay of 95.9 The River is serving as emcee for the event. The distinguished judges for the contest are: Batavia's Grammy-nominated vocalist Margaret Carlson; Steve Warrenfeltz, music aficionado and owner of Kiss the Sky, an independent CD and record store in Geneva; and John McKillip, accomplished guitarist, keyboardist and songwriter, formerly of Spacklebury.

More than 100 entries were received and finalists in each category are participating in the finals. The winner in each category and "Song of the Year" will be announced and cash and gift prizes will be awarded.

The finalists are:

• Pop/Rock: Ken Larsen, Supersixty, Andrew Schroeder and Christopher Geick.

• Country: Rodney Hamblen, Robin Anderson and Robert Wicklund, Bob Osgood and Melanie Johnson, Brian Johnston.

• Christian/Gospel/Inspirational: Ron Lofton, Steve Larsen, Diane Ferguson.

• Folk/Protest: Flo Kat, Matt Keen, Anna Luxiom

• Hip Hop/Rap: Rudy Gonzales.

For information about the Art In Your Ear Amateur Songwriting Contest, visit artinyourear.com or call Paul Wieland at (630) 406-4490.