Fifth annual artist showcase blends joy, vulnerability, and community
“Each artist produces and shares from a deeply personal space. These types of intentional interactions foster deeper connections and community,” Aundrea Sayrie said in a statement after the event.
Watershed Voice’s fifth annual artist showcase brought music, poetry, and raw emotion to The Huss Project’s Imaginarium Saturday evening, uniting community members in celebration of local art and self-expression.
Ten acts took the stage throughout the night, beginning with a grounding spoken word performance from Aundrea Sayrie.
“Each artist produces and shares from a deeply personal space. These types of intentional interactions foster deeper connections and community,” Sayrie said in a statement after the event.
Mitchie Moore was the first musical guest bringing a high-energy set, he was followed by Zach “Lucky” Fultz, whose soulful guitar and vulnerable lyrics offered a glimpse into his journey. He performed a couple songs from his debut album, Riverside Drive, including the title song.
Spoken words artist Torrey Brown, also a Three Rivers city commissioner at-large, and Debbie Allen did not hold back as they voiced frustration with injustice and the state of the world. Allen softened the moment with a love poem dedicated to her husband, drawing laughs and applause.
The night also featured surprise performances. Ukulele singer and Watershed Voice board chair Eddie Leboeuf enamored with his “campfire set” that included an encore with Taylor Swift’s Shake it Off. R&B artist Gemini followed with a spontaneous set playing songs that included a track yet to be released.
Just Mikel. brought emotion and connection, shaking hands with each attendee before paying tribute to his late father. The evening closed with powerhouse vocalist Courtney Moore who shifted between country, soul, and a touching dedication to her son.
“I really love [music],” she said. “It’s the only thing that takes me away from everything.”
Watershed Voice founder Alek Haak-Frost took the stage as a performer for the first time, sharing a powerful spoken word piece about hardship, hope, and perseverance.
“The showcase is an annual reminder of the immense talent that resides in this community,” he said. “I’m grateful for these artists, and this community’s capacity to give.”
The event was hosted in partnership with The Huss Project, whose co-founder Rob Vander Giessen-Reitsma said the showcase, “invites us into the complex diversity that is the experience of Three Rivers.”
Maxwell Knauer is a staff writer with Watershed Voice.
(Photos by Deborah Haak-Frost|Watershed Voice)
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