Music News and Reviews
Local Westplex Band "Hillbilly Authority" Wins 2008 KFAV Colgate Country Showdown, Then Wins State!
By Danny James And Steve Kaspar
Sep 4, 2008 - 1:05:01 AM

Local Westplex band "Hillbilly Authority" won the Missouri State finals at Tan-Tara Resort at Lake Of The Ozarks, and now move on to regional competition on their road to national recognition.  Earlier, they took top honors in the KFAV 2008 Colgate Country Showdown Finals, Saturday, July 26th at the St. Charles County Fair.  This 6 member band brings strong musicianship and high energy together to make a strong, tight, presentation.   

“We consider the Colgate Country Showdown one of the most anticipated events in country music of the year,” said Mike Thomas, program director for KFAV. “It is an exciting community event that provides aspiring artists in our area an opportunity for state, regional, and national exposure while promoting a greater appreciation of country music. We are pleased and proud to join The Bank of Old Monroe in Old Monroe, O’Fallon, Wentzville, and Moscow Mills; Carpet Creations in O’Fallon; Howard Financial serving the Westplex; Randy’s Jewelry in O’Fallon; Lincoln County Jewelry in Troy;  Why Knot Wood in O’Fallon; Brewskeez in O'Fallon; Russ Kasper Roofing; Compare Muffler, Brake, and Tire, Wentzville, and Zeiser Auto Group in Warrenton as local sponsors in the 27 ^th Annual Colgate Country Showdown.”

Open to vocal and/or instrumental performers, the Colgate Country Showdown welcomes individual acts or groups with up to seven members to compete. Acts also must not have performed on a record charted in the top 100 country format of Billboard, Radio and Records, or the Gavin Report within eighteen months preceding local competition. A $10 entry fee is required of all contestants entering the Colgate Country Showdown competitions produced by participating country music radio stations. To ensure fairness, a uniform judging system is used on all levels of competition.  Country Music legend, Nick Nixon, heads up our judging team.

Our second preliminary was moved to Thursday, July 10th due to rain at the Lincoln County Fair, and country band "Hillbilly Authority" and country singer Liz Moriondo became finalists. Our first preliminary competition was  Wednesday, June 25th at 8pm at our sponsor, Brewskeez Sports Pub on Hwy K, O'Fallon.  Our finalists there were  Andrea Morton and Kenny Sutter.  On Wednesday, July 16th our last preliminary was held and Jason Martin and John Hall rounded out the competition for our exciting finals held at the St. Charles County Fair, Saturday, July 26th.