'It was surreal': Regina performer Melissa Mannett named Pure Country's Next Big Thing
Regina’s Melissa Mannett is Pure Country 92.7’s Next Big Thing after winning Saturday's finale.
“I was hoping to hear my name,” said Mannett. “But when I did, it was surreal.”
Mannett beat out fellow finalists Brett Micheal Monka and Michah Walbaum in front of a packed house at the Regina Railyard Saloon.
As the winner, Mannett received over $7,000 in grants from Sask. Music and the Saskatchewan Country Music Assocation to further her music career.
“I’ve been songwriting for years but in public, I mostly play in cover bands,” she said. “To do this and play songs I’ve written and mean a lot to me was the next level.”
Performers judged on their stage presence, crowd engagement, song writing ability and set list.
“All three [performers] had it,” said Pure Country Host Brandan Hall. “Mellissa had it.”
The accomplishment was not lost on Mannett who said her work was cut out for her given the skill of her opponents.
Monka, from Regina, has performed across Saskatchewan for several years including at Grey Cup Festival.
“It was so cool, I was so nervous,” she said. “I’ve known Brett a long time. He’s a fantastic songwriter.”
Walbaum, just 19 years old, is very early in her music career.
“Michah truly is a next big thing; she needs to be watched,” Mannett said.
Mannett said she has some new songs in the works and is ready to get work on releasing them.
“I feel so lucky,” she said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
LIVE B.C. seeks ban on using drugs in 'all public spaces,' shifting approach to decriminalization
The B.C. government is moving to have drug use banned in 'all public spaces,' marking a major shift in the province's approach to decriminalization.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Air traveller complaints to Canadian Transportation Agency hit new high
The Canadian Transportation Agency has hit a record high of more than 71,000 complaints in a backlog. The quasi-judicial regulator and tribunal tasked with settling disputes between customers and the airlines says the backlog is growing because the number of incoming complaints keeps increasing.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid says he has Bell's palsy
Philadelphia 76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis he says has affected him since before the play-in tournament.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.