The Fresno Fair held its second annual Local Performer Showcase on the Pavilion Stage on Oct. 13 from 5 pm to 11 pm. Six bands that were selected by the public performed, which anyone at the fair was able to watch for free. One of these bands later opened for Uncle Kracker on Oct. 14 at the Paul Paul Theater.
According to the Fresno Fair local performer’s press release, bands were able to enter into this competition from throughout the San Joaquin Valley by submitting videos. After a total of 45 videos were sent in, they were posted  on the Fresno Fair website where a round of voting from July 18 to July 29 narrowed it down to 25 bands. From August 5 to August 26, the second round of voting determined which six bands would be performing during the showcase. A third and final round of voting decided which of those bands would open for the concert .
The six local bands that performed, two of which returned from last year’s showcase, were JayTee, Johnny and Vinnie, Travis Miller, No Where Near, HR7, Motel Drive, and Say Swear. HR7 and Say Swear are the returning bands, the latter opening for Uncle Kracker.
The first artists to perform were JayTee, Johnny and Vinnie, a hip-hop band. According to Vinnie Cabrera, one of the bands members, the band got together after hearing about each other and deciding to get together in a studio.
“We did a talent show together,” said Cabrera, “That’s our first time performing [as a band]. After that, we just started making a CD.” The songs performed during the showcase were from their CD.
Next was Travis Miller. Miller, a solo artist, performed with music ranging from the R&B, Pop and Hip-Hop genres, with a friend providing a beat on the drum. No Where Near performed after with a genre of rock.
Then came HR7, one of the two returning bands. HR7 had performed the year before during the first annual Local Performer Showcase with their rock/funk style. They were both surprised and excited that the public voted them to return another year.
“A lot of people had a lot of good videos and there were plenty of really good bands too,” said drummer Michael Bonner.
Next was Motel Drive who had entered into the competition the year before but didn’t get to perform. Motel Drive likes playing multiple genres, according to lead singer J.D. Goodwin.
“We’re fans of music,”  said Goodwin. “Basically what we write is stuff we listened to and have grown up on.”
The final performance of the night was the other returning band, Say Swear.
Jayson Brooks, lead vocals of the band, said that “It’s always a surprise to get love from our supporters” who voted for them to play a second year at the fair and the Uncle Kracker opening act, which he said the band was very excited about.
For some of the band members in Say Swear, playing at the Paul Paul Theater has a huge significance.
“The Paul Paul Theater is the first concert that I ever went to. I was like 13 years old,” said Chaz Richardson, the bands base guitarist. “So I finally get to play the venue of my first rock concert.”