Cami Stinson

With each episode running two and a half minutes, the weekly documentary series originally began as Chevy Bricktown Showcase.

“The general idea of the show was to create a bridge between the independent artists with the local Oklahoma music scene with the general public that sometimes forgets there is this enormous wealth of talent right under their nose right at the bar down the street,” said director Tommy Smeltzer.

Each episode airs around 11:30 p.m. Fridays on KWTV Channel 9. Local Chevy dealers sponsor the program, essentially trading a car advertisement for one touting a local artist.

“As an artist, I don’t have the funds to go out and buy a commercial spot on local television,” said Daniel Walcher, an Edmond-based singer-songwriter showcased last season. “So from an artist’s perspective, that’s a pretty big gift to be able to do that.”

A season’s worth of programming is created over six days of shooting. Each musician is featured in an interview and a performance. At the end of the season, a special half-hour episode features all the musical acts.

“Oklahoma has such a rich musical face, and I don’t think everyone’s aware of how many great original artists are from our state,” said Cami Stinson, a jazz vocalist whose episode is scheduled to debut June 22. “We actually have a lot of really talented people that live in Oklahoma and still perform and write music in all kinds of genres.”

Chevy Music Showcase makes it a point to choose practicing artists, not just hobbyists.

The Pretty Black Chains

“We cover a wide range of experience, but the thread that ties all of it is this isn’t just a flight of fancy; this isn’t just something they do for giggles,” Smeltzer said. “They’re serious about what they do.”

After an artist is showcased, he or she serves as host for the next act.

“The interview is a conversation between the two artists. It’s not, ‘We’re interviewing so and so,’” Smeltzer said. “We put them in the venue and throw out a couple of topics for them to discuss, and very quickly, they forget it’s an interview.”

Travis Linville was the subject of this season’s first episode, while Scott Keeton gets the spotlight Friday. On tap after that are:
• K.C. Clifford,
• Stinson,
• John Calvin,
• Fos,
• Admirals,
• Samantha Rose,
• Dustin Prinz,
• The Pretty Black Chains,
• Brine Webb and
• The Damn Quails.

Featured venues include:
• Blues Saloon,
• Bricktown Brewery,
• JJ’s Alley,
• Nonna’s Purple Bar,
• TapWerks,
• The Blue Door and
• The Deli.

Shows also can be seen online at chevymusicshowcase.com or facebook.com/ChevyMusicOKC.

Hey! Read This:
• Admirals album review   
• Brine Webb interview  
• Cami Stinson interview  
• The Damn Quails album review
• Dustin Prinz interview  
• John Calvin interview  
• K.C. Clifford interview  
• The Pretty Black Chains interview