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Front-running Bashaw awaits word this week

As voting ended Monday at midnight in the provincial Small Town Saturday Night competition

As voting ended Monday at midnight in the provincial Small Town Saturday Night competition, Bashaw committee members were optimistic about the community’s chances of winning the right to host a country music concert next month.

“They’ve told us they will announce the winner by March 28 (this Thursday),” said Bashaw bid committee member Jackie Northey.

“People are really excited and they were eager to keep the vote going.”

Going into the final weekend of voting, Bashaw remained the front-runner for the second straight week.

The concert contest is held in conjunction with the Big Valley Jamboree, the country music festival that’s staged in Camrose each August.

Bashaw finished fourth last year in the inaugural Small Town Saturday Night.

Among this year’s seven entries, Bashaw led the way last Friday, followed by New Sarepta, Foremost, Namao, Cold Lake, Bonnyville and Grimshaw.

“We’ve been on top of the leaderboard every day except one,” Northey told the Bashaw Star last Friday morning.

Alberta communities are vying for an April 27 concert headlined by Chad Brownlee, with a songwriters’ circle featuring Clayton Bellamy, Alee, Bobby Wills and Tenille.

Officially, the winning community is scheduled to be recognized April 9 during the Travel Alberta Growing Rural Tourism Conference in Camrose.