The two prevailing acts from this summer's PG Idol competition are now in a much bigger spotlight of their own. Singer-songwriter Jessey DaCosta took top honours and rapper Dallas Cote placed second. This Saturday night, starting at 7:30 p.m., they share the stage for a double-bill at Shiraz Cafe.
The event happened out of a chance encounter the two had with local concert promoter Earl Krushelnicki a couple of weeks ago.
"I happened to be at the Lambda Club show Dallas was doing with Isaac Smeele. Earl was there watching," said DaCosta. "He approached me that night about doing a concert, which of course I was excited to hear. It was his call to also include Dallas, and that was great with me, he is such a great performer."
For DaCosta it will be the first time on stage since the victorious competition finale. Days later, she gave birth to baby Ryleigh. DaCosta was scheduled to appear at the Robson Valley Music Festival as part of the prize package she won, but maternity duties prevented that.
"I was in tears about having to miss that opportunity, but the music festival organizers told me they would hold my spot until next year, which was just awesome of them to do," she said. It will also give her 11 months of building up new material, which she believes will be ample now that the new experience of being a parent is unfolding for her.
"I do write a lot of my own stuff. I get to throw all my feelings out there, and people just have to listen to them," she said.
Cote is a performer of distinctly different stripe. As a rhyme animal, he writes his own material too, but it comes out much differently than DaCosta's folk-country-alternative fare. He is excited to have the two styles stand side by side at Shiraz, and it is further evidence that the effort he has invested in his mic skills is paying off with audiences.
"I know it sounds cheesy, but I am proud of myself," he said of the silver medal results from the competition. "My life in music seems to be rising up and I am so stoked to keep grinding and pushing this dream further and further."
Krushelnicki said he and DaCosta have both earned the attention.
"He's just extremely talented. He had me sold at the first song," said the show producer. "And he tends to sing the lyrics instead of just saying the words with a beat. It is easy to listen to, and it just flows out."
As for DaCosta, Krushelnicki said part of his interest in her was how she had enlisted all four years of the PG Idol competition (now called the Limelight Quest) before finally winning it.
"She has also shown a lot of persistence, and her talent has grown over the years," he said. "Talent helps, but if you can't take criticism and profit from feedback, and keep going forward and showing up, you will have less chance of success. I go to those shows looking for talent, and that extra element that Jessey has and Dallas has."
Call 250-596-7397 to make a table reservation.
