Boston finds local 'Idol'

Boston, MA - June 23, 2009 -- Kris vs. Adam is so last month! Now Bostonians can get excited about homegrown superstars looking to take more than an American title, instead aiming to be World Champion at a voice contest held in Europe this Fall.

Yes, it turns out that Finland's 'Wife Carrying Contest' only was the tip of the iceberg when it comes to quirky competitions, as the Finns host the 2009 World Karaoke Championship. With representatives from over 30 countries participating this year, it is truly the 'Olympics of Singing', with an Opening Ceremony featuring last year's winners who hailed from Ireland, Australia and Malaysia!

However, this year team U.S.A. is expected to wow, and that is in part due to the strong Northeast showing. Beantown singers have been belting it out for months during weekly auditions held at Limelight Stage + Studios (www.limelightboston.com) to secure a coveted spot. The finalists, who range from accomplished musicians to shower singers, have shown a tremendous amount of talent. They are: Liz Lohnes, Zach Williams, Casey Rae, Dan Reynolds, Jessica Hughes, Bradford McKeown, Sheree Williams, John Burns, Tatum Harvey and Paul Andruilli.

On Friday, June 26th at noon, these vocal powerhouses will be battling for the title of 'Massachusetts Champion' during an outdoor concert in DownTown Crossing. Limelight is also hosting New York, Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire, but the Boston talent is so strong it looks like a local is poised to go far! With $80,000 in cash and prizes, they certainly will be singing their hearts out, so it promises to be an exciting show!

Karaoke has risen from being a favorite pub pastime to international sport and a noteworthy component of the entertainment industry. Karaoke video games, mobile phone karaoke, Internet karaoke, and the karaoke equipment industry is worth an estimated $7 Billion. Like it or not, karaoke is fast becoming a significant part of the music industry!

Video promo: www.youtube.com/LimelightKaraoke

For additional information or interviews, contact Limelight Stage + Studios, Inc. at 617-423-0785 or press@limelightboston.com.

Company Background:

Limelight Stage + Studios, Inc. is a was founded in 2003 with the mission of elevating singing as a form of entertainment to the same mainstream success in the U.S. as the massive karaoke industry in Asia. Limelight's proprietary MixRTM technology allows guests to browse an extensive song library, create and edit their playlist, take advantage of real-time vocal processing, control LED lighting and even record through and easy-to-use touch screen interface. Limelight is expanding into new markets through its franchise program.

Limelight Stage + Studios, Inc. 1877-LL-Star-1 press@limelight-us.com www.limelight-us.com