James Cole took home the win at Hip Hop/R&B Showcase on the very stage he once dreamed of performing on. Showcase inspired Cole to perform but also solidified his decision to attend Belmont. Making his younger self proud, the senior did the very thing he came here to do — and as of Saturday’s win, he’s on his way to the Best of the Best Showcase in April. “I’m happy the hard work paid off,” Cole said after the lights died down. He began his performance kneeling down in the q

Belmont’s Showcase Series continues with an electric night of hip-hop and R&B performances Saturday. Kendall Stowers, James Cole, Sheldon Smith and Jake Whipple make up this year’s Hip Hop/R&B Showcase lineup, and three out of the four names on the bill are artists of color. “I think that’s really great and it’s good for influencing representation and also showing the student body that, hey, Belmont is not just indie-pop or country or indie-rock,” Smith said. “There’s a lot o

Bridey Costello rocked the Curb Event Center on Feb. 12, earning her the 2022 CEMB Pop/Rock Showcase crown. This redheaded Chicago native captivates with her genre-blending tunes, candid lyrics and down-to-earth demeanor — qualities that make her an artist true to her generation and easy to pay attention to. Freckle-faced with a sugary smile, Costello rocks a laid-back, effortlessly cool vibe that doesn’t make you feel lesser than. Her “super Irish” family thrust her into mus

After a night of music on Belmont’s main lawn, Mississippi native Trent Wayne took home the crown at the 2021 Country Showcase. Wayne shared the showcase stage with fellow student performers Faith Alexa, Gloria Anderson and Gracee Shriver, and each artist performed three original songs for a crowd of students, parents and visitors, as well as a panel of judges made up of Nashville music business professionals. Wayne said he wasn’t expecting to win and commended his competitor