Big Win at Rising Stars Music Competition

I was honored to win for a second time at the Rising Stars Music Competition at the Redwood Empire Fairgrounds on Saturday. Me and my trusty 6-string took first place in the Singer/Songwriter Acoustic category. The competition was fierce, but friendly on a beautiful fall day in Ukiah. I loved hanging out with the other talent. Who doesn’t want to hob-nob with fellow songwriters, crooners and jamming musicians? It’s just a gas.


Plus, nothing is more gratifying than getting to do what I love, while contributing to causes that help folks. The competition is a 12-hour, multi-musician, multi-genre smorgasbord of talent, who over the years have helped raise over $15,000 for charity.

It’s more like a marathon for sponsors and volunteers who give countless hours organizing the yearly event. But it is a worthwhile labor of love that touches a lot of lives — just like the music they help promote.


Rising Stars Event Poster 2013
3 comments
  1. OF COURSE YOU WON!!!!! Wow, why didn’t you tell me the other night…that’s really awesome, congratulations my man! I mean really, who else could play it pretty as you? You should submit to Guitar Center’s singer/songwriter talent search right now! I just saw it in their catalog…you could win gear and a recording session with Don Was in N.Y.! Oh, by the way LOVE the Steven Bates band, those guys are alright!

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  2. Thanks for supporting Rising Stars all these years Steven! Its always a treat to watch you perform. I love that your heart is with local music and supporting local non-profit organizations 🙂 Congrats and thanks again!

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    • My absolute pleasure…

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