Battle of the Openers — Concerts in the Plaza 2025
Category: Event Calendar
Date and Time
- Friday, Apr 11, 2025 8pm
Location
Libertine Brewing Company
1234 Broad Street
Details
A friendly competition for the remaining Opening Act spot in the 2025 Concerts in the Plaza season!
Downtown SLO and Libertine Brewing Co. are excited to invite the community to the first-ever “Battle of the Openers” on Friday, April 11, 2025. The remaining Opening Act of the season will be determined and voted on by the audience at this friendly competition! Four to five soloists and duos will perform a fifteen-minute set for the audience and judges, “Battle of the Bands”-style. Votes will be cast via mobile device and the winner will be announced at the end of the night! This is a 21+ event.
Battle of the Openers Contenders:
Sami Rouissi — Sami Rouissi, a singer-songwriter from Nice, France plays an eclectic mix of folk, blues, soul, and pop-rock music. Sami’s first introduction to any musical instrument was late in life, however, he quickly recognized his love for music, and began honing his skills on the acoustic guitar. Soon after, he started performing publicly and made a living as a college student playing in the local bar scene in the south of France, slowly growing a loyal fan base. He eventually landed in Portland, OR, and frequents the Portland music scene delivering smooth, yet upbeat sounds with a warm and soulful voice. In 2021, Sami moved to the California Central Coast, to finish recording and producing an album set to release in 2025.
Colleen Rhatigan — With an atmospheric neo-soul sound, Colleen Rhatigan makes vulnerable music for the empaths. Her raw lyrics reflect on struggles with mental health and painful relationships. With influences from Daniel Caesar and Ariana Grande, Colleen uses emotional instrumentals with a variation between soft, breathy, and powerfully stacked vocals. Her songs tend to use modal harmonies and stray away from strict forms. Following the release of her first EP, "gonna be ok", Colleen plans to do a small tour focused in Boston, New York, and a plethora of California cities, including Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, and San Francisco.
Kyle Huskey — Kyle Huskey blends heartfelt lyrics with captivating melodies that resonate deeply with listeners, drawing from folk, rock, and Americana to explore themes of love, loss, and self-discovery in an authentic and memorable performance.
Kielo Smith — Kielo Smith has been playing locally from Paso Robles to Orcutt over the past few years. He performs solo acoustic renditions of rock and pop songs from the '70s, '80s, '90s, and 2000s. He also has participated in the local "Songwriters At Play" revues and contests. Those listening are guaranteed a good time!
Elyse Black — Lyric-driven acoustic pop with a bit of comedic flair, singer/songwriter Elyse Black conveys the emotional “Russian Doll”-like layers of human life in a light-hearted manner. Hailing from the Central Coast of California, Elyse is passionate about connecting with people through her vivid storytelling of shared experiences. Using her multilingual skills, she expresses raw emotions in an effort to unite more people through her music. With Latin and R&B influences, Elyse brings a musical nuance to the singer/songwriter genre. From “cozy” love songs to “Peanut Butter” this is something you don’t want to miss. Avoid “FOMO” and go check out the new self-produced EP “Wasn’t Expecting To” on your favorite streaming service!!
