For many, the chance to make it big comes once in a lifetime, and for musician Rick McAlister, that chance is now.

The Austin native has been invited to participate in the Music Star Nashville contest, put on by MC1 Nashville/Sony-Orchard record label, for a chance to be signed by the label.

But, the invitation is not free, so McAlister and others will be holding a concert at 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 2, at B & J Bar and Grill to help with travel expenses.

McAlister first heard about the contest from Randy Barnette, another Austin native who works as a musician for MC1 Nashville/Sony-Orchard.

“I sent (the record label) several original songs,” McAlister said. “One was “Angel of Mine,” a country song I wrote for my daughter. There was also “Breakfast in Bed,” which is more of a folk song, and “Already There,” which is also folk.”

After hearing McAlister’s demos, MC1 Nashville/Sony-Orchard contacted him and invited him to participate. According to McAlister, the Music Star Nashville contest will take place over the course of eight months, with one contest being held per month. In each contest, musicians compete for a free studio recording and an invitation to the finals in December. The record label will sign the winner of the final competition.

McAlister, who dabbles in country, folk and rock, said the contest covers all genres of music. He plans to play “Angel of Mine” and “Breakfast in Bed” when he competes.

“The plan is, if everything goes right, I’ll be down (in Nashville) for a week,” he said.

McAlister has performed at B & J Bar and Grill in the past, making it an ideal location to hold his fundraising concert.

“They’re great people and have always treated me well,” he said. “It’s a local business and I wanted to support a local business.”

Joining McAlister this Saturday at B & J Bar and Grill will be Jeff Humphress, Tom Estrem, Josh Whalen and Dariel Bustad. All will be performing solo guitar sets with a collaborative effort at the end.

“There won’t be a cover charge, but we will be holding silent and live auctions,” McAlister said. “There will be items for giveaway and spots for freewill donations.”

Although the show is tentatively slated to end at 10 p.m., McAlister said the show might run later for those coming by after the Austin Bruins game.

For more information on the concert, visit www.facebook.com/events/1020892818117952/.

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Bowling for the Battle

The fifth annual Bowling for the Battle – A Fight Against Prostate Cancer will be held this Saturday to raise money for The Hormel Institute’s prostate cancer research. The event will take place at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 2, at Echo Lanes in Austin and will feature bowling, live auctions, silent auctions, raffles, drawings, food and fun.

Bowling for the Battle was created in 2015, and all proceeds are donated to prostate cancer research at The Hormel Institute. Each year Bowling for the Battle has continued to grow, with the fifth annual event occurring Saturday. Tom and Doreen Gillard and Jason and Laura Maschka organize and run the event each year.

“Simply put, our family is passionate about finding a cure for prostate cancer,” said Laura

Maschka. “We are doing this to support research, find a cure, and raise awareness.”

The Hormel Institute was able to establish a prostate cancer research fund in 2015 because of the success of Bowling for the Battle. In 2018, two prostate cancer seed grants were awarded to Section Leaders at The Hormel Institute for innovative prostate cancer research.

After skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men; an estimated one in nine men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. While prostate cancer is very treatable in many cases, it is also the second highest cause of cancer deaths in American men annually.

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Schedule of Events

Friday

• “The Game’s Afoot,” 7 p.m. at Frank W. Bridges Theatre, Riverland Community College. Danger and hilarity are non-stop in this murderously funny whodunit set during the Christmas holidays in 1936. Broadway star William Gillette, admired the world over for his leading role as Sherlock Holmes, has invited his fellow cast members to his Connecticut castle for a weekend of revelry. But when one of the guests is stabbed to death, the festivities in this isolated house of tricks and mirrors quickly turn dangerous. It is then up to Gillette himself, as he assumes the persona of his beloved Holmes, to track down the killer before the next victim appears. Season tickets $50, or $13 for this show. For more information, go to www.riverland.edu/theatre or call 507-433-0595.

• Tonic Sol-fa, 7:30 p.m. at the Historic Paramount Theatre. Tonic Sol-fa is a ground-breaking a cappella ensemble from Minnesota in constant development since their formation two decades ago. Tonic Sol-fa stands as one of the leading forces in the world of vocal music with Emmy Award-winning arrangements and multi-million selling compositions. Tickets $20 in advance, $25 at the door, $15 for students. For tickets or more information, call 507-434-0934 or go to www.austinareaarts.org.

Saturday

• History for Half Pints – Music in Motion, 10-11:30 a.m. at the Hormel Historic Home. Featuring Austin’s Ecumenical Bells. Explore the house museum before and after the interactive music program at 10:30 a.m. Cost is $2 per child ages 2- 12; free for History for Half Pints Members. Snack included. For more information, call 507-433-4243 or go to www.hormelhistorichome.org.

• Bowling for the Battle, 2 p.m. at Echo Lanes. Join in the fight against prostate cancer with bowling, live auctions, silent auctions and games. All proceeds benefit prostate cancer research at The Hormel Institute. For more information or to donate, call 507-433-5006, 507-438-4357, or 507-331-9500.

• “The Game’s Afoot,” 7 p.m. at Frank W. Bridges Theatre, Riverland Community College.

Sunday

• All You Can Eat Pancakes, 9 a.m. to noon at American Legion Post 91. Breakfast includes eggs, sausage, orange juice or milk, and endless pancakes. Tickets $8 at the door. Proceeds go to help veterans in need. For more information, call 507-437-1151.

• “The Game’s Afoot,” 2 p.m. at Frank W. Bridges Theatre, Riverland Community College.

• Guys & Gals Gala, 3-5 p.m. in the Lyle Public School multi-purpose room. This family dance party is open to all ages. There will be a DJ, dance contests and games, snacks and refreshments. Pre-registration is encouraged. Tickets purchased before March 2 are $5 a person. Registration forms are available at the Lyle School office and Lyle gas station as well as the Lyle Area Announcements Facebook page. Tickets at the door are $10 a person. Tickets are non-refundable. This event is a fundraiser for the Lyle 150th Celebration in 2020.

• Mower County Humane Society Annual Pasta Dinner and Live Auction, 4-7 p.m. at the Austin Holiday Inn Grand Ballroom. Rescheduled from Feb. 24. Come join us for good food, games and auction. Auction items include a wide variety of merchandise, gift baskets, certificates and services – Visa and Master Card accepted. Advanced tickets available at MC Humane Society, Double K Specialty and Holiday Inn $10 for adults and $4 for kids 8 and under. Tickets at the door are $12 for adults and $5 for kids 8 and under.