Rune is crowned 'Big Break' winner!

(FOX Providence) - Congratulations to our Rhode Show 'Big Break' winner Rune! The local band from Bristol, RI has been crowned winner after more than a month of competition to find the best local talent around.

Now that Rune has been named the winner of our local music contest, the band has some pretty cool work ahead of them!

Next week they'll have a professionally produced music video, which is being provided by Cardi's Furniture Superstores and filmed at G-Media in Providence. This music video will be aired during the American Idol Finale on FOX Providence on May 26th.

Plus, Rune will be performing live at Twin River on June 10th at the Lighthouse Bar!

FOX Providence, The Rhode Show, Cardi's Furniture, and Twin River  would like to thank all of the bands for their participation, and we wish them the very best in their musical endeavors. Also, a very special thanks to the viewers for showing their support for the bands, as this last round of voting topped 26,000 votes!!

This contest was sponsored by Cardi's Furniture Superstores .

Members of Rune:

Lead singer/guitar: Colby James
Violin: Heather Church
Drums: Joey Squatrito
Bass: Eric Leffingwell

Rune Bio (by Colby James):
So it’s the summer of 1998 and I’m sitting around the house while all my friends have plans. I notice an old 70’s style applause guitar that belonged to my dad, leaning against my couch. I pick it up and start strumming. Just the right hand playing and my left, is not quite there yet. But little did I know that I was getting all the rhythm down. So here I am all rhythm, no technique. My dad gets me some lessons at E.U. Wurlitzer, I get the basic chords down and in three weeks, I’m done!

My brother in-law is hosting Karaoke Night at Judge Roy Bean on Sunday. He calls me up and says, “Bring your guitar and play for an hour or so”. So, I did! Not knowing what to expect, I get up on stage, plug in my guitar, and do my first mic check. My first song is about four minutes long, I hit the last chord and hear people clap. I’ve been addicted ever since. Shortly after a few Sundays with Sean, Judge Roy Bean asks me to run an “Open Mic Night” on Tuesdays. I agree and run it for about five years.

I’m at this one in particular Open Mic Night, this girl (Heather Church) comes up to me and says “My band just broke up tonight, and I think you sound great, would you like to play with a violinist”? In my head I’m thinking, a girl wants to jam with me?? I say, sure! At the time I was playing with my friends, Andy Tarter (Drums) and Neil Colman (Bass) and I set up a practice on the third floor of the Bean.

This is the birth of Rune. Rune has been playing now for about 4 years. I’m still doing my acoustic thing with a few friends to play along. I’ve played on some of the greatest stages and played some of the greatest dive bars on the east coast. I’m still addicted!