The Renegade Mountain Band. Courtesy photo

Staff Report:

Online voting has begun for the Clint Black Country Cares Competition.

Local country band The Renegade Mountain Band, is set to battle it out against three other New Mexico bands in the live finals of the competition at 7 p.m. Sunday, July 14 at The Dirty Bourbon Dance Hall and Saloon in Albuquerque.

The winner will open for Clint Black Aug. 3 at Sandia Resort. In addition to crowd applause the night of the competition, an online voting component will help determine the winner. Fans wishing to cast their support for the local band can vote once per day through Friday, July 19 at http://www.clintblackopeningact.com/vote-now-2

Los Alamos locals James Carothers (lead vocal, guitar), Dave Hemsing (vocal, bass) and Trent McCuistian (drums), as well as Albuquerque musicians JR Ross (steel guitar) and Dean Rimmer(banjo, guitar) will play at approximately 7:50 p.m. Sunday night.

The Country Cares Competition and the Clint Black concert will benefit St. Martin’s Hospitality Center, a non-profit organization that provides shelter/food programs, mental health services, job assistance and other critical programs to homeless and near-homeless in the Albuquerque community.