Every Tuesday at The Eighth Room, aspiring songwriter-artists test their musical mettle at Hooked, a live talent competition. Hooked is the brainchild of club owner Jason Hollis, who spent more than two decades in artist development prior to purchasing the venue formerly known as Douglas Corner in 2022. The idea for Hooked grew out of a book Hollis wrote that turned what he had learned about developing artists into actionable lessons. “It was really about trying to have a platform that was more or less A&R combat in real time,” Hollis tells the Scene. “It was looking at how I could bring A&R to a stage and have an open dialogue with an artist with hitmakers right next to me, so everybody’s giving immediate feedback.” Each week, around seven artists with just a guitar or keyboard and backing from the house band have 60 seconds to play their best hook for host Hollis and a rotating panel of A&R professionals. Artists who survive get two to four minutes to make their case to the panel. Winners earn a regular spot on future episodes and pre- and post-show access to Hollis, the panelists and their industry networks. More information is available at hookedsessions.com.
6:30 p.m. at The Eighth Room
2106 Eighth Ave. S.
