DANVERS — The line was out the door, and some people were forced to stand in the parking lot at the Danvers Art Association for the inaugural edition of Danvers Idol last night.
The Danvers Family Festival event was planned to take place at the Rotary Pavilion on the grounds of the Peabody Institute Library, but stormy weather forced Idol indoors. The change of venue did not deter spectators; more than 150 people showed up to support the performers.
"We got here a little late," said Craig Torrance, who was standing in the parking lot with his daughter Sadie. "But it's kind of nice out here."
Sean Doherty of Danvers took home first prize after beating out five other singers and will now perform in front of an expected 50,000 people tomorrow night at the Danvers fireworks show. Doherty sealed the victory with the song "Let's Stay Together" by Al Green, which brought some of the crowd to its feet.
"I feel good," said Doherty after being named the winner. "I did this on a whim. I picked songs I could work with."
Judges Tim O'Donnell, Andrew Malkin and Lauren Drapek needed just a few minutes to deliberate and make their announcement. Doherty beat out finalists Amy Moquin and Stephen Schapero.
Gardner Trask of the Family Festival did his best Ryan Seacrest impersonation hosting the event, which kicked off with six contestants singing a song of their choice. Doherty, Moquin and Schapero were joined by Joanie Farmer, Chelsey Reardon and Matt Corcoran as the six chosen from the preliminary rounds that took place at the Danvers Community Access Television studios on June 6, 8 and 9.
It was an eclectic mix of song choice among the singers, as the audience enjoyed rock, country and jazz in round one.
After all six contestants sang, both the audience and judges voted for their three favorites that would move on to round two.
The three remaining contestants sang once again to determine who the winner would be, and the judges were the only ones who voted after the second round
What the judges liked about Doherty was his different song choices. To go along with the Al Green favorite, he sang "Wanted Dead or Alive" by Bon Jovi in round one and "Blue Moon" by The Marcels at the preliminaries.
"He had been really great all along," O'Donnell said after the judges made their announcement. "We let the crowd sway us."
The crowd also gave a big round of applause when asked if Danvers Idol should be brought back for next year's festival, which made producer Lorraine Drapek proud.
"It was a good crowd, and we were pleased with quality of the performers," she said. "I was disappointed it had to be indoors."
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