Granites Edge performs “Neon Moon” at the Texaco Country Showdown in Marquette, Mich.

This weekend, two North Shore Bank employees will compete in the regional contest of the Texaco Country Showdown, a long-running nationwide country-music talent search.

Green Bay East CSR Kristine Brunson and Infrastructure Technician Josh Grimes are two-thirds of the band Granites Edge. Earlier this month, the band won the local showdown in Marquette, Mich. On Sunday, Aug. 26, they’ll appear at the Northern Lights Casino in Walker, Minn., where they’ll have a shot at moving on to the state and then national competitions. The grand prize for the entire showdown is $100,000 and a recording contract.

Granites Edge formed in early June. Kristine and Josh, who’ve known each other through work for years, both come from musical families and were talking about how much they missed playing and performing. So, along with Josh’s niece’s boyfriend, Kyle Blackwell, they started the band.

Josh plays guitar and sings, and Kyle plays guitar. “I kinda play whatever they need me to play,” says Kristine. She has trained on violin and piano, and will be playing mandolin and bass guitar in Walker.

Granites Edge is working on some original tunes and has played covers in concert. (Other than the showdown, they’ve played sets at Heid Music in Ashwaubenon.) In Marquette, they won with “If I Die Young” by the Band Perry and “Neon Moon” by Brooks & Dunn. In Walker, they plan to play “We Owned the Night” by Lady Antebellum and “Free” by the Zac Brown Band.

Check out the band’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/GranitesEdge. Good luck, Kristine, Josh and Kyle!