FERRIDAY — Ferriday is known for producing and sending out a number of musicians, and now there’s an effort under way to make it the launching pad for new talent.

Starting today, on the second Saturday of every month the Delta Music Museum will host the Arcade Theater Country Music Showcase.

“The main reason for having the Arcade Theater was to showcase music along the Delta,” Rena Pitts with the Friends of the Delta Music Museum Foundation said.

“After we got it up, going and usable, we wanted a way to showcase new talent.”

The Gene King Band will host the monthly showcase, and Pitts said King will be the one to book the talent.

“These may be musicians who are really good but have not made a name for themselves thus far,” Pitts said.

King promotes a similar show in the Princess Theater in Winnsboro, which has been very successful, Delta Music Museum Director Judith Bingham said.

Most of The Gene King Band members are longtime musicians, and the band recently added 2008 grand champion fiddle player Haley Yarbrough to their lineup, a lineup Bingham said is fantastic.

“They have been playing together for years, so that is what you expect out of a band that has been playing together that long,” she said.

In addition to the host band, the showcase will have monthly guests.

The performers booked for November include Hannah Belle Southerland, Gene Stewart, Jesse Dunham, Judy Long, Eva Marie Taylor and Avery Michaels.

The show should last approximately two-and-a-half hours, and Bingham said the Arcade can seat 300 people.

And just in case the music gets to you, the theater’s dance floor will be open, Bingham said.

Door prizes will also be given.

The showcase is funded by sponsorships from local businesses.

“We contacted several local businesses and told them what we were doing and asked if they would like to be a sponsor, and we had a great response because the ones who are in business want more people to come to town and spend money,” Pitts said.

“They want to bring people to Ferriday and bring it new life. This is a great way to facilitate that by having great performances.”

Tickets for the showcase are $10. The doors open at 5 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m.