As karaoke fever sweeps the nation, it has turned up in the most unlikely of places - Augusta, Georgia.

The Augusta Chronical hit a gold cache this week when it went panning for karaoke nuggets:

Downtown at the 1102 Bar & Grill on Friday you have karaoke with Bill Tolbert. At Athens Restaurant or Little Nick’s Bar & Grill (as the local’s call it, 246 Bobby Jones Expressway), you have karaoke Thursdays.

Karaoke with Russell Schroder on Tuesday’s at Cadillac’s (3328 Washington Road). Tony Howard Wednesdays at Dudley’s Dawg House Sports Bar (which sounds like a really lame UGA hangout). Peggy heads up the karaoke on Tuesdays and Saturdays at Shannon’s (300 Shartom Drive) - this one is Bobby’s pick. If you head to Shannon’s, be sure to tell Peggy that Bobby K sent ya.

If getting drunk is more your style, Sidetrack Bar and Grill is YOUR PLACE on karaoke Wednesdays. And what self-respecting Georgia Bulldog hasn’t been to Club Argos on karaoke Mondays and Thursdays?

The scene at Fishbowl Lounge can be sketchy, but with Linda and Paul karaoke nights are unforgettable (Fridays only). Stay away from The Hayloft on karaoke nights unless you like getting mugged and waking up in a pool of ice sans a kidney.

Lastly, if you are an Augusta grandpappy, head on over to the ole VFW Post 649 for karaoke Friday and all the Mitch Miller you can eat.

It blows my mind that a city so close to the backwards college known as UGA would have such a lively karaoke scene.