Hahira, Georgia, September 9, 2024— the First Prize winner in the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest is from Lake City, Florida, with Best from Inside the Suwannee River Basin from Adel, Georgia, and Best from Outside the Suwannee River Basin from Palatka, Florida.

Everyone listened to the two main speakers, the talks about WWALS, and the headliner at the WWALS River Revue. More about all that later.

Then the three judges listened to the five finalists of the Seventh Annual Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest, and picked these winners.

The Winners, Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest, WWALS River Revue 2024-09-07
Center top: Rachel Grubb of Lake City, Florida, won Best Americana Indie-Folk Song for “Cruising Down the Suwannee” and First Prize, with $300.
Top left: Sweet William Ennis from Palatka, Florida, won Best Blues Song for “Catfish Stew (Suwannee River Blues),” and Best Song from Outside the Suwannee River Basin, with $50.
Top right: David Rodock from Adel, Georgia, won Best Pop Country Folk Song for “Moonlight Echoes,” and Best Song from Inside the Suwannee River Basin, with $50.
Bottom left: Robert Thatcher from Signal Mountain, Tennessee and Tom Brown from Dalton, Georgia, won Best Folk / Americana / Bluegrass Song for “Roll On, Echo River.”
Bottom right: Bill Berry from Valdosta, Georgia, won Best Americana Song for “The River.”

Here’s video of WWALS President Sara Squires Jones awarding the prizes:
https://youtu.be/5zSHNeVzOZs

Video by Doug Jipson for WWALS Watershed Coalition, Inc.

We will post videos of each performance soon.

Best Song in Musical Genre

I think the contestants are wise to us. Each one specified a different genre, so they each got a plaque.

Best Blues Song, “Catfish Stew (Suwannee River Blues),” Sweet William Ennis

Best Blues Song, “Catfish Stew (Suwannee River Blues),” Sweet William Ennis

Best Pop Country Folk Song, “Moonlight Echoes,” David Rodock

Best Pop Country Folk Song, “Moonlight Echoes,” David Rodock

Best Folk / Americana / Bluegrass Song, “Roll On, Echo River,” Robert Thatcher and Tom Brown

Best Folk / Americana / Bluegrass Song, “Roll On, Echo River,” Robert Thatcher and Tom Brown

Best Americana Indie-Folk Song, “Cruising Down the Suwannee,” Rachel Grubb

Best Americana Indie-Folk Song, “Cruising Down the Suwannee,” Rachel Grubb

Best Americana Song, “The River,” Bill Berry

Best Americana Song, “The River,” Bill Berry

Best Song from Outside the Suwannee River Basin

This plaque came with a $50 check.

“Catfish Stew (Suwannee River Blues),” Sweet William Ennis, Palatka, FL

“Catfish Stew (Suwannee River Blues),” Sweet William Ennis, Palatka, FL

“Catfish Stew (Suwannee River Blues),” Sweet William Ennis, Palatka, FL

Best Song from Inside the Suwannee River Basin

This plaque came with a $50 check.

“Moonlight Echoes,” David Rodock, Adel, GA

“Moonlight Echoes,” David Rodock, Adel, GA

“Moonlight Echoes,” David Rodock, Adel, GA

First Prize

This largest plaque came with a $300 check.

Rachel Grubb had submitted this song a few years ago, and second time was the charm.

“Cruising Down the Suwannee,” Rachel Grubb, Lake City, FL

“Cruising Down the Suwannee,” Rachel Grubb, Lake City, FL

“Cruising Down the Suwannee,” Rachel Grubb, Lake City, FL

Rachel played again at the end of the show. We’ll have the video of that soon.

Meanwhile, the audience enjoyed it.

Audience

Thanks to the sponsors, the ticket buyers, and the people who participated in the Silent Auction and the kayak raffle.

Proceeds benefit the advocacy and activities of WWALS Watershed Coalition, Inc., a 501(c)(3) IRS nonprofit educational charity, established 2012. Since December 2016, Suwannee Riverkeeper® is a project and a staff position with WWALS.

For more information, see:
https://wwals.net/pictures/songwriting2024

Flyer trimmed: Food, Speakers, M.C., Headliner, Songs, Judges, Prizes, and Sponsors So Far

Y’all come next year.

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

You can help with clean, swimmable, fishable, drinkable, water in the 10,000-square-mile Suwannee River Basin in Florida and Georgia by becoming a WWALS member today!
https://wwals.net/donations/

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