Category Archives: Music

Juneteenth and River Ferries: Speakers in WWALS River Revue 2023-09-22

Update 2023-07-27: Judges announced for Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest in WWALS River Revue.

Hahira, GA, July 20, 2023 — We have two excellent speakers for the first-ever WWALS River Revue. Fannie Gibbs will talk about how her extensive family history research ties into Juneteenth and our rivers and creeks. Ken Sulak will talk about “Paddling into the Past: Finding Florida in the 1800s, Trails from Georgia, and Early Border Ferries.”

[2023-07-20--WWALS-River-Revue-0001-crop]
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“We’ve worked with Fannie and Ken for years, and we hope you’ll like what they have to say as much as we do,” said Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman.

This first-ever WWALS gala is an indoor fundraising gala, with catered sit-down meal, speakers, silent auction, and kayak raffle. It will be held 6-10 PM, Friday, September 22, 2023, at the Turner Center for the Arts in Valdosta, Georgia.

Follow this link for tickets, sponsorship opportunities, how to contribute to the silent auction, and more:

https://www.betterunite.com/WWALS-wwalsriverrevue2023/ Continue reading →

Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest returns –Valdosta Today 2023-07-14

Valdosta Today, July 14, 2023, Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest returns,

HAHIRA — The Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest returns with Chuck Roberts as M.C. plus WWALS River Revue.

Release:

[Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest returns --Valdosta Today 2023-07-14]
Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest returns –Valdosta Today 2023-07-14
in Pictures: Portage Big Shoals, Paddle Little Shoals, Suwannee River, by John S. Quarterman, for WWALS.net, 20 May 2023, MC Chuck Roberts, Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest 2023

Chuck Roberts returns as M.C. for Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest plus WWALS River Revue.

Master of Ceremonies Chuck Roberts says about himself, “I grew up in Quitman and Valdosta, raised by two loving musical parents to enjoy and appreciate ALL kinds of music, because the arts enrich the mind and nourish the soul. Presbyterian Church Minister of Music for over 30 years. St. James Episcopal Soloist for over 25 years. Sang with Botie Chitty and The Singing Americans for 10 years. Recently sang two solos with Ed Barr Orchestra for Turner Center Arts AMERICAN SOUNDTRACK VOL. IX. I have the sweetest wife in the world, Sheila and three beautiful and talented daughters and two talented sons, and a new Golden Doodle puppy.”

“I’m very pleased to welcome Chuck Roberts back again as M.C.,” said WWALS President Sara Jay Jones.

This first-ever WWALS gala is an indoor fundraising gala, with catered sit-down meal, speakers, silent auction, and kayak raffle. It will be held 6-10 PM, Friday, September 22, 2023, at the Turner Center for the Arts in Valdosta, Georgia.

Follow this link for tickets, sponsorship opportunities, and more:

https://www.betterunite.com/WWALS-wwalsriverrevue2023/ Continue reading →

Chuck Roberts returns as M.C. for Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest plus WWALS River Revue

Update 2023-07-20: Juneteenth and River Ferries: Speakers in WWALS River Revue 2023-07-20.

Hahira, GA, July 10, 2023 — Chuck Roberts returns as M.C. for the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest, and this time for the entire first-ever WWALS River Revue.

[MC Chuck Roberts, Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest 2023]
MC Chuck Roberts, Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest 2023

Master of Ceremonies Chuck Roberts says about himself, “I grew up in Quitman and Valdosta, raised by two loving musical parents to enjoy and appreciate ALL kinds of music, because the arts enrich the mind and nourish the soul. Presbyterian Church Minister of Music for over 30 years. St. James Episcopal Soloist for over 25 years. Sang with Botie Chitty and The Singing Americans for 10 years. Recently sang two solos with Ed Barr Orchestra for Turner Center Arts AMERICAN SOUNDTRACK VOL. IX. I have the sweetest wife in the world, Sheila and three beautiful and talented daughters and two talented sons, and a new Golden Doodle puppy.”

“I’m very pleased to welcome Chuck Roberts back again as M.C.,” said WWALS President Sara Jay Jones.

This first-ever WWALS gala is an indoor fundraising gala, with catered sit-down meal, speakers, silent auction, and kayak raffle. It will be held 6-10 PM, Friday, September 22, 2023, at the Turner Center for the Arts in Valdosta, Georgia.

Follow this link for tickets, sponsorship opportunities, and more:

https://www.betterunite.com/WWALS-wwalsriverrevue2023/ Continue reading →

South Georgia Entertainers 2023-06-13

South Georgia Entertainers (SGE) is “Local musicians who desire to be part of a supportive community with other like-minded musicians are invited to join South Georgia Entertainers. The Turner Center hosts musicians of all genres on the second Tuesday of each month from 6-8 p.m. Led by local musicians Lloyd Carter and Aaron Strickland, the group encourages the gathering of local and regional entertainers to discuss personal and professional concerns relating to the entertainment industry. South Georgia Entertainers is for entertainers only.

[South Georgia Entertainers, GuitarKord.com 2023-06-13]
South Georgia Entertainers, GuitarKord.com 2023-06-13

I heard they were having a meeting, so I went. I’m not a musician, but WWALS has the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest, so I guess I’m an entertainer.

[right to left: Aaron Strickland, Robert Mason (GuitarKord.com), Sementha Mathews (Turner Center for the Arts), Kevin Stephenson*, and far left Tom Hochschild* *finalist at Songwriting2022]
right to left: Aaron Strickland, Robert Mason (GuitarKord.com), Sementha Mathews (Turner Center for the Arts), Kevin Stephenson*, and far left Tom Hochschild* *finalist at Songwriting2022

Aaron invited me to speak after the listed guest speaker, and I invited him to come speak about SGE at the WWALS River Revue, September 22, 2023, including the fifth sixth annual Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest. Aaron said he or Lloyd or Sementha would do that.

You, too, can send in your song, to compete for the $300 First Prize, and the two $50 prizes, one for best song submitted from inside the 10,000-square-mile Suwannee River Basin in Florida and Georgia, and the other for best song from outside. Here’s the entry form:
https://forms.gle/ZPbfnnLj5ruum5xk6 Continue reading →

Ready for Florida Folk Festival 2023-05-25

WWALS Executive Director Gretchen Quarterman says all the festival materials are in the tent, ready for Florida Folk Festival Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

[Suwannee Riverkeeper tent, raffle kayak, and carrilon]
Suwannee Riverkeeper tent, raffle kayak, and carrilon

Except of course the raffle kayak, with the carrillon visible behind it, at Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park, White Springs, Florida, on the banks of the Suwannee River. Continue reading →

Send in your song for the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest 2023-09-22

2023-07-11: Chuck Roberts returns as M.C. for Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest plus WWALS River Revue.

Submissions are open for the 2023 Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest.

[Songwriting Flyer 2023]
Songwriting Flyer 2023

$300 First Prize, and $50 each for best song sent in from inside the Suwannee River Basin, and from outside.

Plus plaques to each best song per genre.

All finalists get videos posted on YouTube, and a one year WWALS membership.

WWALS President Sara Jay Jones said, “Musicians, song submissions are open! Don’t wait until the deadline to send in your song.”

Here’s the entry form:
https://forms.gle/ZPbfnnLj5ruum5xk6

WWALS Development Director Veronica Oakler said, Continue reading →

WWALS River Revue 2023-09-22

Update 2023-05-22: Send in your song for the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest 2023-09-22.

Hahira, Georgia, May 9, 2023 — WWALS is incorporating the 6th Annual Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest into the inaugural WWALS River Revue. This indoor fundraising dinner to benefit WWALS Watershed Coalition will be held 6-10 PM, Friday, September 22, 2023, at the Turner Center for the Arts in Valdosta, Georgia.

Follow this link for tickets, sponsorship opportunities, and more:
https://www.betterunite.com/WWALS-wwalsriverrevue2023/

[WWALS River Revue]
WWALS River Revue

WWALS Development Director Veronica Oakler said, “Raise a glass to clean water and support our work to protect the 10,000-square-mile Suwannee River basin with an evening of food, drink, and entertainment. We’ll have speakers, songs, and a silent auction.”

WWALS President Sara Jay Jones said, “Musicians, song submissions are open! Don’t wait until the deadline to send in your song. Here’s the entry form:”

https://forms.gle/9P7GCKDyF2hvVWGr6

Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman said, Continue reading →

Florida Folk Festival, Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park, Suwannee River, 2023-05-26-28

Update 2023-05-25: Ready for Florida Folk Festival 2023-05-25.

WWALS will have a booth at the Florida Folk Festival on Memorial Day Weekend in White Springs at the Stephen Foster State Park.

The festival is a three-day celebration of the music, dance, stories, crafts and food that make Florida unique.

We need volunteers for this three day event. The event requires that we submit the names of our volunteers by May 15th. If you are interested in helping at this fun event, please let me know ASAP so that I can get you on the list. Plan on a 4-6 hour shift of hanging around and talking to people about clean water. When not volunteering, you may attend the festival events.

When: 6:30 PM, Friday, May 26, through 6 PM Sunday, May 28, 2023

Put In: Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park, White Springs, Florida, on the banks of the Suwannee River.

GPS: 30.332884, -82.769513

[WWALS Booth at a previous Florida Folk Festival and Carrillon at Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park]
WWALS Booth at a previous Florida Folk Festival and Carrillon at Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park

Continue reading →

Take Me to the Suwannee –David Rodock @ Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest 2022-08-20

And, finally, the winner of Best Song from Inside the Suwannee River Basin for $50 and First Prize for $300: David Rodock, of Adel, Georgia, with Take Me to the Suwannee.

[Take Me to the Suwannee --David Rodock]
Take Me to the Suwannee –David Rodock

Here’s what he wrote about himself, Continue reading →

Videos: Dirty Bird and the Flu @ Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest 2022-08-20

The second headliner at the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest 2022 was Dirty Bird and the Flu, with a surprise guest appearance by Free Range Strange.

[Rattle that Cage -Dirty Bird and the Flu]

Here’s a WWALS video playlist:


Videos: Dirty Bird and the Flu @ Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest 2022-08-20
https://wwals.net/pictures/songwriting2022

Thanks for playing, Flu!

And here are links to each video segment, mostly corresponding to songs: Continue reading →