We livestreamed the Fourth Annual Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest
over facebook live and zoom.
This is the zoom video, for those who want to see how the whole thing went.
Yep, this is the whole thing, from soundcheck to teardown.
In between, headliner Little Perks in Paradise plays, three judges perform as a band, then nine finalists perform for the judges, the judges pick winners, and the First Prize winner,
Sweet William Billy Ennis, sings again.
Hahira, GA, August 23, 2021 —
Chosen by three judges from a record number of Finalists
from Atlanta to Palatka,
WWALS Watershed Coalition, Inc. (WWALS) is pleased to announce the winners of the
Fourth Annual Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest.
All winners.
L-R: KJ Wingate, Katherine Ball, David Rodock, Sweet William Billy Ennis, Jimi Davies and his brother, Kathy Lou Gilman, Rachel Hillman.
Photo: Angela Duncan for WWALS.
Our most recent songwriter wrote his song yesterday and sent it in.
Come on, songwriters, make the competition fierce for that $300 cash First Prize,
with $300 equivalent in studio time!
And for the $50 prize for best song from within the Suwannee River Basin,
and $50 for best song from without.
And for the plaques for best in each song genre.
Everybody else, tickets will be on sale soon, to listen to our two headliners, Scott Perkins and his band Little Perks in Paradise from Atlanta, and Valdosta’s own Dirty Bird and the Flu. Each of the three judges will also play, even before we get to the finalists and the judging.
With food by Hibachi Hwy and drinks by The Pour House.
Scott Perkins singing Hoochie Coochie for the Withlacoochee, Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting 2020
Videos by Phillip Plumlee and John S. Quarterman for WWALS Watershed Coalition (WWALS),
Turner Center Art Park, Valdosta, Georgia, August 22, 2020.
Winners and excellent music from the
judges and headliner, too, Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting
Contest
Hahira, GA, August 24, 2020 — Everyone went
away happy. The finalists got prizes, and the audience was
impressed with the song each judge played, and with the headliner.
The audience was impressed that one contestant, who couldn’t come
due to the virus pandemic, was projected on the bandstand via zoom
anyway.
Winners*: Brian Barker via zoom*, accepting for him, Scott
Perkins*, Laura D’Alisera, Kathy Lou Gilman*, John S. Quarterman,
Sweet William Billy Ennis*, Ronni Dillon (not present)
Last year, Scott Perkins came down from Atlanta to sing
“Waters of the Suwannee bring me home.”
Only two more weeks to bring your song home by Wednesday, July 8, 2020, to the 2020 Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest, and evening of outdoor musical fun, with prizes.
Music lovers, tickets are on sale now for the Contest Finals on Saturday, August 22, 2020, 7-9 PM, at the Art Park in Valdosta, Georgia:
$10 per person (children under 12 free), or $12 at the door.
For VIP tables send email to song@suwanneeriverkeeper.org.
Valdosta, Georgia, August 25, 2019 —
Everybody had a good time before
plaques were awarded for Best in each Genre,
from Folk to Funk, at the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest,
before two finalists won the money prizes,
at the Salty Snapper in Valdosta, Saturday afternoon.
Jay Jourden of Ponte Vedra, Florida, swept the awards,
winning Best Newgrass Bluegrass, and $50 for Best Song from Outside the Suwannee River Basin, and the $300 First Prize, all for “Save Our Suwannee.”
Jay promised to submit a new song next year, before he played it again
for the very happy audience.
“Yes, Jay submitted the same song last year,”
said Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman.
“But this time he stopped in the middle, said he forgot some verses,
and rattled off names of a whole bunch of rivers, all in perfect time.
Naming rivers was one of the criteria, and it’s a great song: Save Our Suwannee!”
Dick Grillo of Live Oak, Florida, won both Best Folk/Country,
and $50 for Best Song from Inside
the Suwannee River Basin, for “Dear ‘Ol Suwannee,”
and his cheering section demonstrated it was the loudest. Continue reading →
These are the seven Finalists
who will play live at the Second Annual Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest,
1-5 PM, Saturday, August 24, 2019,
for you and the Judges to hear,
so the Judges can select the winners,
at The Salty Snapper in Valdosta, GA.
“We got another awesome line up. Glad I’m not a judge,”
said Sara Squires Jones, one of the Committee that selected the Finalists.
You’ll have to wait until the Contest to see the finalists,
so here’s a picture of the Committee that picked the Finalists: l-r, Tom H. Johnson Jr., Laura D’Alisera, Scotti Jay (Chair), Sara Squires Jay, Mary Carolyn Pindar, Eileen Box, John S. Quarterman
In the order we received their songs, with what they wrote about themselves:
Continue reading →
![[Musicians, others, and winners]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2021-08-21--songwriting-zoom/many.jpg)
![[All winners]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2021-08-21--songwriting-winners/IMG_9727-all-winners.jpg)
![[Winners*: Brian Barker* via zoom, accepting for, Scott Perkins*, Laura D'Alisera, Kathy Lou Gilman*, John S. Quarterman, Billy Ennis*, Ronni Dillon (not present)]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2020-08-22--songwriting-videos/winners.jpg)
![[Jay Jourden Winning]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2019-08-24--songwriting-videos/jay-jourden-save-our-suwannee.jpg)
![[2019-06-23]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2019-08-24--suwannee-riverkeeper-songwriting-contest/committee-banner.jpg)