Walnut Valley Festival Celebrates
Record Breaking 2024 NewSong Showcase Winners
Winfield, Kansas--Organizers of
the 52nd Walnut Valley Festival have announced the winners and alternates of
the 2024 NewSong Showcase. The NewSong Showcase gives aspiring songwriters a
chance to submit their work for review by professional musicians and acclaimed
songwriters, and features ten categories, including Songs about Winfield, Songs
for Children, Religion/Spirit, Feelin’ Blue, Instrumental, Sweet Memories, Love
Songs, Songs for a Better World, Humor and None of the Above. The writers of
the top songs in each category are given the opportunity to play their songs
onstage at the Walnut Valley Festival.
Chris Jones, songwriter,
broadcaster, and front man for Chris Jones and the Night Drivers, serves as
curator for the Showcase, coordinating with a team of reviewers in making the
difficult call as to who gets to share their song with the world.
Chris Jones: “We had a
record-breaking number of song submissions this year, and the quality of
entries was just as remarkable. I want to thank all of our reviewers, who did
an amazing job in providing quality responses to each and every entrant in the
NewSong Showcase: John Pennell; Grace van’t Hof; Rick Lang; Ernie Hill; Becky
Buller; Donna Ulisse; Kathy Kallick; Dan Boner; Jon Weisberger; Jeff Daugherty;
Roger D. Ferris; Patricia Ann Eaves; and Casey Penn.
NewSong Showcase 2024 Winners and Alternates
With Day of Stage Performance
Songs about Winfield:
Winners:
“Meet me in the Pecan Grove” –
Sally
Vee
Thursday
“Winfield Train” – Doug & Jude
Krehbiel
Saturday
Alternates:
“Going to Winfield” – Beth Watts
Nelson
Thursday
“One Last Time” – David Parker
Saturday
Songs For a Better World:
Winners:
“Everybody’s Different” -- Beth
Watts Nelson
Thursday
“Wind of War” – David Mark
Gunter
Saturday
Alternates:
“Hold the Line” – David
Hakan
Thursday
“Time is a River” – Lily Be
Moonflower & Jake
Keegan
Saturday
Sweet Memories:
Winners:
“The Carolina Side” – Jesse
Eisenbise
Thursday
“Highway 81” – Jack
Summers
Saturday
Alternates:
“Doing the Laundry” -- Annie
Wilson
Thursday
“Shiney Buttons” – Joe Conley
Saturday
Religion/Spirit:
Winners:
“Ain’t No Man” -- Beth Watts
Nelson
Thursday
“Long Live the King” – Jim
McCarter
Saturday
Alternates:
“If I’m Wrong” – Emily
Johnson-Erday
Thursday
“Rooted in the Soil” – Annie
Wilson
Saturday
Suitable For Children:
Winners:
“Rusty the Trusty Lead Steer” --
Annie
Wilson
Thursday
“My Tomato” – Riley
Amanda
Saturday
Alternates:
“What Makes French Fries French” –
Fred Baue
Thursday
“I’ll Read You A Story” – Jack
Bowden
Saturday
Humorous Songs:
Winners:
“Hot Flash Baby” – Lori Beth
Brooke
Thursday
“Blush” – Marilyn
Rogers
Saturday
Alternates:
“Your Problem Now -- Elliott
Rogers and Kenny
Cornell
Thursday
“Feel So Fat” -- Jude & Doug
Krehbiel
Saturday
Love Songs
Winners:
“Georgia Peach” – Eric Smith
Thursday
“Shine on Me” – Glen
Hofbauer
Saturday
Alternates:
“One Good Friend” -- Michael
Kelly
Thursday
“How You Make Me Love You” -- Jude
& Doug
Krehbiel
Saturday
Feelin’ Blue
Winners:
“4th of July” – Riley
Amanda
Thursday
“April Snow” – T.Z.
Wright
Thursday
Alternates:
“Cruel Daylight” -- Michael
Shainline
Thursday
“After Times” – Tim
Metz
Thursday
Instrumental
Winners:
“Concrete and Steel” – Off the
Rails
Saturday
“Golden Gate” -- R. Olaf
Siegers
Saturday
Alternates:
“SIONE” -- Jim
Bettonville
Saturday
“A Chance to Say Goodbye” -- R.
Wesley
Carr
Saturday
None of the Above:
Winners:
“Working Flint Hills Cowboy” --
Annie
Wilson
Thursday
“Main Stage” – Ben Suchy
Saturday
Alternates:
“Susie’s Creek” – Ann K Wright
Thursday
“Troubadour's Last Stand” – Jim
Campbell
Saturday
