WVA Announces Winners and Alternates for
2021 NewSong Showcase
Winfield,
Kansas--Organizers of the 49th Walnut Valley
Festival have announced the winners and alternates of the 2021 NewSong
Showcase. The NewSong Showcase gives aspiring songwriters a chance to submit
their work for review by a professional songwriter/artist, and features ten
categories, including Songs about Winfield, Children, Religion/Spirit, Feelin’
Blue, Instrumental, Sweet Memories, Love Songs, Better World, Humor and None of
the Above. The writers of the top songs in each category are given the
opportunity to play their song onstage at the Walnut Valley Festival.
Chris Jones, writer, 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 top honors. Reviewers also provide feedback for the authors of all
songs submitted, although that response takes a bit of time to get out to all
the songwriters.
Chris
Jones: “We had more entries this year than last, and the quality of submissions
was exceptional. I love the process of discovering new songs, so I really
appreciate the Walnut Valley Festival entrusting me with this job. I’m also
grateful to the outstanding judges who lent their ears and their hearts to the
often-difficult task of determining winners, and who have compiled some really
valuable feedback to get out to all the writers. I’m especially thankful to the
songwriters who open themselves up every year and let us hear their work and
their art.”
Songs
about Winfield:
Winners:
“Winfield
Songs and Dreams” - Greg Johns
“This
Winfield Thing” - David Parker
Alternates:
“Dirt
Road” - Deann Kinsch
“Hey
Water” - Terry Rayburn
Songs
For a Better World:
Winners:
“New
Song” - Elexa Dawson
"That
Brick House North of Colfax" - Michael Shainline,
Alternates:
“Feedback
Loop” - Anne Wright
"The
BBQ vs the Kale Salad” - Noah Musser
Sweet
Memories:
Winners:
"They
Don't Make 'em Like That Anymore" - Joe Worrel
“Polaroid
Memories” - Jim McCarter
Alternates:
“Mama’s
Tough Love” - Eric Smith
"Somebody
Played Wildwood Flower" - Don Richmond
Religion/Spirit:
Winners:
“Open
My Eyes” - Jody Nelson
“The
Old Fiddler’s Christmas” - Fred Baue
Alternates:
“Healing
Horizon” - Annie Wilson
“Live
Your Life” - Robert Tims
Suitable
For Children:
Winners:
“Runaway
Nell” - Annie Wilson
“Poppin’
Corn” - Mark Heinrich
Alternates:
“Juniper
Tuesday” - Brian Henke
“Purple
Bird” - Ron Fent
Humorous
Songs:
Winners:
“Overalls”
- Karyn Schafer and Sally Vee
“Knock
Knock” - Lori Beth Wisian-Brooke
Alternates:
“Crocodile
Dreams” - Mark L. Heinrich
“Bluegrass,
Maximilian and Me” - David Parker
Instrumental:
Winners:
“The
Squirrel and the Bluejay” - Rob Loren
“Sugar
Bottom Rag” - Gary Mortensen
Alternates:
“Matching
Socks” - Lauralyn Bodle
“Last
of the Cyclopes” - Noah Musser,
Love
Songs:
Winners:
“The
Orchard” - John Depew
“Glad
We Came” - Elexa Dawson
Alternates:
“Our
Forever’s a Little Bit Late” - Annie Wilson
“Ode
to Odette” - R Gene Collier
Feelin’
Blue:
Winners:
“I’ve
Lost You” - Joe Worrell
“Under
Your Moon” - Tim Fast
Alternates:
“Gone”
- Jim Campbell
“Missed
Too Many Moons” - Annie Wilson
None
of the Above:
Final
Winners:
“Mister
Would You Help Me” - Don Richmond
“Redemption”
- Derrick Mears
Alternates:
“Midnight
Train” - Kevin Corbett
“Water
into Wine” - Joe Worrell
The
Walnut Valley Festival, which will be held Sept. 15-20, 2020, draws a crowd of
10,000-15,000 people to celebrate a blend of all kinds of acoustic music,
including bluegrass, folk, Americana, a little bit of cowboy, some Celtic,
blues, jazz and swing, and more.
