DBT #209 GRFF Songwriter Contest Week 2
This is our mirrored blog post of the Great River Folk Fest Songwriter Contest, Week 2 highlights. In this journey I'll tag the artists for future blog reference and add in Bandcamp or any other insights that are truly Dave's Basement Tracks style. So yes this will always be just a little more.
The submissions are flowing and a few questions came in that we thought we could share as clarifications. First, is this a series of weekly contests? Interesting question because while an artist might get the thought that if we highlight them they will make the 12 finalist, 35% of last year's highlighted videos made the finals. Truly not bad odds. Last Year we ended up with so many great songs that we had 12 songs highlighted in our last week, maybe this is our last week of only highlighting four songs. Secondly we were asked about our rule of not resubmitting a song; ok if it was 7 years ago and somewhat rewritten; we're good. We love older songs from your back catalog as long as you haven't submitted them to us let's say for the last 3 years. (Back catalog sure sounds like #GoodMusicHasNOExpirationDate... seems good songwriting is good songwriting too.)
It brings so much joy to us to bring you Week Two Highlights. Just like true folk music, they are an eclectic mix of subjects, remembering a gig, considering a Karma closet of treasures, a tribute to a father, and a contemplation of life.
First up is Tim Case of Eau Claire WI with a GREAT band name of Great Big Moon brings us a GREAT story of a first gig that he gets compared to Robbie Robertson. Lyrics are in the notes of his video. (yep there is something about Great that get's us excited at GRFF)
Yes Tim is in Bandcamp and in my wishlist.
Next is a song written during the pandemic about all the stuff we need to clean out. Curtis and Loretta definitely have a fun song of stuff. Not sure where they home base from but their influences come from TX & MN while being married in Mexico.
Right it was just Mother's Day, but Seattle's Leah Kaufman brings a touching story about her father. She now is based out of Raleigh NC, and while her music isn't in Bandcamp, she has a Soundcloud site.
Our 3rd place finalist from 2021 contest graced us with a submission this year, and we had a tough time picking which song we would highlight. Sam Robbins is a graduate from the infamous Berklee College, and more importantly life on the road with 150 shows a year. Yet, he finds time to write songs bigger than himself. Sam has shown up in our blog before since he is a winner of the Kerrville New Folk. Of course Sam is in Bandcamp, and this song is the title track of his most recent album. DBT has the studio version beneath his live solo cut.
Follow along with the submission that are sent to us as a video with our playlist.
We would like to thank our Sponsors:
Click Here for the link with the submission details.
Of course feel free to Donate to the cause, we are a 501c under the Great River Festival of the Arts.
