Week 4 Highlights

We are one day away from having Round 1 of our 2023 Great River Folk Fest Songwriting Contest in the books; and we have decided that we will have one more highlight post on Thursday after the contest has closed.  Our first round judges have pushed these highlighted songs to be from artists that we're considering for the finals, so one might say these artists are part of our top 30.  

First up, we enjoyed a regional artist Lojo Russo from the Quad Cities and we're of course suckers for a song about a guitar and stardom; especially when it's played as smooth as Lojo does in the song.

Next up we cringed to see the 6:47 time on the video "Oh Chocolay" but the storytelling before the song pulls you in an almost goosebump quality.  Then comes the song, the ballad of the mermaid; and while we didn't say there will be an award for the best video... this one by The Sons of the Never Wrong would win it.

Nick Nielsen from Greenfield MN told us, "I was a finalist in the GRFF songwriting contest in 2014. Even though I didn't finish in the top 3, I had a great experience!" and then proceeded to give us this great song on mp3, so we wanted to share it.

Next up Sean Heffernan is from Chicago IL, and brought to us another great Americana tune about growing up in "Pioneer Park."  Very Dylanesque.

Samatha Grimes from Minneapolis MN brings a pop sense of optimism and tight songwriting to the contest with a favorite she loves to play in an acoustic setting.

Now grab your dancing shoes for an instructional song on how to write a bluegrass tune from Kirby Heard of High Point, NC.

Catch up on our previous highlights:

Week 3:

   

Week 2:

Week 1:

Day 1: 

Enjoy ALL the songs that have been submitted to the contest via a video link:

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.

This post is also mirrored at our sponsor : Dave's Basement Tracks where he adds Bandcamp links and other information connected to his blog.