Songwriting and Performance Contest
About the Contest
2019 Contest Rules (PDF)
2019 Contest Entry Form (PDF)
Twelve finalists will be selected to perform two songs each at the Great River Folk
Festival on Sunday, August 25. Songwriters will be evaluated on songwriting and
performance by a panel of Great River Folk Festival judges.
All entries will receive a free
pass to the festival for Sunday. The first place act will receive a cash prize, a day in
a recording studio at Grammy Award-winning Sound Strations, and will perform as the opening act on the main stage later Sunday
afternoon. Second and Third places will also receive a cash prize.
The twelve finalists will
be contacted by e-mail and be listed on the GRFF web site at: www.greatriverfolkfest.org
To enter you must submit:
- A CD recording containing the two original songs you would sing at the festival if selected as a finalist. (No mp3s and no longer than 5 minutes per song please)
- A lyric sheet for each song
- A $20 per person entry fee or $40 for a duo (check made out to “Great River Folk Festival”) No credit cards accepted.
- A completed application form
Send entries to:
Great River Folk Festival
1143 Stuhr Court
Onalaska, WI 5465001
Entries must be received by:
Thursday, July 18, 2019 — (No late entries will be considered).
Prizes:
All entrants
receive one free Festival pass for Sunday August 26.
1st Place :
- $150 cash
- One day in the studio at Soundstrations Audio Productions in
La Crosse, WI (an $850 value)
- A performance of your two songs at the Fest Closing Concert, Sunday afternoon.
2nd Place:
$ 75 cash
3rd Place:
$ 50 cash
Judging will be calculated by the following criteria:
- Songwriting (composition, lyrics, melody)
- Instrumental performance
- Vocal performance
- Performers stage presence
2018 Songwriting & Performance Contest Winners
- 1st Place – Greg Gilbertson, Chippewa Falls, WI
- 2nd Place – David Nash, Onalaska, WI
- 3rd Place – Fran Felton, Viroqua, WI
2018 Songwriting Finalists
The following will perform Sunday, August 26 at Site A beginning at 11:30 AM. The winner will be invited to play the Sunday closing concert.
- Ben Chitek, Wisconsin Rapids, WI
- John Fitzpatrick Cox, Viroqua, WI
- Debbie Cushman, St Paul, MN
- Fran Felton, Viroqua, WI
- Greg Gilbertson, Chippewa Falls, WI
- Andy Hughes, Stoddard, WI
- Dan Modaff, La Crescent, MN
- David Nash, Onalaska, WI
- Emma Nicholes, Viroqua, WI
- John Stano, Milwaukee, WI
- David Thomas, La Crosse, WI
- Rick Thompson, La Crescent, MN
Past Winners
2017
- 1st Place – Laura Joy, Oak Park, IL
- 2nd Place – Randy Adams, Chippewa Falls, WI
- 3rd Place – Rick Thompson, La Crescent, MN
- 4th Place – Jim Armstrong & Pippa Armstrong, Winona, MN
2016
- 1st Place – Blaine Howard, Fairchild, WI
- 2nd Place – Traci Stinebrink, Rhinelander, WI
- 3rd Place – Mike Caucutt, La Crosse, WI
2015
- 1st Place – Michael Monroe, Grand Marais, MN
- 2nd Place – Jane Fallon, Brookline NH
- 3rd Place – Joe Schwem, Bozeman, MT
2014
- 1st Place – Derek Olsen, New Lisbon, WI
- 2nd Place – Jeff Cozy, La Crosse, WI
- 3rd Place – Jim Gary, Elmhurst, IL
2013
- 1st Place - Aric Sampson, Galesville, WI
- 2nd Place - Katie Dahl, Baileys Harbor, WI
- 3rd Place - Joe DeLucia, Port Washington, WI
2012
- 1st Place - Barb and Tom Webber - Milwaukee, WI
- 2nd Place - Roger Wendover (Brojo Rog) - LaCrosse, WI
- 3rd Place - Scott Wilcox - Tomah, WI
2011
- 1st place - Joe Danielson & Casey Yeager (duo) - Cadott,
WI
- 2nd place - Roger Wendover - LaCrosse, WI
- 3rd place - Kris Risch & Lisa Risch (duo) - Holmen,
WI
2010
- 1st place - Tim Fast - Elk River, MN
2009
- 1st place - Mike Caucutt - LaCrosse, WI
2018 Songwriting Contest winner, Greg Gilbertson of Chippewa Falls, WI performs on the main stage during Sunday’s concert.
2017 songwriting Contest winner, Laura Joy of Oak Park, IL performs on the main stage during Sunday’s concert.
2016 Songwriting Contest winner, Blaine Howard of Fairchild, WI performs during the contest. (Photo Jerry Weigel).
2015 Songwriting Contest winner, Michael Monroe of Grand Marais, MN, performs from the Main State at the Sunday Concert (Photo Jerry Weigel).
2014 Songwriting Contest Winner Derek Olson Performs at the
Sunday Concert (photo Jerry Weigel)
Aric Sampson performs during the Sunday
Closing Concert after winning the 2013 Great River Folk Fest
Songwriters and Performers Contest earlier in the day.
2011 winners Casey Yeager and Joe Danielson perform their winning
songs.
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