WVA Announces Winners for 2020 NewSong Showcase

Winfield, Kansas–Organizers of the 2020 virtual Walnut Valley Festival, or WVF 48.5, have announced the winners of the 2020 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. Usually, the top songs in each category are given the opportunity to play their song onstage at the Walnut Valley Festival. Two winners and two alternates are selected for each of the ten categories of songs.

This year the winners are being asked to videotape themselves playing the winning songs, so that they can be streamed during a special online edition of the NewSong Showcase, set to air at 7 pm CDT on Friday, September 18. A special Zoom edition of Stage 11, Songwriters Stage, will then give the alternates a chance to show their stuff.

This is also the first year that the review of the entries was curated by Chris Jones, writer, broadcaster, and front man for Chris Jones and the Night Drivers. Chris Jones: “I was impressed by the quality and range of the songs that were entered. 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 gave really valuable feedback to all the writers. I’m especially thankful to the songwriters who opened themselves up and let us hear their work and their art.”

Songs about Winfield:

Winners:
The Old Walnut River – J.D. Benning
Weekend at Winfield – Mike Ichniowski 

Alternates:
Pick Your Paradise – Ron Walker
Pickin’ in the Road – Evan Ogborn

Songs for a Better World:

Winners:
Land of the Great Osage – Annie Wilson
Maria’s Dusty Shoes – Beth Lee

Alternates:
Better Angels – James L. Hermann
Let Us Not Close Our Hearts – Joy Zimmerman 

Sweet Memories:

Winners:
Enjoy the Ride – Mackie Redd/Kenny Cornell 
No Time Son – Jim McCarter  

Alternates:
That Old Front Porch – Kenny Cornell 
Hard Wheat Harvest of ’84 – James L. Hermann  

Religion/Spirit:

Winners:
Restless Wanderer – Ralph Wesley Carr 
Druid Hymn – Emily K. Johnson-Erday 

Alternates:
Loaves and Fishes – Patrice Webb  
Just Passing’ Through – Beth Lee   

None of the Above:

Winners:
Hell Bender – Beth Lee 
Coyote Serenade – Annie Wilson 

Alternates:
On the Connecticut – Stan Sullivan 
Put My Mind at Ease – Ken Weddington, Felix Rodriguez, Jose Antonio Ponce, Dan Johnson 

Suitable for Children:

Winners:
Lost Shoe Blues – Mike Yoder 
Just a Buzzin’ – Mark Noble  

Alternates:
Daisy the Bottle Calf – Annie Wilson  
Dogs and Cats Are People Too – Mark Noble

Humorous Songs:

Winners:
The Old Clunker – Bruce Allinder 
In Love with Your Phone – Kelly Champlin, Adam Gardino 

Alternates:
Stealing Jesus – Jim McCarter 
Car Parts Party – Kenny Cornell, Elliot Rogers 

Instrumental:

Winners:
Ghost Town – Robert Olaf Siegers, Cricket Tombs 
Meadowlark Rag – Greg Bryant 

Alternates:
Re-entry – Alice Boyle
Nocturn for Lily – – Steve Taylor 

Love Songs:

Winners:
I Could Never Write Our Love Song – Jim Carrington  
Good Night for a Change – Jim Joyce, Leah Watts

Alternates:
His Coal Mining Days are Through – Kevin T. Hale  
How ‘Bout You – Mark Noble  

Feelin’ Blue:

Winners:
A Letter and a Hope – Beth Nelson 
What’s a Poor Girl to Do? – Beth Lee

Alternates:
Evangeline – Fred Baue 
Living in Heartbreak and Pain – Kevin T. Hale  

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