Abingdon, Virginia – Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail: The Crooked Road will host a new songwriting competition in anticipation of The Crooked Road’s 20th Anniversary in 2024.
The panel of judges will be comprised of The Crooked Road’s 2022-2023 Artist-in-Residence Johnny Williams; Chris Austin Songwriting Contest Winner and three-time SPBGMA Female Vocalist of the Year, Jeanette Williams; eight-time IBMA award winner, Becky Buller; WBCM Radio Director and IBMA Industry Involvement Award-winner Kris Truelsen; and Woody Guthrie International Songwriting Competition winner, Mary Munsey.
This contest is being presented in anticipation of The Crooked Road’s 20th Anniversary in 2024. Song submissions can celebrate The Crooked Road but should definitely honor Southwest Virginia’s heritage music traditions including, but not limited to, bluegrass, old time, stringband, mountain, gospel, blues, country and folk.
Submissions open on June 26 and close on September 1, 2023. A preliminary judging round will occur by all 5 judges and then finalists will be announced on September 29. This competition is open to all amateur and professional songwriters. Submission information, as well as guidelines, can be found at thecrookedroadsongwritingcontest.com. The entry fee is $20 and multiple entries are allowed.
On Thursday, October 19, 2023, at The Crooked Road’s 3rd Thursday Cultural Series event, a live-judging concert will be held for the top five finalists at the Southwest Virginia Cultural Center and Marketplace in Abingdon, Virginia. 3 judges will be conducting the live judging during this event.
The First-Place winner will receive $500 and the opportunity to record and video the song and the top 4 finalists will receive $100 each. The winner and finalists will be listed on The Crooked Road’s websites and social media as well.
PDFs of Entry Form, Rules & Guidelines and Sample Lyric Sheet can be found here: TCR Songwriting Contest Guidelines and FAQ v.6-6-2023 (3) TCR Songwriting Contest Sample Lyric Sheet TCR Songwriting Contest 2023 Entry Form – Mailed Entries
# # #
About Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail: The Crooked Road (TCR)
The Crooked Road is a 330-mile driving trail through the mountains of Southwest Virginia that connects ten Major Venues and over 40 Affiliated Venues and Festivals that visitors can enjoy every day of the year. Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail: The Crooked Road is also a 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded in 2004 whose mission is to support economic development in Southwest Virginia by promoting this region’s rich heritage of traditional music.
The Crooked Road office is located at the Southwest Virginia Cultural Center and Marketplace in Abingdon, VA. General information can be found at The Crooked Road website, www.thecrookedroadva.com, by email at info@thecrookedroad.org or by calling (276) 492-2400, ext. 2409. Southwest Virginia visitation information can be found at www.myswva.org.
