DC Bluegrass Union Congratulates Hazel Dickens Song Contest Winners!

Three winning songs and three honorable mentions are the highlights of the inaugural HAZEL DICKENS SONG CONTEST from the DC Bluegrass Union.

Judging the entries were: John Starling, Dudley Connell, and Dede Wyland.

Songwriter Showcase Song Contest Announced by IBMA

Bands are always looking for good new songs, and IBMA will help make those connections for 10 selected songwriters during the World of Bluegrass Convention to be hosted in Nashville, Tenn., September 24-30, 2012. 

The exact date and time of the Songwriter Showcase is to be announced later.

The IBMA says their Songwriter Showcase is not a contest however there are clear winners and non-winners.  From all of the entries submitted, an IBMA Panel will select only 10 to be presented and showcased.

According to the IBMA,  the purpose of the showcase is to present new, original bluegrass songs to artists, producers and labels looking for new material, as well as to other industry reps in the audience.  Both veteran and novice songwriters are invited and encouraged to submit songs. 

$300 PURSE FOR BEST NEW 'AUCTIONEER' SONG

LeMars, Iowa.....It was announced today that a purse of $300 is being offered for the best 'new' song about an auctioneer. Bob Everhart, President of the National Traditional Country Music Association, reported the purse was provided by an outside interest. "We've always had songwriting contests at our annual festival," Everhart said. "As a matter of fact, we have two.

...The songwriting contests take place on the weekend of the long-time acoustic music festival. Dates are August 29 through September 4,...

One is a Gospel songwriting competition, and the other is a songwriting contest created from stories about how Hank Williams, Sr., wrote his songs. Apparently all it took was a 'suggestion' and Hank could write a song, which supposedly that is how "Mansion On A Hill" was written.