HAHIRA – The Seventh Annual Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest winners were announced during a recent awards ceremony.

Release:

The First Prize winner in the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest is from Lake City, Florida, with Best from Inside the Suwannee River Basin from Adel, Georgia, and Best from Outside the Suwannee River Basin from Palatka, Florida.

Everyone listened to the two main speakers, the talks about WWALS, and the headliner at the WWALS River Revue. More about all that later.

Then the three judges listened to the five finalists of the Seventh Annual Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest, and picked these winners.

Here’s video of WWALS President Sara Squires Jones awarding the prizes:
https://youtu.be/5zSHNeVzOZs

Video by Doug Jipson for WWALS Watershed Coalition, Inc.

We will post videos of each performance soon.

Best Song in Musical Genre

I think the contestants are wise to us. Each one specified a different genre, so they each got a plaque.

Best Blues Song, “Catfish Stew (Suwannee River Blues),” Sweet William Ennis

Best Pop Country Folk Song, “Moonlight Echoes,” David Rodock

Best Folk / Americana / Bluegrass Song, “Roll On, Echo River,” Robert Thatcher and Tom Brown

Best Americana Indie-Folk Song, “Cruising Down the Suwannee,” Rachel Grubb

Best Americana Song, “The River,” Bill Berry

Best Song from Outside the Suwannee River Basin

This plaque came with a $50 check.

“Catfish Stew (Suwannee River Blues),” Sweet William Ennis, Palatka, FL

Best Song from Inside the Suwannee River Basin

This plaque came with a $50 check.

“Moonlight Echoes,” David Rodock, Adel, GA

First Prize

This largest plaque came with a $300 check.

Rachel Grubb had submitted this song a few years ago, and second time was the charm.

“Cruising Down the Suwannee,” Rachel Grubb, Lake City, FL

Rachel played again at the end of the show. We’ll have the video of that soon.

Meanwhile, the audience enjoyed it.

Thanks to the sponsors, the ticket buyers, and the people who participated in the Silent Auction and the kayak raffle.

Proceeds benefit the advocacy and activities of WWALS Watershed Coalition, Inc., a 501(c)(3) IRS nonprofit educational charity, established 2012. Since December 2016, Suwannee Riverkeeper® is a project and a staff position with WWALS.

For more information, see:
https://wwals.net/pictures/songwriting2024