River Music drawn by Tom Dudley, Greenfield Recorder

List of Finalists

"We received entries from artists throughout the Valley and beyond,” says Pat LaMountain, Finance Director for the Connecticut River Watershed Council, who came up with the idea for the Council’s “Living along the River” songwriting contest.  The competition drew entries from over fifty river songwriters residing in all four Connecticut River states.  A total of sixty-five tunes were entered: “We drew submissions of everything from traditional folk music, to blues, funk, a capella and children’s songs,” LaMountain says, “It confirms our hunch that there’s a diverse and gifted group of river songwriters out there.”

That stack of entries has now been culled down to a top twelve, and the Watershed Council has notified finalists.  Those finalists were chosen through listening, re-listening, and a scoring grid used by the preliminary judges to evaluate each tune’s composition, lyrics, melody, originality, and appropriateness to the Connecticut River theme.  “The system helped make the tough choices easier and leveled the playing field,” says LaMountain, a long-time musician herself, “We know how hard people worked in coming up with this music.  We’re taking great care to honor their work.”

The contest’s top songs will be performed in person by their respective artists at the “Living along the River Finals Concert” on Friday, September 12, at the Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, in Turners Falls, MA.  A group of judges from the Connecticut River Valley will choose the contest’s winning song at that time—and award prizes that include cash, studio recording time, and a Martin Backpacker guitar.  The public is invited to the Finals Concert, held in the Discovery Center’s Great Hall, beginning at 7 p.m.  There is a suggested donation of $6 - $12.  Children attend free, and there will be baked goods available at the concert.  The venue is wheelchair accessible. 

Finalists

Contest Entry Form - Contest Rules - Contest Fact Sheet - Contest Prizes