Tag Archives: Turner Center for the Arts

Last Day to send in your song for the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest in WWALS River Revue 2023-08-02

Songwriters, you can still send in your song today:
https://forms.gle/gxPja2ywz7TmEm9F9

If you get into the Finals, the judges will decide in the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest in the WWALS River Revue at the Turner Center for the Arts in Valdosta, GA, 6-10 PM, Friday, September 22, 2023. The judges are Joe Smothers from Lowndes County, Georgia, Anna Stange from Madison County, Florida, and Tony Buzella from Columbia County, Florida.

[Songwriting Flyer 2023]
Songwriting Flyer 2023
PDF

“I’m very pleased to welcome Joe Smothers and Tony Buzella back again, plus new judge Anna Stange,” said WWALS President Sara Jay Jones. “We’re gonna rock the Autumn Equinox.”

Thanks to our sponsors so far, Brooksco Dairy, Landis International, Michael Smith, Georgia Beer Company, Azalea City Womans Club, Agri-Supply, and Georgia Power. You, too, can be a sponsor!
https://www.betterunite.com/WWALS-wwalsriverrevue2023/

For more about the Contest the WWALS Revue, and WWALS, see:
https://wwals.net/?p=62712

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

You can help with clean, swimmable, fishable, drinkable, water in the 10,000-square-mile Suwannee River Basin in Florida and Georgia by becoming a WWALS member today!
https://wwals.net/donations/

Judges announced for Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest in WWALS River Revue

Hahira, GA, July 27, 2023 — The judges for the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest in the WWALS River Revue are Joe Smothers from Lowndes County, Georgia, Anna Stange from Madison County, Florida, and Tony Buzella from Columbia County, Florida. Joe and Tony have judged before; Anna is new to this Contest.

“I’m very pleased to welcome Joe Smothers and Tony Buzella back again, plus new judge Anna Stange,” said WWALS President Sara Jay Jones. “We’re gonna rock the Autumn Equinox.”

[Songwriting Flyer 2023]
Songwriting Flyer 2023
PDF

Judge Joe Smothers is from Reidsville, NC, lives in Valdosta, and often plays The Salty Snapper, with a second home in Cortez, FL, with his wife Murphy. Joe’s mom Betty purchased a Stella guitar at the local pawn shop when he was thirteen. Born in the Piedmont area of North Carolina in 1950, he toured with his teenage inspiration, the legendary Doc Watson, and played on more than a dozen albums with him. Joe has performed at every Merle Fest (31) and was asked to perform at Doc’s funeral. Joe toured extensively with Jack Lawrence as a supporting act for John Prine, Leo Kottke and Emmylou Harris, to name a few. He has released two albums: These Things I Know, and ‘Terpretations. His song “The Three Buglers” — a mix of fiction and history on Taps — won him a first place at the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, KS, in 2007.

“We are excited to see and hear the talented songwriters and discuss future water protection goals,” said new organizing committee member Matt Prentice.

Judge Anna Stange moved to Madison, Continue reading

Juneteenth and River Ferries: Speakers in WWALS River Revue 2023-09-22

Update 2023-07-27: Judges announced for Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest in WWALS River Revue.

Hahira, GA, July 20, 2023 — We have two excellent speakers for the first-ever WWALS River Revue. Fannie Gibbs will talk about how her extensive family history research ties into Juneteenth and our rivers and creeks. Ken Sulak will talk about “Paddling into the Past: Finding Florida in the 1800s, Trails from Georgia, and Early Border Ferries.”

[2023-07-20--WWALS-River-Revue-0001-crop]
PDF

“We’ve worked with Fannie and Ken for years, and we hope you’ll like what they have to say as much as we do,” said Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman.

This first-ever WWALS gala is an indoor fundraising gala, with catered sit-down meal, speakers, silent auction, and kayak raffle. It will be held 6-10 PM, Friday, September 22, 2023, at the Turner Center for the Arts in Valdosta, Georgia.

Follow this link for tickets, sponsorship opportunities, how to contribute to the silent auction, and more:

https://www.betterunite.com/WWALS-wwalsriverrevue2023/ Continue reading

Send in your song for the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest 2023-09-22

Submissions are open for the 2023 Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest.

[Songwriting Flyer 2023]
Songwriting Flyer 2023

$300 First Prize, and $50 each for best song sent in from inside the Suwannee River Basin, and from outside.

Plus plaques to each best song per genre.

All finalists get videos posted on YouTube, and a one year WWALS membership.

WWALS President Sara Jay Jones said, “Musicians, song submissions are open! Don’t wait until the deadline to send in your song.”

Here’s the entry form:
https://forms.gle/ZPbfnnLj5ruum5xk6

WWALS Development Director Veronica Oakler said, Continue reading

Videos: Headliner Dirty Bird and the Flu at Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest 2020

Everybody loved the judges playing at the 2020 Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest, and they really loved the headliner, Dirty Bird and the Flu.

Dirty Bird and the Flu, Headliner, 2020 Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest

So here is video of Dirty Bird and the Flu:

Don’t worry; video of the finalists will be up soon. And the winners. And more Dirty Bird and the Flu.

Yes, we’re preparing for the 2021 Songwriting Contest, and you can help.

Meanwhile, you can watch the entire contest up to just before the finalists in this WWALS video playlist:

Continue reading

Videos: Judges Play at Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest 2020

Here are videos of an unusual feature of the 2020 Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest: the three judges each played a song.

[Judges play]
Judges play

Stay tuned for more videos, of the 2020 headliners, finalists, awards, and more.

The annually-reconstituted WWALS Songwriting Contest Committee now has four songwriters on it, and is considering right now who to ask to be judges and headliners for the 2021 Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest. Send your suggestions to song@suwanneeriverkeeper.org.

Song submissions by contestants will commence in April.

Once again we thank our top-tier sponsor Georgia Beer Company, who said they would do it again in 2021.

More sponsors are welcome. It’s a good opportunity to get your name or your organization’s out there along with a fun time and a good cause.

Winners: Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest 2020-08-22

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Winners and excellent music from the judges and headliner, too, Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest

Hahira, GA, August 24, 2020 — Everyone went away happy. The finalists got prizes, and the audience was impressed with the song each judge played, and with the headliner. The audience was impressed that one contestant, who couldn’t come due to the virus pandemic, was projected on the bandstand via zoom anyway.

[Winners*: Brian Barker* via zoom, accepting for, Scott Perkins*, Laura D'Alisera, Kathy Lou Gilman*, John S. Quarterman, Billy Ennis*, Ronni Dillon (not present)]
Winners*: Brian Barker via zoom*, accepting for him, Scott Perkins*, Laura D’Alisera, Kathy Lou Gilman*, John S. Quarterman, Sweet William Billy Ennis*, Ronni Dillon (not present)

The winners are: Continue reading

Yes, today! Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest 2020-08-22

Yes, we’re on for this evening for the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest!

The rain is predicted to stop well before the show starts at 7 PM. So come on down to the Turner Center Art Park and hear our headliner, Dirty Bird and the Flu, our three judges will play a song, and the finalists will play for you and the judges! Scott James of 92.1 FM talk radio will be the M.C.

Somebody will win the $300 First Prize, and the other prizes.

[First Prize, Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest]
First Prize, Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest

The Contest Finals are today, 7-9 PM, August 22, 2020, at the Turner Center Art Park, 605 North Patterson Street, Valdosta, Georgia 31601.

Tickets are still available online for $10 until 4PM.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/third-annual-suwannee-riverkeeper-songwriting-contest-finals-tickets-110284875030

Or at the door for $12 at the door (children under 12 free).

Bring your own chairs and tables if you can. We will have some, but if you can bring your own, that will be great.

There’s plenty of room to have tables spaced apart. We will have spots marked, with aisles in between. We will be requiring masks when you go up to the WWALS information tables or close to others not in your group. If you don’t have a mask, don’t worry: we brought a bunch. We will be using our infrared thermometer to check for fever as people come in.

Please park at the Turner Center for the Arts, and walk north across the side street to the Art Park. The Turner Center asks please nobody park or drive on the grass.

You can register now for the silent auction online.
https://www.betterunite.com/WWALS-suwanneeriverkeepersongwritingcontestandsilentauction

We’ve had some nice donations and hope that you will consider bidding generously. Or if you don’t see anything you want to bid on, perhaps you’d make a one time donation or become a regular monthly donor at:
https://www.gagives.org/organization/Wwals-Watershed-Coalition

We will have a “mini booth” with caps, stickers, posters, etc available. Stop by and get involved with our clean water initiatives. We appreciate all of our regular donors, our members, our sponsors, and YOU, and look forward to seeing you Saturday night.

Kayak raffle tickets will be available for the drawing in December, or you can get those online as well.
https://wwals.net/?p=53215

Food will be by Rico’s Tacos’ food truck. Drinks will be provided by the Pour House.

Our top-tier sponsor, Georgia Beer Company, will say a few words, as will our host, the Turner Arts Center, and several WWALS people will speak about programs, projects, stewardship, and advocacy. Each elected official present will get three minutes to speak on any subject; just remember it’s a festival.

For much more, follow this link:
https://wwals.net/pictures/2020-08-22–songwriting/

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

You can join this fun and work by becoming a WWALS member today!

Video: Final Deadline Today, Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest on Steve Nichols Radio 2020-07-21

Steve Nichols helped remind everyone on the radio this morning that the last chance to send in a song is tonight at midnight, through this form:
https://forms.gle/buQjC4e6oEKDoc537

We also talked about water quality testing (including a grant by Georgia Power), water trails, outings, hats, contacting Georgia Governor Kemp about that titanium mine too near the Okefenokee Swamp, and what is Suwannee Riverkeper, anyway?

You can listen to it all in the facebook video by The Morning Drive with Steve Nichols, starting at 2:34:35.

[Georgia Beer Co.]
Georgia Beer Co.

Thanks again to our top-tier sponsor of the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest, Georgia Beer Co. Continue reading

Final Deadline, Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest, Steve Nichols Radio 2020-07-21

Update 2020-07-21 Video, stills, and writeup.

Today’s the final deadline to send in your song, and this morning at 8:30 AM, I’ll be on the radio with Steve Nichols, 105.9 FM WVGA, talking about the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest: Art Park, songs, judges, food, drink, prizes, and advocacy, including water quality testing. And our headliner, local stars Dirty Bird and the Flu!

[Any river, creek, swamp, sink, or spring]
Songs can be about any river, creek, swamp, sink, or spring in the Suwannee River Basin, except the Santa Fe River, which has its own contest.

Song submissions are open until midnight today, July 21, 2020, through this form:
https://forms.gle/buQjC4e6oEKDoc537

That’s the final deadline. This time we mean it. Really. Honest!

You could win the $300 First Prize, or the $50 prize for best song from within the Suwannee River Basin, or the $50 prize for best song from without, or a plaque for best in your musical genre.

Tickets to listen are available, $10 online.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/third-annual-suwannee-riverkeeper-songwriting-contest-finals-tickets-110284875030

Or $12 at the door (children under 12 free). For VIP tables send email to song@suwanneeriverkeeper.org.

WVGA FM says:

The top rated morning talk show in south Georgia, Steve Nichols offers both sides of every story from Berrien County to the Beltway, and everywhere in between.

You can listen at 105.9 FM, on the WVGA Live apps, through ValdostaToday.com (link on front page), on Alexa devices, or you can stream in-studio video at the official Morning Drive Facebook page.

When: 8:30 AM, Tuesday, July 21, 2020

Where: 105.9 FM WVGA (see above for how to listen)

Much more here, about the Third Annual Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest, at 7-10 PM, Saturday, August 22, 2020, Turner Center Art Park, 605 North Patterson Street, Valdosta, Georgia 31601.
https://wwals.net/pictures/2020-08-22–songwriting/

[Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest 2020]
Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest 2020
PDF

Many thanks to our top tier sponsor, Georgia Beer Co.

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

You can join this fun and work by becoming a WWALS member today!