Songwriters from as far away as Grande Prairie competed for a chance to play their song on the main stage of the the fair during the finals of the
South Country Fair Songwriting Competition, whihc took place at the Slice, June 18.
The finals featured 14 amazing songwriters playing their song for a wall to wall packed Slice.
Lethbridge musicians dominated the old pro category which is for songwriters who have released a CD.
Michael Granzow, backed by his brother Jon (from local indie rock band the Record Holder) on acoustic bass won first place in the old pro category with a sweet, tender ballad about being in love with a busy person.
They will be playing the main stage at the South Country Fair as well as took home a $500 gift certificate from Long and McQuade.
The Necessities’ Steve Foord took second place with a cool song called “Love in a Digital Age” Kelsey Jesperson backed him up, singing harmony vocals and playing a sweet violin solo.
He won two South Country Fair passes and a $250 gift certificate from Long and McQuade.
Honourable mentions ($50 Long and McQuade gift certificates) went to Andrew Scott for one of the coolest songs, “Ode To Bernadette — I Used to be A Locomotive Man) off his latest CD “My Time In The Empire” and to Ira Provost who had his typically dominating stage presence for his ballad “She Sings Holy Songs,” which is about his wife.
They had stiff competition , which included local country singer Karen Romanchuk and Jesse Northey, plus keyboardist Theresa, who came all the
way from Grande Prairie and Claresholm’s Gavin Moore, who, wearing guitar pick earrings, played an upbeat number on electric guitar called “Walk on Water.”
Out of towners dominated the newcomer category with Edmonton based poetry duo Poets Lost and Found’s Luke Tracey Newmann and Rick Mogg taking the top prize with a catchy country folk rocker “Heart of Caroline.” They also be performing on the main stage of South Country Fair this year.
High River songwriter Calum Graham took second place with his soul/ blues number “Mezmerize My Eyes.”
Honourable mentions went to crowd favourite Stuart Macleod from Shaugnessy who sang a catchy country/ rockabilly tinged number “No Beer In Heaven,” which he sent out to a friend of his who passed away from alcohol related causes. George Arsene also received an honourable mention for playing one of my favourite Skilletlikkers songs “Back Up Against The Wall.”
The Smokin’ Pistols’ Shael Pezderic rounded out the newcomers category.
