The votes are in and the second winner of Yoknapatawpha Arts Council & The Local Voice‘s “Social Distancing Song Writing Challenge” is… Tad Wilkes with his song, “Good Times”!
Week 2 featured the Mississippi songwriters Steve Brewer with “Tree Roots and Broken Concrete,” Shane Brown with “Joe,” Tad Wilkes a.k.a. Moon Pie Curtis with “Good Times,” Yarnell Marks with “Every Problem,” and Jason Campbell with “Heaven.”
Yarnell Marks received 14.3% of the vote, Steve Brewer scored 13.6%, Shane Brown drew 9.3%, Jason Campbell received 4.2%, and winner Tad Wilkes got a whopping 58.6% of the vote.
Each artist submitted a homemade video of their songs being played live from home. The videos were then edited by Antonio Tarrell into one twenty minute program.
TLV and YAC then put the call out to Mississippi music fans to watch the program from a safe, social distance, and vote for their favorite song.
Newt Rayburn, publisher of The Local Voice, recognized that efforts of many musicians to move their gigs to digital showcases did not achieve one of the goals of live events. Live performances not only offer an experience that connects performer and artists—it is how performers build a base of support. Even on a regional level playing in nightclubs, festivals, and event is designed to build a fan base.
There was concern that because content was being streamed on the artist social media that it was not growing their network in a time when it could make a major impact on the artists livelihood.
The Social Distancing Songwriting Challenge seeks to help artist gain new fans and a wider audience in Mississippi and worldwide.
Voting for Week 3 of the Songwriting Challenge is now open. See who is being featured this week and vote for you favorite song here. The winners from each week will go head to head at the end the month for a grand prize.
