The Winner of the 2022 contest is Allan Licht for his song “Let Peace Rise Up”
Soon after graduating Cleveland Heights High school, Allan began performing at many of the upscale night clubs in the Cleveland, Ohio area. He moved to California to further pursue a music career on the west coast.
Along with performing for the past 40 years, Allan has composed over 250 songs, many of which have been recorded and released nationally and internationally. Allan has also composed numerous songs for non-profit organizations and corporations. Allan also has songs licensed through Crucial Music out of Los Angeles, California for movie and T.V. placements. Allan has worked as musical director for TV and stage productions such as the 1993 Michael Whitely film Production of “Shooting Star,” and has also acted as a judge for several singing competitions such as “The National Singing Star” “Shining Star CLE” and “Heights Got Talent” held at Cain Park. Find out more about Allan and his music at his website.
The Finalists
Jason Baker was chosen for his song It Doesn’t Go Away
Jason Baker is a singer-songwriter from Vermont. Jason has released 3 albums, “America Dreams” in 2018, “Common Man Blues” in 2019, “The Lighthouse” in 2020, and three 4-song EPs, “Liberty” in 2021, “The Dream Of Peace” in April 2022, and “I Have Come To Set You Free” in October 2022.
Jason is also in “Folk Talk Trio” with Rik Palieri and Patti Shannon.They have two recordings available online: “Folk Talk: A Guide To Traditional Folk Music, Vol. One” & “Folk Talk Trio – Live at The Underground”. Together they create a fun atmosphere that celebrates folk traditions and encourages audience participation. Jason has won prizes in numerous songwriting competitions and was a finalist in Songs for Social Change 2019. Find out more at his website.
Aidan Quinn and Christine Stay performing as Friction Farm were chosen for their song Louder Than Guns.Modern-folk duo Friction Farm is a husband and wife team of internationally traveling troubadours. Aidan Quinn and Christine Stay combine storytelling, social commentary and humor to create songs of everyday life, local heroes, and quirky observations. From ballads to anthems each song is filled with harmony and hope.
Friction Farm’s lyrically rich, harmony-driven songs have earned them spots as Kerrville New Folk Finalists and Falcon Ridge Emerging Artists. They are winners of the South Florida Folk Festival songwriter competition, have performed as official showcase artists at Regional Folk Alliance Conferences. Friction Farm feels at home on the road and on stage. Audiences lean into their stories, laugh at their humor, are inspired to do a little good in the world, and sing along once in a while. Aidan and Christine read. A lot. Friction Farm released a CD of songs inspired by books and, although they don’t plan another, they continue to use books as a source of inspiration. In order to help promote a love of reading and promote literacy among children under age ten, Friction Farm has also written and recorded a collection of songs inspired by children’s books. Find out more at their website.
Shawn Gallaway has been chosen as a finalist for his song “Wake Up America.”
Nashville is Shawn’s home base, from which he spent over twenty years writing, recording, and performing across the nation in venues including the Broadway Music Hall in Seattle, Portland’s Living Enrichment Center, Diana Wortham Theater in Asheville, NC, and Nashville’s Belcourt Theatre. He also became a successful composer with E.M.I. and Sony Tree publishing credits. Shawn is also a visual artist, author, ceremonial healer, workshop facilitator, energy worker and Certified Lifeline Practitioner. He has traveled throughout the world sharing his message of healing through the arts, branding Conscious Music a movement calling attention to the significance and to the consequences choice has in our lives. Find out more at www.facebook.com/shawngallawaymusic
Carole Wise has been chosen for her song “Listen In.”
Carole Wise is a singer/songwriter from Brunswick Maine. Her music is sweet and soulful, drawing on a lifelong passion for education, the beauty of the natural world, and the adventures of finding truth through life’s challenges.
Carole Wise’s new album, THE LONG WAY HOME, is a compilation of lyric and melody that grew from its creative seed: a calling of the heart. Visit her website to find out more about Carole and her music.
Jason Horwitiz has been chosen as a finalist for his song “You Are Welcome Here.” A song performed by his band, The Whiskey Farm.
The Whiskey Farm is an Americana and folk rock band from Madison, Wisconsin. Formed in 2010,the band released their first record, Middle of America, in 2011 and in 2012 won the Madison Area Music Award (MAMA) for Best Americana/Folk song for the lead track, “If I Were You.” The Onion A.V. Club described The Whiskey Farm as “straddling the line between bluegrass and folk, blending technical wows with accessible songwriting for very pop-minded Americana.” The Americana Gazette wrote that they have “great tunes, killer hooks, and fantastic harmonies,” and The Isthmus called them “a big boost for the little music scene thriving here in the middle of America.” The band features multi-instrumentalists and layered harmonies in lyric-driven songs. Find out more at their website.
Neil McCann and John Littrich were chosen as finalists for their song “Water from the Well” performed by The Water Runners, an award winning Australian folk ensemble. The Water Runners hail from Kiama and Gerringong, South Coast NSW Australia, and have become a popular act at pubs, clubs, festivals and other events in the Illawarra, Shoalhaven, the Snowy’s, far South Coast, Sydney and beyond. They play a high energy blend of original, bluegrass-infused Australian folk that also draws on country, roots and traditional folk.
John Littrich (guitar, vocals, harmonica) and Neil McCann (banjo, mandolin, backing vocals) have played in various bands and made music together for over 25 years. Find out more about The Water Runners here.
Stan and Liz Keach were chosen as finalists for their song “A Woman’s World Too.” Stan is an award winning singer and songwriter whose songs have been recorded by several bluegrass artists. He was recently inducted into the Maine Country Music Hall of Fame. Stan is the bandleader of The Sandy River Ramblers. Stan received honors at the 7th Annual Songwriting Contest of the Maine Songwriters Association chosen from among 33 entries for the 2017 honors, and after all the singing and the judging, Stan Keach took first prize for his song, “On Boot Hill”, written with Rick Lang. Nationally touring Ralph Stanley II & The Clinch Mountain Boys recorded the song.
Eileen Kozloff was chosen as a finalist for her song “No More War Anymore”. Eileen is a multi-instrumentalist who embraces many genres of music. She is internationally known for her soaring vocals, stunning harmonies, engaging performances and pick-less style of autoharp playing. In 2017 ,she introduced the autoharp to New York City’s Birdland Jazz Club stage and was warmly embraced by the jazz community.Eileen’s songs fuse traditional sensibilities with a contemporary vibe and are liberally peppered with themes of peace and justice. Eileen has performed at numerous festivals and venues across the United States, Australia and Denmark. Find out more about her on her website.
Glenn Valles was chosen for his song “Karma.” Glenn Valles is a songwriter based in Mumbai, India. With several International Songwriting Awards (USA/UK/Ireland/Australia) to his credit, spanning multiple genres, be it #country #rock #edm #hiphop #rap #reggae #blues #praise&worship and a few more, Glenn’s music is very interesting as vivid imagery characterizes his songwriting. His songs have been shortlisted for a huge Hollywood Action Film, a long running popular Reality TV Show, a Pilot Episode of a brand new TV Series for a Major Broadcast Network & a Major Studio Feature Film in the US. More information is available at his website.