KZSM True Community Radio proudly extends our support of homegrown music with the San Marcos Singer/Songwriter Contest, Sunday, April 6 from 2-5 p.m. at Zelicks Icehouse, 336 W Hopkins. Contestants must come prepared with a $15 entry fee (cash or Venmo) and one song to perform before a panel of three judges. There is no advance registration, but participation is limited to the first 20 contestants. Entry fees go to support KZSM 104.1/KZSM. org.
The winner must be able to appear at Fiesta JAM on Thursday, May 1, at the Johnson Park Amphitheater in Marble Falls. There, they will compete in the Kent Finlay Texas Song Search for a chance to win the Tillman, an award in honor of Floyd Tillman, a CMA Hall of Fame Inductee. In addition, they will open for Asleep at the Wheel at Fiesta Jam and receive a professionally produced recording of the winning song by Mauldin Productions, a radio campaign by Jenni Finlay Promotions & Southern Sky Records, and a custom handmade guitar by Texas luthier Bryan Hibler.
The contest honors the late Kent Finlay, founder of the San Marcos’ own iconic Cheatham Street Warehouse, where the careers of George Strait, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Randy Rogers, Todd Snider, James McMurtry and Terri Hendrix were launched. The winner of the San Marcos Singer/ Songwriter contest will embody the spirit of San Marcos’ rich tradition of fostering songwriting and hopefully celebrate that tradition by bringing the Tillman award home to San Marcos.
In addition to the Kent Finlay Song Search on May 1, Fiesta JAM at Marble Falls extends through May 3 with Singer-Songwriter Master Classes and of course concerts — featuring Asleep at the Wheel, Shawn Camp, Verlon Thompson, Rubén Ramos and the Mexican Revolution, Susan Gibson, Bernie Nelson, John Arthur Martinez, Mike Blakely, JAM & Tejas and The Lake Travis Fiddlers. The non-profit Fiesta JAM raises money to support youth music education in the hill country.
The San Marcos Singer/ Songwriter Contest is organized by Jason Woolery — representing the Cheatham Street Music Foundation, KZSM board president Jeremy Garrett and musician John Arthur Martinez. Along with Sterling Finlay, Woolery hosts “Highway 261” (Fridays noon to 1 p.m.), which is one of several KZSM broadcasts that provide opportunities for local singer/songwriters to perform live and talk about their music.
Join us next Sunday at Zelicks to show off your best song or support your favorite singer/songwriter.
