AL JOHNSON PERFORMING SONGWRITER CONTEST
TOP 10 FINALISTSThe top 10 Finalists for the Al Johnson Performing Songwriter Contest have been selected to compete live at 2025 Wildflower! Arts & Music Festival. An extraordinary number of entries were received from soulful, storytelling songwriters across the country and the prestigious panel of judges whittled away sending invitations to only these 10 finalists:
Chris Baron – Portland, Oregon
Bud Bierhaus – Katy, Texas
Daniel Boling – Albuquerque, New Mexico
Mary Broussard – Lafayette, Louisiana
Linda Dunnavant – Nashville, Tennessee
Jesse Garcia – Glorieta, New Mexico
Christine Hand – Dallas, Texas
Sarah King – Ripton, Vermont
Michelle Raybourn – Nashville, Tennessee
Erin Ash Sullivan – Harvard, Massachusettes
Lindsay White – San Diego, California
The award-winning Al Johnson Performing Songwriter Contest has for more than 20 years encouraged the growth of the art of independent performing songwriters. The finalists compete for the prize packages that include $1,000 1st Place, $500 2nd Place, $500 People’s Choice Award, one-year premium Broadjam membership, and invitation to play a set on the CityLine Stage on Sunday, May 18. Live finals wil be held from 12:30 – 3:00 p.m. on May 17 on the Singer Songwriter Stage in the Charles W. Eisemann Center for Performing Arts.
Past contest finalists include Katrina Cain, Ruthie Foster, Beth Wood, Karen Mal, Grace Pettis, Dave Carter, Louise Mosrie, BettySoo, Matt Harlan, Nicolette Good, RJ Cowdery, Drew Kennedy, Matthew Thomas and Tom Faulkner.
Wildflower! arts & music festival
2025 Top 10 Finalists
Wildflower! Performing Songwriter Contest
FOUNDER
“Many people can write a song, however, it is a truly brave person who will expose themselves by putting their song down on paper, then stand in front of the world and sing it for all to hear!”
– Al Johnson
Al Johnson was a longtime supporter of the song writing community and passed away in 2017. The contest continues in his memory.
Prize Package(s) Include
- First Place/Grand Prize – $1,000
- Second Place Runner Up – $500
- People’s Choice Award – $500
- One-year premium membership to Broadjam (valued at $200) to each of the top 3 finalists
Top Ten Finalists Receive
- Invitation to perform in the live finals on the Singer Songwriter Stage at Wildflower! on May 17, 2025. Finalists must perform the two (2) songs submitted in the contest and the performance may only include one instrument, one voice (the songwriter’s vocal), and no backup harmonies.
- Lodging for May 16 and 17 and green room hospitality
- Wildflower! festival passes for you and a guest
- Additional set at Wildflower! festival on the Courtyard Stage
- If selected as a winner, a chance to play a set in the round on May 18 on the Singer Songwriter Stage.
- Opportunity of a lifetime to spend a weekend, sharing songs with some of the best performing songwriters in the nation and if selected as a winner, participation in the Winner’s Showcase with the other selected winners.