The fundraiser for Franko “Wasboard” Jackson was a success! We live streamed some of the event, and also created a video. Check it out!

WOW! That really just happened. What a night! It’s been quite a journey for 30A Songwriter Radio up to this point and this is just the beginning! We are humbled and honored by the support shown to us by our music family. We have worked hard to create a positive space that we can share with all of you while continuing to do what we do. Stay tuned. There is so much more to come.

Sandy Roots Music Productions will be producing the 2nd Annual Gulf Coast Songwriter Shootout. Nick Biebricher, owner of Sandy Roots, stated that he is very excited about the events new found partnership with Bobby Graves, owner of the Hot Spot Music & Grub. “Bobby is a great guy and he has been generous enough to put up the entire cash prize package to this years winners and we are blessed to be able to use his venue for our event” Biebricher said.

The Shootout is slated to start on September 14th and will continue every Monday night for six weeks until the finale on October 26th. The official dates for this years Shootout are as followed – September 14th, 21st and 28th, October 5th, 12th and 26th every night at the Hot Spot Music & Grub. Local musician, Destiny Brown, has been selected to host the 2015 Songwriter Shootout.

This year’s event will feature a few rule changes and additions. The first rule change is that only solo and duo acts will be accepted. Also, there are three ways to advance to the finals in this year’s competition. 1. Crowd vote. 2. Artist vote and 3. The mystery judges vote. During the first five weeks of competition, two members of the Gulf Coast Songwriter Shootout committee will be selected each night as mystery judges. Each week of the competition, the judges will change and remain nameless. The 2015 Shootout will feature a wildcard slot and the mystery judges will be in charge of awarding the wildcard slot. Many of last years Key Sponsors are back on board supporting this great original music event in 2015. The returning sponsors as of now are OBA, Cotton/Barnes Productions, 30a Songwriter Radio, CrazyTown Productions Nashville, The Southern Rambler, Frank Brown International Songwriter Festival, Shadow Media Group and the details haven’t been finalized but it looks like Tacky Jacks may have an interest in returning as a sponsor. New sponsors Include Gulf Coast People’s Choice “ Live Music Line Up”, The Wharf, Blue Hound Promotions and we expect many more. Without all our sponsors, this event would not be possible so big hats off to these businesses for all of the support.

The prize package for the 2015 Shootout so far is as followed:

Overall Contest Winner

$3,000 Cash Prize

• A Network Quality DVD/CD & Audio Production from Mike Cotton, Dave Barnes Productions & Blue Hound Promotions Includes on location (at THE HOT SPOT) live performance multi-camera high definition shoot with direct audio feed. Also included: Post production editing, sound mix, DVD/CD Disc labeled as finished product and a Live Performance Multi track audio production (CD) Total Value $3500

• One song publishing contract with Crazytown Productions LLC, Nashville TN

• A professional photo shoot provided by Michelle Stancil with The Southern Rambler valued at $350

• Free CD Art work or a custom logo provided by Barton Industries Valued at $250

• Hour long spotlight on 30A Songwriter Radio.

• Website from Shadow Media Group valued at $3,000

• Brand new guitar valued over $1000 provided by Andrea’s Innovations Gulf Shores Music Store.

Hit Songwriters Brett Jones, Travis Meadows and Lynn Langham will judge the 2015 Gulf Coast Songwriter Shootout finale. Brett Jones is responsible for seven No.1 billboard country chart songs such as ” Crazytown,” by Jason Aldean, “That’s How Country Boys Roll,” by Billy Currington , “ If Heaven Wasn’t so Far Away,” by Justin Moore and many more. He has over 1,400 published songs and over 150 songs have been featured on major label recordings. Travis Meadows is the current go-to-songwriter for many top country artists. His recent hits include “What We Ain’t Got,”’ by Jake Owens, and “The Riser,” by Dierks Bentley (the title track from the album) along with cuts by Eric Church (“Dark Side.” on The Outsiders album), Ronnie Dunn, Frankie Ballard. Lee Ann Womack, Blackberry Smoke, etc etc. Travis Meadows is also an amazing artist and his critically acclaimed album “Killin’ Uncle Buzzy,” is considered by his country music peers to be one of the greatest albums of all time. Musical luminaries from every style, notably by Wynonna, Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell, Trisha Yearwood, Elizabeth Cook, and Carolyn Hester, have recorded Lynn Langham’s songs. Her song, “Old Yellow Moon”, (written with Hank DeVito) was the title cut of Harris and Crowell’s Grammy winning duet album in 2014. It was also named Album of the Year at the 2013 Americana Music Awards. Lynn has shared the stage with legends like John Prine, Asleep At The Wheel, Larry Gatlin, Leon Redbone and Cheech and Chong.

The Gulf Coast Songwriter Shootout will host a special “Celebrity Songwriter Round “ with these hit writers’ on Oct 25th at the Hot Spot Music & Grub. Tickets will go on sale at the end of July and admission price will be $20 in advance and $25 at the door. If you are interested in competing in this year’s event, please sign up at www.gulfcoastsongwritershootout.com, the submission deadline for this years event is August 1, 2015. Sponsorship slots for the event are still available. Please contact Nick Biebricher at 251-284-2443 or nick@sandyrootsmusicproductions.com for more information about sponsorship opportunities. Sponsorship deadline is also August 1, 2015.

We look forward to seeing everyone at the Shootout!!!