Songwriting Contest

Christine Graves Wins Gil’s Hootenanny 2017 Songwriting Contest

Gil’s Hootenanny is delighted to announce that Christine Graves has won the 2017 “Songs of Hope and Protest” Sing-Along Songwriting Contest for her inspirational song “Rise Above”.

All finalists performed their original songs at the Ottawa Grassroots Festival on Saturday, April 22. According to contest judges Tony Turner, Mark Evenchick and Marty Hamer, “this year’s contest featured a number of strong song submissions and it was difficult to narrow the field to the five finalists”, who were (songs and songwriters): Continue reading…

Songwriting Contest Finalists To Perform At OTTAWA GRASSROOTS FESTIVAL

Come cheer on the five finalists for the annual Gil’s Hootenanny “Songs of Hope and Protest” Sing-Along Songwriting Contest as they perform their original songs at the Ottawa Grassroots Festival on Saturday, April 22, 2017 at 4pm, in Room 7 (The Parlour) at Southminster United Church, 15 Aylmer Avenue, Ottawa, ON.

The five finalists (songs and songwriters) are:

  • We Are the One : Harmony Siu
  • Your Wall Will Come Down : Jan Bentham
  • The Baby KingDavid Mayerovitch
  • Race to the BottomTom Clairmont
  • Rise AboveChristine Graves

Continue reading…

Tony Turner & His Life-Changing “Hootenanny” Hit

One of Ottawa finest singer-songwriter’s life and career were forever changed by his participation in Gil’s Hootenanny, after his song won the 2015 song-writing contest.

Image of Tony Turner

Tony Turner

Tony Turner’s winning composition about then Prime Minister Stephen Harper, “Harperman”, thrust him into a media spotlight that few could have anticipated. After officials got wind of a video of the upbeat song by Ottawa filmmaker Andrew Hall, the federal government suspended Tony from his job at Environment Canada. Much to Tony’s surprise, his suspension alarmed many Canadians and “Harperman” took on a life of its own. Millions of people viewed the video, and Tony became an unintentional, international public crusader for freedom of expression. Continue reading…

Gil’s Hootenanny 2017 Sing-Along Songwriting Contest Now Open for Entries

April 1st is the deadline to submit your song to the Gil’s Hootenanny “Songs of Hope and Protest” Sing-Along Songwriting Contest. Linked to May Day celebrations, this contest has given rise to some excellent musical creations from Canadian songwriters such as Tony Turner, who won in 2015 with his legendary song, Harperman.

Now open for entries, the contest encourages sing-along song submissions from songwriters in two categories:

  • “Open” (19 and over), and
  • “Young Composer” (18 and younger).

Continue reading…

2016 Sing-Along-able Songwriting Contest Finalists

Congratulations to the composers of the four songs chosen by our judges as “finalists” for the Gil’s Hootenanny 2016 “Sing-Along” Song Writing Contest. In no particular order the finalists are:

The Journey Begins (composers: Anne Hurley, Jim Videto)
Keep Your Feet Moving (composer: Erika Kulnys)
Believe Again (composer: Mark Evenchick)
Stand Up (composer: Mary Moore)
 
Finalist songs will be performed at Ottawa Grassroots Festival on Sunday April 24 on the Community Stage in Fellowship Hall starting at 2:30pm.