Overcast Is Top Twenty Finalist
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For three days in June, the streets of Red Lodge-as well as its bars, cafes, and parks-become a gathering place for songwriters. When the 6th Annual Red Lodge Songwriter Festival takes place from June 23-25, Tj Overcast from Chinook, Montana, will be among the talent. On April 5, Overcast learned that his song "A Month and a Day" was chosen as a Top Twenty Finalist in the 2022 Rocky Mountain Songwriting Showcase.
"I have been invited to perform in Red Lodge, Montana, on June 25 to compete for first place," Overcast exclaimed. "There is a showcase of all the top twenty artists on Saturday morning, with the top two in front of some famous songwriters. The top two get to perform again that evening for a larger crowd."
At the Showcase, Overcast, who identifies as an independent country music artist, will join Nashville hit songwriters and other rising stars from around the country who will play their songs and tell the stories behind them.
According to Mike Booth, Executive Director of the Red Lodge Songwriter Festival and the Rocky Mountain Songwriting Contest, park benches, bar stools, and hotel lobbies all become picking sessions. Booth claims, "The Rocky Mountain Songwriting Contest is uniquely designed to offer opportunities for songwriters to get their songs heard. This is the place displaying songwriting at its highest level!"
Delivered in a traditional country style with a ballad-like tone, Overcast's single, "A Month and a Day," is about having to work on the road and foregoing time to interact with family. It references not only how the job robs "pieces of [the] soul" but identifies the sacrifices that we make for those we love.
"Unfortunately, a lot of people have to live this way," Overcast stated. "I wrote this song about working on the road and all the anguish that comes with it. The song does its best to describe what a person goes through when they have to leave their family's home to find work. I was hoping to capture those feelings as best I could with that song."
Aware of the courage, conviction, and passion required to pursue music-related aspirations, Rocky Mountain Songwriting Contest officials claim: "We're believers in creativity, chasing dreams, and getting the chance to pursue your passion."
Open to songwriters who were 18 years of age or older on the date of song submission, the contest began accepting entries on December 1, 2021 with a closing date of May 1-or until such time as contest officials received one hundred songs. Once that threshold was reached, judging began. Entries were scrutinized by some of Nashville's best hit writers and music industry professionals who make impartial decisions as to the merits of the song by using criteria that are organized into four categories: Song Structure & Composition, Lyrics, Music & Melody, and Originality.
Overcast entered the contest for the second year in February. "Last year I didn't have any success; however, this year I decided to try again. I entered the song that made the top twenty, along with a couple of songs from my upcoming acoustic EP. The song, 'Month and a Day' is on my first album."
Overcast's song stood apart for its clear and cohesive theme, its singable and memorable lyrics that evoke an emotional response, its engaging and emotionally poignant melody, and its fresh approach to the subject.
After industry professionals selected the twenty best-written songs, their writers were invited to perform their songs live on stage during the Red Lodge Songwriter Festival. Free and open to the public, this Songwriting Showcase is hosted at the Historic Roman Theater on Saturday, June 25, from 9:00 a.m. until noon. For anyone wishing to attend other events and shows, tickets are available online at redlodgesongwriterfestival.org.
This year's grand prize winner will receive a Recording King Series 11 Dreadnought Guitar. The front-runner will also receive an invitation to perform at the 7th Annual Red Lodge Songwriter Festival in 2023 as a paid Rising Star Songwriter. This individual will be joined by the second place songwriter to open the show before the Nashville Hit Songwriters on Saturday, June 25. Third, fourth, and fifth place songwriters will play in the round with last year's winner on Saturday afternoon before a live audience.
Those seeking additional information about the Festival can find it online at redlodgesongwriterfestival.org. Individuals with unanswered questions are encouraged to call Booth at 406-690-5988 or email him at mike@rockymtnsongwriterfestivals.org.
