Now in its eighth year, the Jimmy LaFave Songwriting Contest is open to unsigned and emerging Oklahoma songwriters in all genres. The contest is free to enter, and the winner takes home a $750 cash prize, a day of recording at Tulsa’s history Church Studio, and a spot in the Bob Childers’ Gypsy Cafe lineup. The People’s Choice Award, decided by online voting, wins a $250 cash prize.
Three contest finalists will be selected based on lyrics, melody, originality, form and musicality by a panel of judges, including renowned songwriters and industry professionals Brad Piccolo, Roger Ray, Deana McCloud and Ronnie Carlson. Finalists will be asked to submit a video recording of their song (acoustic) for public voting online April 7-16. This video can be recorded on a phone as professional production is not required. The judges’ scores of overall performance will be combined with public votes to determine the winners, which will be announced April 21st.
The Jimmy LaFave Songwriting Contest highlights LaFave’s legacy of mentorship and musical discovery that have become hallmarks of the Gypsy Café festival. Previous winners of the contest include Ken Pomeroy’s “Sidewalk Song” (2018), Dallas Parker aka Faux Draco’s “Abilities” (2019), Joe Baxter’s “Romeo’s Girl” (2020), Ahna Jennings’ “Hope & Gasoline” (2021), Branjae’s “Free Facts” (2022), Brent Giddens’ “Shades of Texas (2023) and Eric Hunker’s “When it all Ends” (2024).
Eric Hunker
Song: When it all Ends
Check out the 2024 Contest Finalists below
