Cohutta Song Fest announces winners of its songwriting competition

Kate Neal and Tom Brown

From left to right: Tom Brown, Scott Jackson and Charlsey Etheridge

From left to right: Tom Brown, Mabel Craig and Charlsey Etheridge

From left to right: Tom Brown, Zach Kilmer and Charlsey Etheridge

From left to right: Tom Brown, Tim Chastian and Charlsey Etheridge

From left to right: Tom Brown, Easton Chambers and Charlsey Etheridge

From left to right: Derek Stone, Jack Endelouz and Randall Scott Robions during the songwriter round at the Cohutta General Store

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The Cohutta Song Fest has announced the winners of the Songwriting Competition. The first place winner overall in the competition was Kate Neal, a high school sophomore from Lookout Mountain, Georgia, with her song “Cut Me Loose.” She was also a winner in the youth category. When asked when she started writing songs, Kate jokingly replied, “It may have been in utero when my parents (folk/rock duo Jennifer Daniels and Jeff Neal) were playing concerts up until the delivery date.” Her debut album will be released soon and she can be followed on Instagram @kateneal_songbird.

The People’s Choice Award went to Scott Jackson of Cohutta, who was also a winner in the Folk category. Easton Chambers of Dalton won in the Country category with his song “Learned My Lessons.” Tim Chastain of Chatsworth won in the Gospel category with “Old Man Joe,” and Matthew Gunn of Dalton was selected in the Americana category for his song “Anyone But Me.”

Other winners in the Cohutta Song Fest Competition include: Kathy Veazey of Chattanooga, who tied with Zach Kilmer of Murphy, NC in the Blues category; Elizabeth Sherman of Knoxville in the Bluegrass category; and Youth Finalist winner Mabel Craig of Leawood, KS. First place winner Kate Neal will receive $250 and four hours of studio recording time at Witt Studios in Villanow, Georgia.

The Cohutta Song Fest Songwriting Competition, sponsored by Bigham Discount Music, attracted more than 60 entries from seven states. Seven of the nine finalists performed their songs at the Cohutta Community Center in front of a panel of judges that included award-winning singer-songwriter Becky Buller of IBMA, songwriter Ed Snodderly who teaches songwriting at ETSU, and WUTC 88.1 NPR Radio host and producer Richard Winham. The public also had the opportunity to participate and vote for their favorite song to determine the People’s Choice Award.

The Cohutta Song Fest was a two-day event hosted by Charlsey Etheridge and Tom Brown, featuring 40 singer-songwriters at four locations and more than 30 vendors in downtown Cohutta. Sponsors who helped make the Song Fest possible include Zach Woody of Edward Jones, First Bank, State Farm agent Caleb Holloway, Johnson Law, Cohutta Calibration, Senior Medicare Fraud Patrol and North Georgia Toyota. Double Platinum and Platinum sponsors included the Community Foundation of Northwest Georgia, The Creative Arts Guild and North GA Electric Membership Cooperative. Locations were provided by the Cohutta General Store, RBC Properties, the Red Wolfe Grill and the City of Cohutta.