past events
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2022
Winner: Elijah Johnston
The 2022 Awards Show was held on Thursday, April 28, 2022, at the 40 Watt in downtown Athens. The Awards Show included featured performances by Ben de la Cour, Sarah Zuniga, last year’s winner Cassie Chantel, and by the five finalists for the Awards. Elijah Johnston was announced as the 2022 Vic Chesnutt Songwriter of the Year! Each finalist performed their nominated work (click on the links below to listen).
2022 Finalists:
Bo Bedingfield, for Beautiful World
Gabriella Delliponti & Hunter Guess, for Monsters
Elijah Johnston, for Molly Haskell
Michael Wegner, for Seriously
Trvy (Trevor Wiggins), for Shield
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2021
Winners: Cassie Chantel and Wesdaruler
The 2021 Awards Show took place at Creature Comforts (outdoor, covered patio) on Thursday, May 6, and was livestreamed on the YouTube event page. The Awards Show included featured performances by the instructors from the 2021 Seminar and Workshop Series--Jim White, Caroline Aiken, Sylvie Simmons, Marc Anthony Thompson, and last year’s winner, Jim Willingham. Patterson Hood also made a special remote appearance Cassie Chantel and WesdaRuler were announced the 2021 Vic Chesnutt Songwriter of the Year Winners (two categories in 2021). Each finalist performed their nominated work (click on the links below to listen).
2021 Finalists:
Bo Bedingfield, for I’ve Always Known
Cassie Chantel, for Ms. America
Jim White, for My Life’s a Stolen Picture
Charlie Hartness, for The Little Owlett
Kxng Blanco, for Deddy
*WesdaRuler featuring Louie Larceny, for Going Down
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2020
Winner: Jim Willingham
The 2020 Awards Show pivoted to a pre-recorded Facebook video extravaganza, with recordings-from-home by the finalists and the great support of Dominar Films and the dedicated awards committee. After a January kickoff show at Hendershot’s, the all-star panel of judges reviewed this year’s outstanding nominations to name the winner and the five finalists, who recorded their nominated songs from their yards, homes and apartments as part of this year’s remote show.
2020 Finalists:
Randall Bramblett, for Vibrating Strings
Dope KNife (Kedrick Mack), for Things Got Worse
Jim Willingham, for Open Hood
Sarah Zúñiga & Daniel Fisher, for What is Love to You
Jim White (Michael Davis Pratt), for Jolly Crocodile
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2019
Winner: Lydian Brambila
2019 Finalists:
Lydian Brambila, for Sirena
Don Chambers, for The Last Thursday
Carly Joy King (The Little Strong), for Just Listen
Greg Meredith, for Mirrors
Ross Shapiro, for Possibilities
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2018
Winner: Linqua Franqa (Mariah Parker)
2018 Finalists:
KyKy Renee Knight, for Ostensibly Discouraged
Linqua Franqa (Mariah Parker), for The Con & The Can
Andrew Rieger, for All Things Combined
Sean Stephansen, for My Last Letter
Cindy Wilson, for No One Can Tell You
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2017
Winner: Andrew Huang
2017 Finalists:
Drew Albenesius, for The Company Kept
Dana Downs, for Blue Destiny
Andrew Huang, for Dear Adam Dear Eve
Erin Lovett (Four Eyes), for Everyone I Know [Will Die]
Sarah Zúñiga, for People Do Crazy Things For Love
Mental Health Awareness Concert - Dec. 9, 2023
On Saturday, December 9, the Vic Chesnutt Awards committee coordinated a concert for Mental Health Awareness at the 40 Watt Club. This concert featured Lonnie Holley, as well as Night Palace and Well Kept. The proceeds benefited Nuci’s Space, Friends of Advantage Behavioral, and the Vic Chesnutt awards program.