BMI Names Rock Boat Song Contest Winners

Posted in News on September 22, 2004

BMI songwriter Wes Hutchinson has been named the grand prize winner of the BMI-sponsored Rock Boat Song Contest. The top prize includes an opening acoustic spot on the bill aboard the Rock Boat Washed Ashore Concert Cruise 2004, a four-day rock n' roll sea cruise to Cozumel, Mexico. Wes also wins cabin accommodations and airfare for two to Miami, Florida (departure city). Other winners include 1st runner-up David Roland and 2nd runner-up Michael Flynn.

Wes Hutchinson	David Roland	Michael Flynn

Wes Hutchinson, who is currently working on his record while living in New York City, effortlessly blends influences ranging from early Elton John to Bill Withers, from Crowded House to The Who to Pearl Jam, to create songs that are saturated with melody, intellectually honest lyrics, and music that moves with meaningful undercurrents of rock and pop.

David Roland currently calls Atlanta home, but you can hear the time he spent in New York and Miami in his music, in the anxiety drifting in and around the lyrics. Drawn to songwriting at the age of 14, he currently has a catalog of 127 songs. His latest effort,The Hum of Anxiety, features 12 tracks that echo early Bowie, Nick Cave, Scott Walker and George Harrison.

A South Carolina native, Michael Flynn's influences include Wilco, Eliott Smith, and Tom Waits. His self-released album No Disassemble features emotionally-charged songs of melodic and lyrical pop that go straight to the heart and make it burst with pent-up feelings. Michael was also named the second place winner of the 2001 BMI Foundation-sponsored John Lennon Scholarships.

The Rock Boat Concert Cruise sets sail Columbus Day weekend (October 7 - 11) and will feature BMI artists Sister Hazel, Cowboy Mouth, Gavin DeGraw, Michael Tolcher, Shawn Mullins, Ingram Hill, The Clarks, Dexter Freebish, Will Hoge, David Ryan Harris, Peter Searcy, Chuck Carrier, Evenout and others.

SOURCENews TAGS Pop Rock Musicworld Feature Artists The Clarks David Ryan Harris Ingram Hill Ingram Hill Elton John John Lennon Shawn Mullins Peter Searcy Sister Hazel Michael Tolcher Wilco