The Walnut Valley Festival NewSong Showcase is curated by Chris Jones, of Chris Jones and the Night Drivers
The NewSong Showcase is a chance for aspiring songwriters to submit their work for review by a professional songwriter/artist, with a chance to appear on stage at one of two sets during the festival. It features ten categories, including Songs About Winfield, Children, Religion/Spirit, Feelin’ Blue, Instrumental, Sweet Memories, Love Songs, Better World, Humor and None of the Above. This year entries may be made entirely online, allowing participants to upload their song and accompanying lyrics.
Chris Jones NewSong Showcase Curator 2020- Present
Showcase Categories
Two songs from each of these categories will be selected to be performed on stage during the festival.
- Songs About Winfield
- Sweet Memories
- Suitable For Children
- Love Songs
- Songs For A Better World
- Feeling Blue
- Humorous Songs
- Religion Or Spirit
- Instrumentals
- None Of The Above
Walnut Valley Festival Master Songsmith
In 2025, we are introducing the Walnut Valley Festival Master Songsmith award in addition to the songs selected to be performed. One songwriter will receive a prize of $800 + 2 Full Festival tickets for a total prize value of more than $1000. The selected songwriter may still submit songs to the NewSong Showcase and be selected to perform those songs in subsequent years, HOWEVER, they are ineligible to receive the Walnut Valley Festival Master Songsmith award for a period of 5 years.
Submissions for the 2025 NewSong Showcase are now closed.
Additional Information:
- You may enter as many times as you like, but you can only submit ONE song at a time. Each entry will need to complete the entire checkout process SEPARATELY. DO NOT proceed to checkout with more than ONE entry in your cart.
- Contratcted 2025 Walnut Valley Festival entertainers are not eligible to enter.
- Each song may only be entered in ONE category.
- Songs that have previously been selected to perform in the Walnut Valley Festival NewSong Showcase are not eligible for submission.
- Uploading your MP3 and song lyrics will take place during the online checkout.
If registering by mail...
- Send one CD for each song submitted. Be certain the song title & your name are on each CD.
- Send the words to the song (unless submitting an Instrumental). Use 1 page per song.
- Include $20.00 per song submitted, payable to Walnut Valley Festival NewSongs 2025. If you are submitting numerous songs you may send one check for the full amount.
- Complete an application for each song. You may make as many copies of the printable form above as needed. There is no limit to the number of songs you can submit, but each song may only be entered in ONE category.
- Contracted 2025 Walnut Valley Festival entertainers are not eligible to enter.
- Deadline for submissions to be received (not postmarked) is July 1, 2025.
- Mail to: Walnut Valley Association, PO Box 245, Winfield, KS 67156
- Incomplete applications will be disqualified so please double check yourself.