Wouldn't you just love a sweet serenade or two?

  • One of the contestants gives his all at the 2019 Songwriter Serenade, held inside the Moravia Catholic Church Parish Hall that year. The event will be just a few miles up FM 957 this year, at the much more spacious, covered outdoor pavilion found at St. John Community. Performances start at 11. a.m.
    One of the contestants gives his all at the 2019 Songwriter Serenade, held inside the Moravia Catholic Church Parish Hall that year. The event will be just a few miles up FM 957 this year, at the much more spacious, covered outdoor pavilion found at St. John Community. Performances start at 11. a.m.
  • That same 2019 Serenade finalist, giving his all, from a slightly different perspective
    That same 2019 Serenade finalist, giving his all, from a slightly different perspective
  • A couple of performers seek out back of the Moravia parish hall for a quick warm up before they take the stage at the 2019 Serenade.
    A couple of performers seek out back of the Moravia parish hall for a quick warm up before they take the stage at the 2019 Serenade.
  • An attentive crowd, once more from 2019's Serenade, shows its support throughout the day's performances
    An attentive crowd, once more from 2019's Serenade, shows its support throughout the day's performances
    One of the 2019 songwriters lays it all on the line in her performance.

    One of the 2019 songwriters lays it all on the line in her performance.

    Looking for something to do this weekend after you cast your ballots? Why not take the short drive out to beautiful St. John and enjoy a full day of live music from 15 of the nation’s most talented up-and-coming singer-songwriters?

    The 15th annual Songwriter’s Serenade semifinals round of competition kicks things off this weekend with performances starting at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 7, at the spacious St. John Outdoor Pavilion, located in the St. John Community, 7026 FM 957 in Schulenburg.

    Tickets to the daytime songwriter contest are $15 each. Contest organizers chose the Top 15 from more than 150 entries received from across the United States.

    Semifinalists were announced Wednesday, March 30, and just two are from Texas in 2022.

    They include, in alphabetical order: Ryan Biter, Flagstaff, Ariz.; Sav Buist, Nashville, Tenn.; Campbell Davis, Nashville, Tenn.; Jackson Grimm, Asheville, N.C.; Shawnee Kilgore, Austin; Grace Morrison, Rochester, Mass.; Daniel Neihoff, Paducah, Ken.; Sarah Peacock, Ashland City, Tenn.; Michell Rivers, Eureka, Mont.; Sam Robbins, Nashville, Tenn.; Abrielle Scharff, Brooklyn, N.Y.; “Shanna in a Dress,” Nashville, Tenn.; Erin Ash Sullivan, Harvard, Mass.; Glenn Thomas, Nashville Tenn.; David Tribble, Fort Worth.

    This year's guest judges include Susan Gibson, Walt Wilkins and Josh Grider. Songwriter Sam Baker has served as 2022's performer mentor. And Ken Gaines will once again play event host and emcee.

    Gibson has dozens of songs to her credit, including “Wide Open Spaces,” which the Dixie Chicks made famous. She was named the West Texas Music Hall of Fame's 2009 Entertainer of the Year.

    Wilkins is performing songwriter who calls Central Texas his home. He’s written more than 100 songs that other people have recorded including the likes of Pat Green, Cory Morrow, Ricky Skaggs, Kenny Rogers and Eric Church. He has multiple albums and a star in the South Texas Walk of Fame in Corpus Christi.

    Grider has released eight albums, toured the country and abroad, topped the Texas radio charts and started a family, all in slightly more than a decade. He's living proof that songwriters will change, almost as much as life will, and his latest chart climbing album offers testament.

    Lunch is planned from 2-3 p.m. with the Bill Ishee Smokin Beast BBQ Co. and Sandiland Baking providing an array of tasty lunch options. The Final 7 return to the stage to perform from 3-4 p.m., with awards to begin at 4:30 p.m., where more than $10,000 in prizes will be given out.

    The Winner Showcase and Judges Concert, what we like to call the Sunset Serenade, takes place 7-9 p.m. at the more intimate atmosphere found at the TR Ranch, located just a short drive down FM 957 in Moravia (actual address is 9488 FM 532 in Hallettsville). This year’s contest winner will be the opening act, and then both this year’s judges and mentor will perform until dark. Tickets for the second venue at the TR are $20 each.

    For more information, please visit https://www.songwriterserenade.com/.