Singer/Songwriter Competition

Our State: Down Home in North Carolina is a monthly publication that "celebrates the people and places that make [North Carolina] great. From the mountains to the coast, [Our State features] North Carolina travel, history, folklore and beautiful scenic photography."

Yesterday Lou Ann reported on her blog about Our State magazine's first ever "Carolina Songs: Singer/Songwriter Competition." As their web site puts it, "Our Southern roots, our sense of home, the people we know, and the land beneath our feet all inspire music in North Carolina. Our State is looking for the quintessential North Carolina song by inviting singer/songwriters to submit their entries...."

Ocracoke's celebrated band, Molasses Creek, and Marcy Brenner, who is accompanied by her husband Lou Castro, have submitted songs.

Molasses Creek's songs ("Mother Earth," "The Waterman," and "Howard Street") are some of their most popular. Many of our readers have listened to these beautiful songs at the Deepwater Theater. They capture our sense of belonging to this special island.

Marcy has submitted two songs, "Hurricane, Flood, Tornado," and "Joe Bell Flower." The latter celebrates the beautiful red and yellow gaillardias that grow in abundance on Ocracoke and elsewhere on the Outer Banks. (You can read my Newsletter about Joe Bell flowers here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012112.htm.) Marcy's song also celebrates the women of Ocracoke...beautiful, strong, resilient, and independent.

You can listen to all of the submissions here: http://www.ourstate.com/carolina-songs-playlist/. Molasses Creek's songs are in Weeks 2 & 3. Marcy's songs are in Week 1.

Enjoy!

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of midwifery on Ocracoke. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news082112.htm.