Elliott named top writer in festival contest

(Photo submitted) Chad Elliott, formerly of Spencer, will travel to the Woody Guthrie Festival in Guthrie's hometown of Okemah, Okla., for a performance on July 9. Elliott was named top songwriter in a contest sponsored by the festival.

Iowa singer/songwriter Chad Elliott was recently named the winner of the Woody Guthrie Festival songwriting contest with his original song, "Same Old Way."

"It is such an honor for me to receive this. Woody Guthrie has been very influential on me as a songwriter. The song that won first place is all about walking down the highway and facing change, something Woody knew too well," Elliott said.

Elliott is a former Spencer resident who has demonstrated his artistic ability in a variety of mediums around the area. He is currently residing in the Des Moines area and working on his music career.

The Woody Guthrie Festival (WoodyFest) is held every year in July in honor of notable songwriter Woodrow Wilson Guthrie, who passed away in 1967. Guthrie is the author of notable song, "This Land is Your Land." Guthrie earned the name "Dust Bowl Troubadour" during the Great Depression and influenced artists such as Bob Dylan.

The songwriting contest is held in the months before the music festival and the prize for the winner is a live performance spot on the main stage of WoodyFest as well as a cash award.

"I'm very excited to be performing on the same stage and the same night as Sarah Lee Guthrie, Woody's granddaughter, and I hope to meet a few other well respected folk singers that are on the main stage that week," Elliott said.

Elliott will travel to the Festival's location in Woody Guthrie's hometown of Okemah, Okla., for the performance on July 9.

"Woody wrote a book called 'Bound for Glory' which tells stories about his life, mostly about his youth in Okemah. I am looking forward to seeing the town he grew up in," Elliott said.

WoodyFest is a free folk festival held July 8-12.

Elliott's award-winning song "Same Old Way" will be released on his next album, titled, "Redemption Man," which was produced by Bo Ramsey. The album will be released in the fall of 2009.

To learn more about Chad Elliott, visit www.chadelliott.net.