Local musicians compete at first Blooming-Tunes

Local artists took center stage for the First Annual Blooming-Tunes Songs from the Heartland at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater. 

Ten artists’ songs were picked out of about 80 other entries to perform. Mayor Mark Kruzan, writer Barbara Cloyd and professor Jeffrey Isaac judged the contest.

The idea for the contest came from Suzette Weakly, producer, co-host and
winner of the Bloomington Entertainment and Arts District Grant. Her love for songwriting and support from Bloomington helped create the contest.  

She developed the idea when she won a songwriting contest, “Masterpiece in a Day,” held in Indianapolis. Weakly wanted to give local songwriters the chance to perform at the Buskirk-Chumley.

Before the show started, Weakly thanked the city of Bloomington and the Buskirk-Chumley. 

Joe Peters won Blooming-Tunes with his song “Sail Away.” He said he was humbled to find out he won.  

“I was surprised because they listed 10 winners, and it was one through 10, and my name was No. 1,” Peters said. “So, I wrote Suzette and asked if the ranking had any significance.” 

“As a performing songwriter, you know I have a deep appreciation for local original music,” Peters said. 

Local songwriter Kevin McDowell incorporated a kazoo into his song “A Book this Nice.” McDowell said he has been playing the kazoo for 14 years and started to bring it into his music after he was inspired by Klezmer, traditional Jewish music.

“Song contests are a lot of fun and should be taken with a grain of salt,” McDowell said. 

Along with the contest winner were various artists from around the state, one of which was Bedford native C.J. Watson, who played a blues song inspired by his time in Cajun country called “Mississippi Mudslide.” 

“Literally, the song took almost no longer to write than it was to play for the first time,” Watson said about his catchy blues song.

Winner of the Billboards Magazine’s World Song Contest and Indianapolis resident Jennie DeVoe, who has opened for Ray Charles, Jack Johnson and Joe Cocker, took the stage with her song “Map of the World.” 

When the concert came to an end, Peters invited all the artists to join him in his song “Slow Train Home.” During the song, Weakly was presented with a bundle of roses that she passed out to the female artists. 

“While listening to everyone play their songs, I realized that it was not only a great honor, (but) I felt a great kinship among musician and songwriters,” McDowell said.