DSA EVENTS THIS MONTH
Wildflower's Al Johnson Performing Songwriter Contest Deadline March 8 - see below for detail and links
NEW link to join DSA
MONTHLY MEETING and Workshop - 2nd THURSDAY
Next Meeting & Workshop with Song Critiques -
DSA Monthly Meeting - Thursday, FEBRUARY 12, Darren Wise
Location: Your home via ZOOM
6:30 pm: Open portal and networking
6:30 pm: Open portal and networking
7:00 pm: Program followed by song critiques for members
Our guest Speaker is Darren Wise. Darren Wise is a published ASCAP songwriter and rock music performer who also is the music creator/director of live music shows for Drew Pearson Live. He will talk about his songwriting style, performing and the current music business.
Also, this is the first chance of the year to get your song critiqued by industry pros Barbe McMillen and Joe Milton and be considered for the 2026 Member Song Contest and Songwriter of the Year. Go to the Dallas Songwriters website (see link below) to enter your song, or you can play them live.
At the website look for "Forms" on the upper right-hand corner of the
page then point to "Song Critiques" and the form will show up. You can
type in the lyrics or cut & paste. For the song audio go to "Choose
File" and load your audio file(s), limit of 3 songs per meeting. You
can pay online via the critique form, and the cost is $10 per song. However, please be advised that songs that make use of Artificial Intelligence for any lyrics, melody or production will not be considered for the Member Song Contests.
BEST SONGS OF THE MEETING CONTESTS
Starts over in January for 2026
members only may pay here
https://checkout.square.site/merchant/02JSQHH1RYQP5/checkout/MRGZLHJH5IRTCVIRCKPBBKKG Upload lyrics and mp3 in google file.
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DSA Board Meeting - Board Meeting via Zoom Feb 23, 7PM
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SHOWCASES AND OPEN MICS
🎤 OPEN MIC
🎶 Guitars & Growlers Richardson Open Mic -
EVERY FIRST Thursday, Feb 5,Mar 5, 7 - 10
Songwriters perform in the round. Please sign up with host Rickey Gene Wright🎤 OPEN MIC
🎶 Cocktail Creamery McKinney Open Mic -
EVERY THIRD Thursday, , Feb 19, Mar 19, 7 - 9
Songwriters perform in the round. Please sign up with host Rickey Gene WrightMOVED FROM 4TH TO 3RD THURS
🎤 OPEN MIC
🎶 Poor David's Pub Virtual Open Mic -
EVERY Monday, , Feb 9, 16, March 2, 9, 16, 23, 7 - 9
Last week of the month is in person at PDP - day TBD but usually WednesdaySongwriters perform 15 minute segments. Please sign up with host Rob Case
🎶 Well Grounded Coffee Community Song Circle -
EVERY FIRST Friday, Feb 6
Acoustic Song Circle - covers and originals - Bill Martin is there from DSA(Bill also performs every Friday noon - 2, come out to hear his songs and covers)
9219 Garland Rd. # 2019
Dallas, Tx
(214) 918 - 3538
🎶 Songbirds of Dallas Songwriting Circle
EVERY SECOND Saturday of the month - Feb 14 11:00am-1:00pm
at Vitruvian Park Tavern;
3870 Ponte Ave #150, Addison, TX 75001
Arthur Rekerdres from DSA hosts
at Vitruvian Park Tavern;
3870 Ponte Ave #150, Addison, TX 75001
Arthur Rekerdres from DSA hosts
SHOWCASES - Physical & Virtual - check on Facebook for updates
🎶 Opening Bell Showcase - MOVED TO 2nd Friday, Feb 13, 7 - 8:30
The Journey of A Song - Songwriters perform in the round. Please sign up with host Emmeline Miles
Our featured artists for Journey of a Song LIVE on February 13th are Katherine Petersen, Lilly Lane and Christine Hand.
SPECIAL EVENTS
AMIGOS GUITAR SHOW
Oct 18-19 - Thanks to Amigos Guitar for a great show at the Mesquite Convention Center.
Oct 18-19 - Thanks to Amigos Guitar for a great show at the Mesquite Convention Center.
BEST SONGS OF THE MEETING 2025 CONTEST
Winners announced in spring
DSA HALL OF FAME 2026 INDUCTEES
Jeanie C Riley, Liz Rose, Sarah Hickman, Pat Boone, Ray Wiley Hubbard
May 8, 2026 at Love & War
See website for suggested song list.
https://dallassongwritershalloffame.blogspot.com/
JOIN DSA - Scan this QR code CONTESTS
DSA SONG CONTEST WINNERS - Announced - Jan 17 - Semi-finalists announced Nov 13
DSA YOUNG SONGWRITERS SONG CONTEST. - Announced - Jan 17
LINK TO DSA VIRTUAL SONG CONTEST 2025 AWARDS SHOW - Jan 18
Semifinalist performed and judges presented
DSA SONG CONTEST - 2025 Winners - Announced - Jan 17 - Semi-finalists announced Nov 13 are invited to play on the Zoom program. email Barbe
DSA LYRIC CONTEST - NEXT DEADLINE - March 30
Al Johnson Performing Songwriter Contest
Join the ranks of some of the greatest singer-songwriters to grace the stage at Wildflower! by applying to compete in the award-winning Al Johnson Performing Songwriter Contest.
10 finalists will be selected and invited to perform in the live contest at Wildflower! and have the chance to win a $1,000 cash prize.
$30 entry fee. 
Application deadline is March 8.
Sign-up
https://wildflowerfestival.com/songwriter-contest/
Join the ranks of some of the greatest singer-songwriters to grace the stage at Wildflower! by applying to compete in the award-winning Al Johnson Performing Songwriter Contest.
10 finalists will be selected and invited to perform in the live contest at Wildflower! and have the chance to win a $1,000 cash prize.
$30 entry fee. Application deadline is March 8. Sign-up
https://wildflowerfestival.com/songwriter-contest/----------------------------------------------------
PAST EVENTS
JANUARY 2026 RECAP -
🎶 Dallas Historical Society Showcase - Hall of State Fair Park, Thursday, Jan 22, 6 - 8
3939 Grand Ave, 75210DSA Members performed for Historical Society Meeting
A NIGHT TO REMEMBER
On the evening of September 22, 2026 DSA partnered with Dallas
Historical Society to provide entertainment for their membership meeting
in the Hall of State building.
Those of you who have been there know the hall is elegantly clad in
marble flooring and walls complete with Texas historical interactive
murals on the surrounding walls, It was a formal affair. Both sides of
the hall were lined with Hors d'oeuvres fit for
a king including a wine bar. Although the crowd was fluid, I'm told
there were prox. 200 in attendance.
Thanks to Art Greenhaw for recommending DSA to the Dallas Historical
Society. Thanks to Barbe McMillen for Hosting/MCing the event. Thanks to
Keith Dodson and Tom Gillis for providing sound, and thanks to the (8)
DSA performers (Bobby Montgomery, Keith Dodson,
Art Greenhaw, Ricky Gene Wright, Wayne Willingham,Troy Inslee, Bill
Martin and Allen Larson performing their original songs in this two hour
showcase.
As I mixed with the crowd our group received many compliments. I'm told
by Ashley Weidner of Dallas Historical Society to expect more
invitations to perform in the future.
IT WAS TRULY A NIGHT TO REMEMBER
Bobby Montgomery, VP - PROGRAMS DIRECTOR
DSA SONG CONTEST 2025 Awards Program was virtual on Zoom where the winners were announced on Jan 17 - Semifinalists performed and our judges appeared to give the awards. View the program on Facebook in the rough. (You can hear all the crew getting started in the beginning so stay with us to get to the program. https://www.facebook.com/barbara.mcmillen/videos/743101492203012 We plan to edit this for Youtube.
DSA YOUNG SONGWRITERS SONG CONTEST
____________________________________-
2025
DSA HALL OF FAME - 2025 Hall of Fame, was held on April 12, 2025 @ Love and War, 7pm
Go to this link on Facebook and like and share to your page.
See the full program here: https://dallassongwritershalloffame.blogspot.com
Weren't able to make it? You can donate to the event, just scan the QR code.
Young Rising Star performers and DSA members are performing the songs of inductees.
Edie Brickell: Love Like We Do; Good Times; Mama Help Me; A Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall; Tomorrow Come
Michael Nesmith: Mary Mary; Different Drum; Silver Moon; Tapioca Tundra; Some of Shelly’s Blues
Earnest Tubb: Walkin’ the Floor Over You; I Got Texas In My Soul; There’s a Little Bit of Everything In Texas; Tomorrow Nevers Comes; You Nearly Lose Your Mind
Michael Martin Murphy: Wildfire; What’s Forever For; A Long Line of Love; A Face In the Crowd; From the Word Go
Kacey Musgraves: High Horse; Merry Go ‘Round; My House; Space Cowboy; Butterflies
Demi Lovato: Confident; Really Don’t Care; Stone Cold; Give Your Heart a Break; Skyscraper
Danny Eaton: Independent Concert Promoter
VIEW EVENTS ON YOUTUBE CHANNEL
View our past events on our Youtube channel.
YouTube archives
SONSSTOCK - Link to YouTube channel video playlist from this event
Aug 17, 2024 - SonsStock at Sons of Hermann Hall Mini Woodstock @ Sons of Hermann Hall - IT'S WAS HOT OUTSIDE - SO WE GATHERED INSIDE TO CELEBRATE. - Songs from Woodstock + originals and craft booths at Sons in the Old Bowling Alley. DSA members
performed.
Blue Christmas in July 2024
DSA HALL OF FAME - 2024 Hall of Fame, April 20th, 2024 at Love and War-
2024
Inductees: Michael Aday (Meat Loaf), Tom Douglas, Nora Jones, Erykca Badu, Billy Joe Shaver, Buck Owens, Miranda Lambert, KNON, Jack Calmes, Chuck Rainey
Blue Christmas in July 2023
Festivals in May
2024
WILDFLOWER FESTIVAL 2024 - May 17 - 19, 2024
DEEP ELLUM COMMUNITY ARTS FAIR 2024 - April 1-4, 2024 - DSA stages
On YouTube:
2023
DALLAS SONGWRITERS CITY LINE STAGE at WILDFLOWER 19-21DEEP ELLUM COMMUNITY ARTS FAIR - DSA on big stage and Wounded Ostrich - 26-29
DALLAS SONGWRITERS HALL OF FAME - APRIL 14 AT LOVE AND WAR IN PLANO
http://dallassongwritershalloffame.blogspot.com
Rising Stars under 18 perform with DSA Members and BYOB band
Inductees:
Jimmy and Stevie Vaughan, Sly Stone, Roger Miller, Jim Collins, Selena
Gomez, Stoney Burns, Ron McKeown, Charley Wirtz, Mark Pollock, and Jimmy
Wallace.
SONGWRITER SPOTLIGHT -
Past Performances ON YouTube
You can also find these show on Spotify Podcasts
2023
January 31 performers Don Wall and Allen Larson
Feb 3 - Rickey Gene Wright, host - Bill Martin
Feb 3 - 2022 Grand Prize Song Contest Winner Thierry Coupey, host - Barbara McMillen
Tuesday March 21, 7pm - Mike P Ryan (2nd and 3rd place Grand Prize Winner) Host-Barbe McMIllen
Thursday, April 20, 7pm - Robert Graham from Perth Australia (2023 Grand Prize Winner) Host-Barbe McMIllen
Thursday, May 11, Wayne Willingham, 7pm - (2022 Song of the Year Winner) Host-Barbe McMIllen
Thursday, June 8, Michael Roth, 7pm - (2022 Song of the Year Winner) Host-Barbe McMIllen
https://www.youtube.com/live/8k1TpoWTeYQ?feature=share Thursday July 13, 7pm - Jolie Hope (Young Songwriter of The Year Winner)
Thursday, Sept 14, Alexis Tapp, 7pm - (2022 Song of the Year Winner) Host-Barbe McMIllen
https://youtu.be/etgEeKh_smo?si=UxRXCWJT0oiUU0YGThursday, Oct 12, Jamey Shannon, 7pm - (DSA Director) Host-Barbe McMIllen
2024
Thursday, Feb 8 - Bradley Banning
Tuesday, March 19 - M’Lynn Musgrove
Tuesday, April 16 - Keith Dodson (DSA Director)2023 Song of the Year Winner) Host-Barbe McMIllen
Monday, May 20 - Emmeline Miles (DSA Director) Host-Barbe McMIllen
Tuesday, May 21 - Will Townsley (DSA 2023 Song Contest grand Prize Runner Up) Host-Barbe McMIllen
DSA Virtual Songwriters Spotlight
Hosted by Harry Hewlett featuring co-host Barbe McMillen and songwriter performance and interview
2024 Recently uploaded to Youtube
Emma James - Young Songwriter of the Year 2023, 2024Songwriter Spotlight is now as a podcast on Spotify.
DSA 2023 Song Contest Awards Program - January 13 - Noon - 3pm
Performances by semifinalists and winners on DSA Facebook page and on Youtube
DSA Best Songs of the Meeting Awards 2022 -Saturday, March 25, 2023 - Noon - 3pm DSA members perform. Community Service Awards -Opening Bell, Guitar Arlington, Patty Allen Driver, Tone Shop
DSA 2022 Song Contest Awards Program - January 14 - Noon - 3pm
Performances by semifinalists and winners on DSA Facebook page and on Youtube
LOVE & WAR OPEN MIC -
January 26th Songwriters Round on Youtube: https://youtu.be/YBmWlAITO
February 23rd Songwriters Round on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XOHR6siaL8
March 23rd Songwriters Round on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBL5zqngk3U
April 27 Songwriters Round on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6K66nucuTM
May 18 Songwriters Round on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dn_OCOMs_UQ&list=PL2QmQKUl70-2BUBV_3yyYejRGK4lu9vMM&index=3
June 22 Songwriters Round on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nk5236sEztU&list=PL2QmQKUl70-2BUBV_3yyYejRGK4lu9vMM&index=2
July 27 Songwriters Round on Youtube:
Dec 28 Songwriters Round on Youtube: https://youtu.be/UfAQp_bGP9o?si=ETEHpGDwsX6Fj04M
DSA HALL OF FAME - 2022 Hall of Fame was held on April 23rd at Love and War-
2022
Inductees: Willie Nelson, Mickey Raphael, LeAnn Rimes, Bill Mack, Kelly
Clarkson, Charley Pride, Towns Van Zandt, David Card, Charles McGarry.
Check our Facebook page for photos. Here's the video on our youtube
channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oUFMBTD89o&t=3995s
2021 Inductees: John Denver, England Dan and John Ford Coley, Janie Frickie or Gregg Smith
The Dallas Songwriters Association celebrated the songs of these North Texas icons at the 2022 Dallas Songwriters Hall of Fame virtual event, which was held on Saturday, April 17, 12-3. Please head over to our channel and don't forget to subscribe.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2QmQKUl70-3Y_SmChiZRqM9rmPfrLWbL
More info here: https://dallassongwritershalloffame.blogspot.com
Donate to Hall of Fame
Via Square
PayPal link
Donate to DSA via PayPal Tip Jar https://py.pl/2S7dRL98V4Y (Thank you!)
Via stripe store
https://dallassongwriters.org/donate-to-dsa/
CONTESTS
SONG CONTEST - 2025 runs June 1 - Sept 30
DSA International Song Contest winners announced Jan 13, 2024
2023 Winners announced on January 14, 2024
2022 Winners announced on January 14, 2023 https://dsapress.blogspot.com/2023/03/dsa-international-2022-song-contest.html
2021 Winners were announced on January 15 - Press Release - https://dsapress.blogspot.com/2022/02/dallas-songwriters-associates.html
Here is a look at the wonderful talent from last years contest.
Awards Program- 2021 Contest - AWARDS VIDEOS on Youtube
2021 DSA Song Contest Awards Part 1 - annual song contest, young songwriters song contest and lyric contest awards
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zn9o0mgl8lo
2021 DSA Song Contest Awards Part 2 - Best Songs of the Meeting, Songwriter of the Year, Song of the Year, community Awards
2020 Contest - AWARDS VIDEOS
2020 Winners Announced Jan. 16
2020 DSA Song Contest Awards Part 1 - semi-finalists perform
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-O53tKlKWRs&list=PL2QmQKUl70-2fZsHAIcWZTejZVKttRKMX
2020 DSA Song Contest Awards Part 2 - finalists perform - awards given
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZJ_TN9f7_I&list=PL2QmQKUl70-0NTzHsFcVDDtQRkAyMoZud
2020 DSA Song Contest Award Winning Songs - 30 sec clips
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVnE1vn4cN4
2020 DSA Award Certificates.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YY7CJkGDKwg
LYRIC CONTEST - NEXT DEADLINE Sept 30
2024 Fall - 2025 Winter
See website for the winners and comments by our Lyric Contest Director, Alexis Tapp
2021 Fall Winners
2021 Summer Winners
2021 Winter Winners
2020 Fall Winners
2020 Summer Winners
2020 Spring Winners
2020 Winter Winners
Enter Here on in DSA Stripe store - pay and upload lyric
or Enter here - pay in DSA square store and email lyric here.
YOUNG SONGWRITERS CONTEST - 2024 runs June 1 - Sept 30
2023 Winners announced Jan 13, 2024
2022 Winners were announced Jan 14
2021 Winners were announced Jan 15
Entrants must be 18 & under - Winner performed at Awards Program
BEST SONGS OF THE MEETINGS - http://bestsongsofthemeeting.blogspot.com
2023 Winners announced Feb 17, 2024
2022 Winners were announced March 25, 2023
Vern Dailey Songwriters of the Year - Song of the Year - Community Awards
We need volunteers for our governing board. Become a director and help DSA grow. Zoom in and volunteer.
DONATE
Giving Day Donation Link: https://www.northtexasgivingday.org/organization/dallassongwriters
Donate to DSA in general here:
DONATE
Via Square
PayPal link
Donate to DSA via PayPal Tip Jar - (Thank you!)
https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=6WP8FTGVXAVEA
Non Profit Guidestar profile link: https://www.guidestar.org/Profile/75-2357558
DSA QR Code to donate from your paypal account.
Check out the newsletter, Songwriters Notes, for details at:
Stay connected to us on Facebook:
DSA Youtube Channel - videos
About Dallas Songwriters
BECOME A DSA MEMBER OR RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP
https://checkout.square.site/merchant/02JSQHH1RYQP5/checkout/UTXKNNTPMJ4GKIN6KQHQJ6UD
or
