From more than two hundred entries submitted in Our State magazine’s first-ever singer/songwriter competition, Aaron Burdett’s song “Going Home to Carolina”, has emerged as the winner. The competition called for original, North Carolina inspired songs that celebrate the place we call home. It was judged by a panel of local industry professionals.
“As judges, we had a great opportunity to hear some passionate songs about North Carolina,” said Rhiannon Giddens, lead singer of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, “Aaron did a wonderful job capturing the strong connection that I think all of us feel about the state.”
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Watch the Aaron Burdett Band play a live version of “Going Home to Carolina.”
Burdett wrote the song while living out West, but the tune and lyrics were born out of a deep longing to return to his home state of North Carolina.
Burdett did return. He lives in Saluda and is a regular in the Asheville music scene, having just released his fourth album, Breathing Underwater. Burdett has collaborated on his past albums with members of Big Daddy Love, Acoustic Syndicate, Free Planet Radio, and Snake Oil Medicine Show. He has also opened for the Avett Brothers.
Burdett will receive a $500 prize, professional production of the song in a recording studio, and the opportunity to perform at various events and festivals across the state.
More of Burdett’s music can be found at aaronburdett.com. Follow Aaron on Twitter at @Aaron_Burdett and ‘Like’ him on Facebook here.
All media inquiries may be sent to Brooke Csuka at bcsuka@ourstate.com or Andy Busam at abusam@ourstate.com.
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