Singer-Songwriter Monica Rizzio was named the winner of the 2019 Grassy Hill Songwriting Competition following a final round featuring four artists during the 14th annual CT Folk Fest & Green Expo in New Haven, Connecticut on Sept. 7. As the songwriting competition winner, she receives a cash prize and will have a performance slot in next year’s festival produced by the nonprofit organization CT Folk (www.ctfolk.org).

“With any submission to any songwriting competition I never go in with the idea of winning but, rather, as an opportunity for my music to be heard,” said Rizzio. “Being on stage is where I feel most at home, and I am so ready to come back next year with my band, The Round Ups, and play my heart out.”

Monica Rizzo (Photo: Joe Navas)

Monica Rizzo (Photo: Joe Navas)

Rizzio grew up in the East Texas plains and moved to Cape Cod in 2004. The locals call someone who moves to but was not born on the Cape a Washashore – and the former Tripping Lily front woman’s acclaimed 2016 debut solo release was appropriately called Washashore Cowgirl. Rizzio blends Americana, bluegrass, country and folk song stylings into what she likes to call AmeriCountryGrass,

Rizzo, who impressed the judges during the competition’s final round with two songs from her debut album, “Willie Nelson” and the title track, will release her sophomore solo recording, Sunshine is Free, in October. She also recently recorded “Lady Liberty” — a song she wrote about the state of unity in the U.S., or the lack thereof — with Tom Rush, Patty Larkin and Mark Erelli. Says Rush, an iconic folk artist with whom she’s previously performed: “I made the tactical error of inviting Monica Rizzio to share the stage with me at Symphony Hall and she went and stole the audience right out from under me.”

Although she is the founder and co-owner of a roots-based music school on the Cape and also launched a nonprofit music production company (Vinegrass) that raises money for scholarships, instruments, and grants for music students through concerts and an annual American roots music festival, Rizzio particularly enjoys sharing her songs.

Joined by her band, Rizzio will debut songs from her new album during the sixth annual Vinegrass Music Festival on Cape Cod, Sept. 29. Parsonsfield headlines the festival that takes place at Truro Vineyards in Truro, MA.

More information about Rizzio may be found on her website (www.monicarizzio.com), while details on the festival and the nonprofit music production company behind it are available a www.vinegrass.org.

Editor’s Note: It was my honor and pleasure to again serve as one of the five judges for the final round of CT Folk’s Grassy Hill Songwriting Competition.