Music on the Porch: Our State Magazine “Carolina Songs” Showcase

Our State magazine’s first-ever singer/songwriter competition received more than two hundred entries. 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. We’re proud to partner with Our State to feature the winner, Aaron Burdett and one of the runners-up, Tom Fisch at our first Music on the Porch events of the Spring 2013 semester on Thursday April 4 from 5:30-7:30 PM. The event is free and open to the public.

Aaron Burdett

Based in the Asheville, NC area, storyteller and musician Aaron Burdett shares an appreciation for the simple pleasures of life through his music. Burdett released his 4th album, Breathing Underwater, on September 11th, 2012. Building on the traditions of the finest performing songwriters such as John Hiatt, James Taylor, Cat Stevens, and John Prine, Aaron’s music blends folk-rock, bluegrass, and blues with pop sensibilities. His honest songwriting pours in between hammer-on chord changes and rolling crosspicking rhythms, all the while keeping at the forefront his own unique sound and authentic voice.

In October of 2012 Aaron’s song “Going Home to Carolina” won Our State Magazine’s Carolina Songs songwriting contest, outshining over 250 other entries in this competition judged by industry professionals including members of The Carolina Chocolate Drops and Chatham County LIne. Over the years Aaron has been a finalist in several other songwriting competitions including The Mountain Stage Songwriting Contest, The NC Songwriter’s Cooperative Songwriting Contest, and the Hank Williams Songwriting Contest (from the old Flat Rock Music Festival).

Tom Fisch

Growing up in Albany, NY, Tom won his first guitar in a raffle at a school bazaar when he was ten years old. That began a lifelong love and appreciation of music from a variety of genres. Tom says, “As the years went by, I found myself getting into singers and players like Doc Watson, James Taylor, Dan Fogelberg, Tony Rice, the Byrds, and traditional folk and country artists. My playing and writing were also greatly influenced by singer-songwriters such as Dave Mallett, John Prine, Steve Goodman, and Jonathan Edwards.” Tom entertained audiences for many years throughout the Northeast at colleges, clubs, coffeehouses, festivals and fairs.

In 1991, Tom moved to Nashville, TN to further his songwriting career. He formed his own publishing company and his songs have been recorded by a number of artists, including the Oak Ridge Boys and Swiss country singer Erica Arnold. Tom continues to pitch his songs to other artists but his main focus now lies in his own career as a performer. In 2004, Tom relocated to Western North Carolina and it’s thriving acoustic music scene. With the backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains for inspiration, Tom and his music have found a comfortable place to call home. And wherever he performs, audiences continue to connect with the warm, appealling style, diverse range of material, and talent this seasoned performer brings to the stage.

Tom’s song “Carolina Blue Sky Day” was featured as a runner-up for the 2012 Carolina Songs Contest.