Jake Henry.

Winning isn’t everything, they say, but it can be pretty nice every once in a while. When it comes to songwriting competitions, Jake Henry of New North String Band has been living a perpetual dream. After entering some of his original work in one state and two national song writing competitions this summer, he was ecstatic not only to have placed well in all three, but to have actually won one of them outright! His song Billy in the Low Ground recently earned first place in the general category at the 38th Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas. “The biggest reward is simply the chance to play on a professional level and meet the musicians/promoters that I look up to,” Jake said. A humble and genuine response, although I’m sure the prizes and pride of winning were not too shabby, either.