Barbara Jean Johnson
Barbara Jean Johnson of Grand Marais happened upon the Big Top Chautauqua Celebration of the Song songwriting competition while doing some research for her job as news director at WTIP Community Radio. An aspiring songwriter, Barbara Jean decided to take a chance and submitted the required two songs and an application. She was delighted when she was notified that she had made it to the finals. Barbara Jean and 11 other songwriters took the stage at the Bayfield, Wisconsin event and Barbara Jean, with her song of heartbreak, The River, was selected as the 2011 Big Top Chautauqua Singer/ Songwriter of the Year.
“It was really cool,” said Johnson, back in Grand Marais after the event. “They have a great sound system, a huge stage. It’s a great community— kind of like ours. People come together and make wonderful events happen.”
It was a bit intimidating as there was an impressive panel of judges—a critic from the Duluth News-Tribune, a representative of WOJB radio of Hayward, Wisconsin and other musicians.
Picking which song to play was one of the hardest parts of the competition, said Barbara Jean, explaining that she has “about an album worth of songs” to choose from. She had to perform alone so for the competition she decided not to play the violin, which might have been a bit challenging while singing all alone. She chose well. The River beautifully showcases her lovely voice and the haunting lyrics resonated with listeners, including the Big Top judges.
Barbara Jean received a cash award of $100 and performed under the Big Top on August 19, opening for the renowned Americana musician Jonathan Edwards, the songwriter of the famed 1970s song of protest and independence, Sunshine (Go Away). For that performance, she played the second song she submitted to the contest, Basket of Flowers, a bluesy bluegrass love song that gave her a chance to show off her fiddling skills.
To hear the songs that won Singer/ Songwriter of the Year honors, visit bumpandbj.bandcamp.com/.
In addition to the competition, Barbara Jean and Bump Blomberg, who perform as Bump & Barbara Jean, played on Thursday night with another Big Top headliner, The Blue Canvas Orchestra. “It was absolutely amazing,” said Barbara Jean. “It is great to come from a community that is so supportive of music. That had a huge bearing on my being able to do this.”
In addition to performing in the duo Bump & Barbara Jean, she plays with Pincushion Warblers and Unnamed Stream. Unnamed Stream— Barbara Jean (banjo, viola, vocals and fiddle), Eric Frost (guitar and vocals), Jessa Frost (fiddle), Bill Hansen (dobro and vocals) and Bump Blomberg (mandolin, vocals and harp)—will be appearing at the WTIP Radio Waves Music Festival on Sunday, September 11 at 2 p.m.
In addition to Radio Waves, Bump & Barbara Jean will be appearing at Lutsen Resort in Lutsen on Sep. 10 and Bluefin Bay in Tofte on Sept. 19 and Sept. 26.
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