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Aaron Burdett takes first place at USA Songwriting Competition

SALUDA—Saluda singer and songwriter Aaron Burdett recently won first place in the folk category of the USA Songwriting Competition. 

His song, “A Couple Broken Windows,” which he wrote a couple of years ago for his 2017 record “Refuge,” won the category. 

Burdett said in interviews he never knows which song may connect with an audience, but he feels like as long as he’s being honest and puts himself in his songs, it will connect. 

Burdett recently released a new single, “Rockefeller.” His next show will be on Saturday, Dec. 21 in Saluda at The Purple Onion. The show will begin at 8 p.m. 

Burdett is signed with Organic Records label in Arden. 

The song that won the songwriting competition is a slower number and although winning competitions is not what motivates him, he said it provides a little encouragement and is a “little feather in the cap.” 

Burdett grew up in Saluda, which has a population of about 700 residents. He is also a home-builder when he’s not playing music and writing songs. He is listed as one of the top 10 most important musicians of western North Carolina by WNC Magazine, alongside others including Doc Watson, Steep Canyon Rangers and The Avett Brothers. 

Other songwriting acclamations for Burdett include Our State Magazine’s Carolina Songs Competition in 2012 with his song, “Going Home to Carolina;” third place bluegrass song in the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest at Merlefest in 2013 for “Magpie,” and numerous other songwriting competitions, including the Mountain Stage Songwriting Contest, the NC Songwriter’s Cooperative Songwriting Contest and the Hank Williams Songwriting Contest. 

Burdett attended the Governor’s School of North Carolina as a teenager for choral music. He then began playing in Boone in his 20s, where he owned a music store and gave lessons. 

Burdett has seven albums, including Refuge (2017), Tinderbox (2015), Fruits of My Labor (2014), Breathing Underwater (2012), Stand Up Eight (2010), Resolve (2008) and the Weight of Words (2005). 

More information about Burdett can be found at aaronburdett.com.