South Florida Singer Songwriter Finalists
The competition will be a free, PRE-FESTIVAL EVENT open to the public on
Jan. 18, 2026 2-5 pm at Anne Kolb Nature Center 751 Sheridan Street, Hollywood.
The 3 “Winners” will play in a round at the Festival on Friday, Jan. 30th.
David Counts
When David Counts heard the first live strumming of a guitar at age 10, something clicked. The very next Saturday, he and his dad brought home a used Stella guitar. His dad’s pocketknife carefully etched in the fretboard the finger placements needed for playing three basic chords. David was off and running, slowly learning, while wading into the world of songwriting, Along the way, he has performed in bands, duets, and solo singer-songwriter gatherings. David’s early interest in recording his original songs sparked a vocation in television production where he often worked on national music projects. Also, his membership in Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) has led to the befriending of many other songwriters and co-writers. Most recently, David has played two songwriter rounds at Nashville’s Commodore Grill, and opened for a well-known Florida-based, singer-songwriter at Miami’s, Luna Star Cafe.
Dave Daniels
Born & raised in Miami, Dave Daniels has toured the Southeast US on and off for 20 years and has recently performed for audiences at small clubs & large festivals like BeachLife Ranch Festival. As the founder of the Miami Songwriting Collective, his songwriting collaborations with Miami-Dade County Public Schools, and as the host of weekly Volume.com “Songwriter Rounds” livestreams, Daniels amplifies the songwriting community at large by showcasing and fostering emerging talent on a local, national, and global scale. While he is well versed in traditional music, he is also influenced by his contemporaries and independent artists from all genres. His new album, The Cost of Living, is a pseudo-concept folk/rock/pop album about Florida, including all its heartbreak and comedy. The album will be released in 2026 and will be the artist first album released on vinyl.
Violeta de la Guardia
Drawing from an eclectic musical background in rock, folk, country, and flamenco, Miami musician and songwriter Violeta de la Guardia has been dynamically engaging South Florida’s music scene since 2015. Her solo work blends elements of rock and folk guitar arrangements with emotively-sung poetry drenched in nostalgia, romance, and poignance.
Karen Feldner
Karen Feldner crafts songs that grab and twist heartstrings with their connection to the human condition- the oft ephemeral joy, and life’s darkness suffused with redeeming light, from laugh-out-loud lyrics with jubilant infectious melodies, to real-life revelations of the grittiness of day-to-day existence. Karen’s most recent album, Barn’s Burnt Down (2023), features contributions from world-renowned old-time artists, creating a vivid blend of traditional Appalachian sounds and modern lyrical insight. “Shadowdragon,” one of the album’s highlights, earned the Songwriting Blue Ribbon at the prestigious Clifftop Appalachian String Band Festival in 2024.
Beyond performing and writing, Karen is dedicated to mentorship. She currently works with the nonprofit Guitars Over Guns, guiding students in the art and craft of songwriting. Karen will soon release her forthcoming single, Glory in the Meeting House, a powerful collaboration, featuring celebrated fiddler Bruce Molsky and the voices of two Guitars Over Guns mentees.
Daniel Gallup
Daniel Gallup is a singer-songwriter from Hollywood, Florida. He attributes his love for creating music to his upbringing with his mom, the English teacher, giving him a deep appreciation for lyrics and his dad, always playing piano in the house, motivating him to start at a very young age. Inspired by Counting Crows, James Taylor (after whom he gets his middle name), and Jack Johnson, he finds no joy greater than sharing in the love of a good song. He’s been honored to share his original works locally as a Sofar Sounds artist and a Luna Star Cafe regular and nationally at spots such as The Bluebird Cafe, The Viper Room, and The House of Blues in New Orleans. He’s grateful whenever his songs resonate with listeners and eager to continue connecting through music for years to come!
Ainara Gastaminsa
Ainara was born into a space of brutal honesty, spunk, and rock-n-roll. Entertaining has been her unshakable calling since her first performances at age 3, in a clown costume no less. She studied music formally at the Frost School of Music, touring internationally with the Frost Choir, and picked up piano and guitar along the way.
This year she’s opened for David Grier, participated in several songwriting circles/concerts, and focused on recording her debut album, while also teaching piano, guitar, and vocal lessons at Penny Lane Music Emporium. As a singer songwriter, AINARA believes that quirks, laughter, and sincerity foster deep connections, expression is medicine, and wandering should be celebrated.
You can see this South Florida native play throughout the state, and 2026 is taking her beyond the Florida state line.
Sarah McCulloch
Sarah McCulloch is an award-winning folk singer-songwriter and country artist, known for her exceptional ability to weave captivating stories through her music. Born in Miami, McCulloch was raised in a swampy remote enclave of northeastern Collier County, near the Big Cypress Seminole Reservation. Her family built their home with hand-milled cypress from her Father’s sawmill. She was homeschooled for most of her formative years and drew songwriting inspiration from her colorful childhood, surrounded by the Seminole Tribe and Florida pioneers. Her latest full-length album, ‘Driving Me Home,’ was released in May of 2024. Produced by Jim Bickerstaff and written entirely by McCulloch, it’s a mostly acoustic, folky combination of 12 brand new songs, steeped in the homespun country/folk storytelling that McCulloch is becoming well known for. One of the tracks, “Everglades City 1985,” won the 2025 Will McLean Best New Florida Song Contest. Sarah also won the South Florida Folk and Acoustic Music Festival’s 2024 Songwriting Competition with her performances of “Hippie Tattoo” and “Luella.” Sarah was recently recognized by the State of Florida’s Division of Arts and Culture for her significant contribution to country music. Her music has been added to the state’s Folklife Program’s online encyclopedia of Florida music.
Michelle Pennington
Michelle Pennington is a lifelong musician who began playing guitar at five year’s old in her family’s band in West Palm Beach, Florida. Growing up surrounded by music, she learned flute and piano, but the guitar remained her true musical home. Over the years, she has performed in various duets and bands, steadily shaping her style and songwriting voice.
Five years ago, Michelle founded Gypsy Strings Revival, a band inspired by the layered, energetic sound of Bluegrass, featuring fiddle, banjo, stand-up bass, mandolin, and guitar. Although she has written songs throughout her life, a recent tour in England pushed her to begin writing and recording more seriously. The band has released a live CD and is currently working on a studio album set to debut in 2026. Michelle continues to create music rooted in family tradition, heartfelt storytelling, and a lifelong love of stringed instruments.
Andrea Preston
A Gulf Coast native, Andrea Preston is a dexterous artist known around South Florida as an unbridled original. Combining the musical ear of Fanny Mendelssohn and the bittersweet wit of Nora Ephron, Andrea’s songs cut straight to the heart. Her melodies are crafted with precision, echoing classics like Carole King, and delivered effortlessly on her sweet soprano that’s equal parts wild honey and Southern rye. Listeners can expect to be moved from tears to belly laughs as Andrea shares stories of a life spent walking the tightrope between mother and lover, free spirit and pragmatist, with a vulnerability that resonates to the core.
Leah Simmons
Leah Simmons is an independent singer-songwriter and guitarist currently based out of South Florida. Leah, originally hailing from outside of Annapolis, MD, has been entertaining audiences for over 15 years. She connects with crowds using vulnerable lyrics based on her life experiences. Although Leah primarily performs live as an eccentric solo act, she has years of studio and stage performance collaborating with different artists. Simmons has written and recorded songs of various genres, spanning from folk to hip-hop. Leah’s original music, equipped with a full studio band, is available to listen on all major music platforms.
Colleen Swingle
Colleen grew up in Virginia, and has been living in South Florida for the last five years working on a farm in Homestead. She has been writing songs since she got her first guitar at 16, and has been building up her catalog ever since. She mostly plays for her dog and cats in her home, so she is excited to get on a real stage and share some of her recent work!
Brett Vaughn
Brett Vaughn is a prolific, troubadour singer/songwriter living in West Palm Beach Florida, often inspired by love, nature, and a passion for life. His songs are about what it feels to mean and what it means to feel and maybe something in between.
