Moga Family Band Wins American Songwriter's Road Ready Talent Contest

Live Grand Finale Recap From Nashville

Apr. 1, 2026 at 9:04pm

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Moga Family Band, a six-person group, has won American Songwriter's latest Road Ready talent contest after a live finale performance at Nashville's Basement East. The band edged out fellow finalists Gabe Baker and Ava Valianti, who received $5,000 each as the second and first runners-up respectively, while Moga Family Band walked away with the $20,000 grand prize.

Why it matters

The Road Ready contest provides a platform for up-and-coming musical acts to showcase their talents and gain exposure, with the grand prize helping to further the winners' careers through increased touring and promotion opportunities.

The details

During the live finale, each of the three acts performed six-song sets. Gabe Baker kicked things off with his soulful sound and impressive cello skills, while 16-year-old Ava Valianti mesmerized the crowd with her deeply personal songwriting and stage presence. Moga Family Band then took the stage, delivering an 'electric' performance that particularly had the audience fired up for their last song, 'What You Do When You Can't'.

  • The live finale took place on April 1, 2026 at Nashville's Basement East.

The players

Moga Family Band

A six-person musical group that won the $20,000 grand prize in American Songwriter's Road Ready talent contest.

Gabe Baker

The second runner-up in the contest, who received a $5,000 prize.

Ava Valianti

The first runner-up in the contest, who received a $5,000 prize.

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What they’re saying

“It felt great and felt like one of our best ones tonight. There was something in the air. It was a vibration, just an immaculate feeling it. It felt really amazing.”

— Dekar Baker, Member of Moga Family Band

“We always said that, where we want to be, we don't wait till we get there. We want to act as if we're already there. We've been trying to do this for a very long time, and regardless if we won this or not, we want to be road ready anyway. We want to tour, and we're gonna tour regardless, and now this helps. This makes it so much easier.”

— Eric Fortaleza, Member of Moga Family Band

“This is our big growth year. We just want to meet as many people that we possibly can... This really is truly our way of getting there... All this stuff helps us grow our family, the Moga family.”

— Jake Baynes, Member of Moga Family Band

“Having this is a huge blessing to help us make that dream possible. I think we'll rev it up this year and really build on that foundation that we've all put into this band.”

— Owen Fader, Member of Moga Family Band

What’s next

Moga Family Band plans to use their $20,000 prize money to support increased touring and promotion efforts as they look to further grow their fanbase and musical career.

The takeaway

The Road Ready talent contest provides a valuable platform for up-and-coming musical acts to gain exposure and financial support to help advance their careers. Moga Family Band's victory demonstrates the power of perseverance, teamwork, and a commitment to connecting with audiences through their music.