Help: Folk Song Competitions. Know of any?

Subject: Folk Song Competitions. Know of any?
From: Deni
Date: 18 Mar 01 - 09:22 AM

Has anyone details of folk song comps which they could look out and post here. I've looked in vain and I always seem to hear of comps when they've just closed! Grrr.

Cheers deni

Subject: RE: Help: Folk Song Competitions. Know of any?
From: Sorcha
Date: 18 Mar 01 - 10:50 AM

Don't know if it's what you are looking for, but there is a Songwriting Contest (where you perform the song you have written) at Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas, USA. 3rd weekend in Sept every year. Web address for info is Walnut Valley Festival

Subject: RE: Help: Folk Song Competitions. Know of any?
From: Willie-O
Date: 18 Mar 01 - 11:01 AM

Grinch here.

The idea of a "folk song competition" strikes me as absurd. But what do you mean-- a songwriting competition , combined songwriting/performance, or just a competition to determine the best performance of an actual folksong? (For some reason, that one gets my hackles up less than the other ones. At least it gives the tradition some attention and respect.)

Having said that, I did the sound for just such an event--original song, poem or tune on an Irish them-- last night at our local community arts centre St Pats Pub Night. It was a lot of fun, actually. The winners were three older ladies who made up a song about shillelaghs...which they waved around a lot. The audience was the jury, and you couldn't argue with that... (Of course, I personally declined to enter the contest on principle, cause I'm a difficult SOB)

W-O

Subject: RE: Help: Folk Song Competitions. Know of any?
From: GUEST,Hi
Date: 18 Mar 01 - 11:06 AM

Subject: RE: Help: Folk Song Competitions. Know of any?
From: GUEST,Sam Pirt
Date: 18 Mar 01 - 11:08 AM

Hi

Well there's a folk song comp in Rothbury Trad Folk Festival, thats in the UK. Its a great trad folk festival.

I also think there is one at 'Kaustinen Folk Fest' in Finland, I think

Cheers, Sam

Subject: RE: Help: Folk Song Competitions. Know of any?
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 18 Mar 01 - 11:37 AM

The only real folksong competition is called the marketplace. If you sell, you win. Not sure what any of this has do do with folk music, though

dick greenhaus All-Hoboken Bodhran Champion

Subject: RE: Help: Folk Song Competitions. Know of any?
From: Hawker
Date: 18 Mar 01 - 03:57 PM

Deni, There is a 'Folksinger of the year' contest at The National Festival, Sutton Bonnington in April......How about talking to the committee at one of the local ones about starting one? I assume you mean for own compositions in the Folk idiom? (or in my case Folk idiot!)
have to say though I agree with Dick, You know you've won when you hear people singing you song....especially in 50 years time when it is still popular! (I wish!)
CU soon
Lucy

Subject: RE: Help: Folk Song Competitions. Know of any?
From: Deni
Date: 18 Mar 01 - 04:48 PM

Thanks everyone.

I ask partly because I'm drawing up a set of rules for a local contest attached to a festival, which means i'm extra-interested. A couple of years ago, I think at a comp in Wadebridge Festival, Rosie, (Devon & Cornwall singer), sang one, a parody of a sea shanty which went, Childbirth is No Bed of Roses, Bear Down. some real gems come out of competitions, but they're not all for the serious-minded like yourself, Willie-O! The shanty was hysterical. I don't know if she wrote it though!

cheers Deni

Subject: RE: Help: Folk Song Competitions. Know of any?
From: Gervase
Date: 19 Mar 01 - 07:20 AM

Tony O'Neil at the Maidenhead Folk Club in the UK runs an annual comp. Details should be here, but time's running out...

Subject: RE: Help: Folk Song Competitions. Know of any?
From: GUEST,June
Date: 19 Mar 01 - 12:34 PM

There is an article about folk song competitions in the April issue of Acoustic Guitar, complete with a long list of festivals that have contests. June

Subject: RE: Help: Folk Song Competitions. Know of any?
From: nutty
Date: 19 Mar 01 - 12:39 PM

There is a singer/songwriter competition at Saltburn Folk Festival in the North-East of England

Subject: RE: Help: Folk Song Competitions. Know of any?
From: RWilhelm
Date: 19 Mar 01 - 01:38 PM

The South Florida Folk Festival held every January has a great songwriter competition.

Subject: RE: Help: Folk Song Competitions. Know of any?
From: BobP
Date: 19 Mar 01 - 01:45 PM

The Lake County Festival in Lake Zurich (NE Illinois) 1st Sunday in Aug. has a songwriting contest.

Usually (I'm just an attendee, not an organizer) Festivities begin at 11:00 AM and usually the prize is a very good guitar, Taylors, I believe.

I have to say that there is something odd about all this.

My favorite performers are at the opposite end of the talent spectrum, and I'm not alone.

I am absolutely certain the Kingston Trio got big cause they weren't very good. They, in fact, sounded as though your uncle charlie had come over for dinner and brought his old $10 silvertone and was out on the porch playing with cousin Sam. They happened to be in the right place at the right time when people were fed up with Perry Como and Patty Page and were hungry for something a bit more crude and real-sounding.

As I recall, after they got hot, their label (Capitol?) got them a singing coach and their popularity immediately plummeted (I also think Dave Guard was the worst singer of the three - and my favorite).

And, I've always thought Judy Collins would have been more successful, in folk, had she been a tad less talented.

Strange be, this folkstuff.

Subject: RE: Help: Folk Song Competitions. Know of any?
From: CRANKY YANKEE
Date: 19 Mar 01 - 02:40 PM

Ma Fazoo again. COMPETITION! aLL I can say is, "What if we held a competion and none of us came."

Subject: RE: Help: Folk Song Competitions. Know of any?
From: Deni
Date: 20 Mar 01 - 05:06 AM

thanks chaps. just what I wanted.

Crazy Yankee

What if a competition encouraged more people, maybe schoolkids to take a look at folk music and see all that's on offer. You never know... Bob P Personalities are really important, I agree.

lucy.

The average folk songer who waits fifty years to see if someone will be singing his song would be...dead. Shame.

i hope you will be entering the Plymouth one!

see you all soon.

cheers

Deni

Subject: RE: Help: Folk Song Competitions. Know of any?
From: BobP
Date: 20 Mar 01 - 01:20 PM

Did you ever wonder where that Zimmerman kid from the boonies outside Duluth would have finished in a talent competition?

Or what might have happened if he did?

Subject: RE: Help: Folk Song Competitions. Know of any?
From: mousethief
Date: 20 Mar 01 - 01:25 PM

back in I think it was 1942 or so, there was a competition between Benny Goodman's orchestra and another band led by a black man (I forget his name, and I apologize profusely)! At the time, Goodman was sitting on top of the charts. His orchestra was soundly defeated by the other band, which had far more oompf to their performance.

As a result, Goodman's sales were totally unaffected, and the other band came into national prominence.

I can't see how a folk competition could hurt somebody like Dylan, or the folk community as a whole.

Alex

Subject: RE: Help: Folk Song Competitions. Know of any?
From: Hawker
Date: 20 Mar 01 - 02:55 PM

Demi,
When is it? where is it?
Lucy

Subject: RE: Help: Folk Song Competitions. Know of any?
From: hesperis
Date: 20 Mar 01 - 06:05 PM

Folksongs and competition? Ugh. Never the twain shall meet.

Music awards shows are ugly and sordid...kind of like casinos. They bring in an element that should never enter the creative or the performance process.

We are here to express, create, celebrate, and inspire, not to compete. That's just one songster's opinion, of course. If you wanna compete, go right ahead.

- LH

Subject: RE: Help: Folk Song Competitions. Know of any?
From: Deni
Date: 21 Mar 01 - 09:32 AM

Hesperis Do you think comps of this sort are akin to Miss World contests? If so I should hide my head in shame for asking about them. Good points though. seem to be about equal for and agin.

lucy

Details will follow. I'll post them here.

Love and all that Deni

Subject: RE: Help: Folk Song Competitions. Know of any?
From: SINSULL
Date: 21 Mar 01 - 09:47 AM

Deni,
Will you post the lyrics to the parody? Sounds hilarious.
Willie-O - I have met you in person and you are too warm and fuzzy to be a "difficult SOB". The YANK on the other hand is moving up the curmudgeon ladder and is competing with Kendall for third place.
Now to the subject at hand:
Aine holds a Song Challenge here about once a month. Try your talents (or lack of them) there.Lots of fun and neat prizes.

Subject: RE: Help: Folk Song Competitions. Know of any?
From: Dunc
Date: 21 Mar 01 - 10:32 AM

This Saturday night (24 March) is the annual
Jack Stewart Memorial Song Writing Competition at the Kirkcaldy Folk Club, Fife Scotland.
(Held in the Path Tavern),
All lyrics and tunes to be original.
Only enter if your song is less good than the one I'm entering.

Subject: RE: Help: Folk Song Competitions. Know of any?
From: RWilhelm
Date: 21 Mar 01 - 10:57 AM

Of course everyone is right about how stupid the concept of a music competition is. In my experience, though, contests run by festivals are nothing at all like beauty contests. They bring a very diverse group of performers to a new audience. The songwriters get to see what others are doing and the interactions among them have a longer lasting effect than whatever prize the winner gets. It would be nice if this kind of gathering could happen spontaneously but sometimes a catalyst is needed. Music competitions are useful and harmless.

Subject: RE: Help: Folk Song Competitions. Know of any?
From: texastoolman
Date: 21 Mar 01 - 12:29 PM

check out the kerrville folk festival they have a songwriters contest maybe that would help you out

Subject: RE: Help: Folk Song Competitions. Know of any?
From: texastoolman
Date: 21 Mar 01 - 12:30 PM

check out the kerrville folk festival they have a songwriters contest maybe that would help you out

Subject: RE: Help: Folk Song Competitions. Know of any?
From: Wotcha
Date: 22 Mar 01 - 10:36 AM

There's an older thread that mentions chantey competitions in France. The Hugill Cup is competed for by chanteymen (or wannabees ... Cranky Yankee) and is a great forum to illuminate that musical tradition.
At 1999's Mystic Seaport Music Festival, the organizers featured the French winners of a sea music competition in Brittany.
Cheers,
Brian

Subject: RE: Help: Folk Song Competitions. Know of any?
From: BobP
Date: 22 Mar 01 - 11:10 AM

To Earl,

So it's basically "open mike with a carrot".

I agree! The songwriting aspect must be encouraged.

I have no problem with any of it, providing the spirit allows for, and even encourages, stuff that falls strangely on the ear, and is not taken too seriously.

How about a prize for shortest song, dumbest song (no, wait we got enough), most politically offensive (don't be scared - it's just a song), newsy song (subject must be from that morning's paper).

Subject: RE: Help: Folk Song Competitions. Know of any?
From: Ella who is Sooze
Date: 22 Mar 01 - 11:35 AM

Find out if there is a branch of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann, near you. They are usually a group of people who teach, irish music and get involved in competitions in all sorts of instruments, song and dance...

Web address below... Sorry can't do clickety things

http://www.comhaltas.com/

Ella

Subject: RE: Help: Folk Song Competitions. Know of any?
From: Deni
Date: 22 Mar 01 - 03:08 PM

brilliant, brilliant. I can feel an information sheet coming on.

Thanks everyone.

cheers Deni

Subject: RE: Help: Folk Song Competitions. Know of any?
From: Dunc
Date: 23 Mar 01 - 07:48 AM

Has anyone noticed the strange atmosphere at some songwriting competitions?
Half of the audience is usually made up of your competitors and they don't want to sing along, laugh at the funny bits or applaud to vigorously, in case they sway the judges away from their own song!
Its not always like that - but it has been seen on several occasions.

Subject: RE: Help: Folk Song Competitions. Know of any?
From: Deni
Date: 23 Mar 01 - 04:56 PM

I've never seen a comp in action. The only song I've heard that won was sung to me afterwards, but it doesn't surprise me. That's why when the judging is done, it is clear you have to keep the competition out of it completely. How do other organisers do this? With songwriting you can always pre-judge tapes before the award date but that won't help with a performance comp.

But it strikes me that if you had any measure of success, I'm sure it would be your main competitors that would say, 'I knew him way back when...and you could tell even then...'

Then you know you've made it!!!!!!

Cheers D