Songwriters: win a Folk Song competition

Subject: Songwriters: win a Folk Song competition
From: VinA
Date: 27 Mar 11 - 03:51 AM

I would like Mudcat readers to read online this recent article published in The Living Tradition magazine:

http://www.icogitate.com/~celticfolkmusic/uk-DaiWoosamLincolnshireFolkSongCompetition.htm

The 2010 Lincolnshire Folk Song Competition saw a Berkshire man winning. Let's hope that Mudcat readers (wherever in the world they live) take note of Mark Ashworth's success, and enter the 2011 competition.   

Maybe the 2011 winner will come from further afield than Berkshire even! Perhaps Banffshire, Belfast or Blaenau Ffestiniog!    Entry is free. All you have to do, is a bit of research into this grand old county of Lincolnshire, or spot some news event that has recently occurred in Lincolnshire, and write your song.   Then get it performed (either by yourself, or by an artiste who will be free on the night to travel with you to Spilsby Theatre, should your song make the final ten).

Contact the Heritage Trust of Lincolnshire for details of the rules.   It will be sometime in late summer 2011, before this year's competition formally opens, and then there is nothing to stop you singer/songwriters everywhere, from writing your song, putting it on to CD/cassette, and popping it into the post to Heritage Lincolnshire.

And unlike so many poetry competitons, where you have to pay several Pounds for every poem you enter, you need pay Sweet FA here to enter your Folk song!

But first, I implore you to wait until the 2011 competition formally opens, and you can see the full rules. Remember, they must be songs specially written for the competition. Previously recorded songs are not eligible.

You will also need to know if you are free to travel to Lincolnshire for the FINALS night (should your song make the final ten).   And as - at the time of me writing this - the date for the 2011 Finals concert has not been chosen, do not be daft enough to enter if it clashes - say - with your honeymoon.   

What am I saying? What better place to have a honeymoon than Spilsby?!!

No, seriously, joking aside: you'd be daft to jump the gun.   So hold your horses until the competition opens.   (For what the competition does not need - and fortunately never gets - are finalists who "drop out" at the last minute. The paying audience in a usually totally sold-out Spilsby Theatre, deserve a complete concert of 20 songs, not 18.

But it might not be a bad idea to email Heritage Lincolnshire with your name, postal address, and e-address and sort of put down a marker.   

http://www.lincsheritage.org/info/contact.php

This is a great competition with a very high standard of entrant.
Famous Folk names like John Conolly from Grimsby in the north of the county, and Bill Whaley & Dave Fletcher from further south in the county, have been proud to enter this great competition in the past.
Why not have a go yourself, this year?

The competition is - unlike so many poetry and short story competitions -totally FREE TO ENTER.
And the kudos you get from possibly winning it - and the resultant impressive mark it makes on a songwriter's CV - must surely make it a "no brainer" for all songwriters on the Folk scene.

Subject: RE: Songwriters: win a Folk Song competition
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 27 Mar 11 - 01:23 PM

Just to help this person, here are the links

http://www.icogitate.com/~celticfolkmusic/uk-DaiWoosamLincolnshireFolkSongCompetition.htm

and

http://www.lincsheritage.org/info/contact.php

Subject: RE: Songwriters: win a Folk Song competition
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 27 Mar 11 - 02:33 PM

When I saw this thread I thought it might be about the Maidenhead biennial folk club songwriting competition on 7 April in Berkshire! Maybe a Lincolnshire songwriter could win this one?

Kitty

Subject: RE: Songwriters: win a Folk Song competition
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 27 Mar 11 - 05:28 PM

I think some people need to read the 1954 definition.

Subject: RE: Songwriters: win a Folk Song competition
From: Mo the caller
Date: 28 Mar 11 - 06:04 AM

Ah, but is 1954 long enough ago to make the 1954 definition traditional :)

Have the finalists for Maidenhead been chosen? The website doesn't say if the entries have closed or anything.

Subject: RE: Songwriters: win a Folk Song competition
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 28 Mar 11 - 01:29 PM

Kitty, would that be the Lincolnshire Poacher then?