Songwriting Contest @ Shepley Sun 22 May

Subject: Songwriting Contest @ Shepley Sun 22 May
From: YorkshireYankee
Date: 21 May 11 - 09:11 AM

I know it's not much notice, but I just found out this songwriting competition is taking place at the Shepley Folk Festival tomorrow,
and thought folks here might be interested. (Interesting note: Someone from Sheffield has won it for the last three years.)
Also - apparently there is a £5 entry fee.

From the Shepley Festival website (and also (scroll down to Sunday) http://www.shepleyspringfestival.com/default.aspx?view=127 )

Coach house at Cliffe House
'Big Sing' -- John Birmingham songwriter competition 1pm

1. The John Birmingham Cup - Competition for a cappella singing and song-writing
John died on the 17th January 2005 and by his will set up a competition to encourage the art of unaccompanied singing – a cappella - and song writing. He adopted the Cumberland Arms, Newcastle upon Tyne as his final home in the few tragically short months prior to his diagnosis. He quickly became a well loved member of the pub community, with his sense of humour and gruff honesty. He could be heard many nights in the back bar, singing his songs written from his broad experience of life. Since his death the Competition has been held at the Cumberland Arms since. However in 2008 Whitby Festival agreed to host and support the competition, in order to broaden its base, an aim which John hoped for. It is the singing and the songs, however rough hewn – as many of John's were – which is important, not the Competition.

In 2011 there are to be heats prior to the finals at Whitby Folk Week in August. Shepley Spring Festival has been invited to host one of these heats which will be on Sunday 22nd May.

2. The terms of the Trust under which the competition is set up are:-
'… to create an a cappella competition for singers performing their own work or work written specially for them…with a small monetary prize for the winner and runner up… The John Birmingham Cup is then to be inscribed with the winner and location annually.'

3. Rules of the competition:-
a. There shall be two entry groups for the competition; one under 25 and the other over 25.
b. Songs written must be sung a cappella singly or as a duo.
c. The song sung at the competition must be written by the singer or must have been written for the singer; this is in order to promote the art of song writing.
d. Performance times maybe tailored to fit in with competition time frames, but competitors will be notified of this prior to the start of the competition.
e. The style of singing and the nature of the song shall be suitable for the songs to be appreciated in a pub, at a folk session, on a street corner, or round a campfire.
f. The prize money will be for two places for over 25's and for under 25's. In place of third place special mention can be made of a singer at the judges' discretion.
g. The winner of the over 25's shall have his or her name engraved on the Cup which will be presented at the competition but kept at the Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle upon Tyne and shall receive a small cup, as shall the winner of the under 256's, theirs to keep.
h. There may be other prizes for those placed as above at the discretion of the organisers.

Judges
The judges for the Shepley heat of this competition will be

Bryony Griffith (Demon Barbers, Witches of Elswick,)
and
Nancy Kerr (one half of Sunday headline act Nancy Kerr and James Fagan)

How to enter
Just send us an email and we will send you an entry form.
(It's an @ddress, so I can't make it into a blue clicky. I hesitate to post their @ddress where the spambots can easily harvest it,
so here is an "interrupted" version: infoATshepleyspringfestivalDOTcom)

======

Maybe see you there?

Subject: RE: Songwriting Contest @ Shepley Sun 22 May
From: YorkshireYankee
Date: 21 May 11 - 10:01 AM

Forgot to mention takes place tomorrow IF "the Raptures" have not occurred...

(Or -- now I think about it -- prolly even if they have!) [grin]

Subject: RE: Songwriting Contest @ Shepley Sun 22 May
From: YorkshireYankee
Date: 22 May 11 - 02:19 PM

I'm chuffed to announce that friend and fellow Sheffielder Jerry Simon -- a fine singer, fiddler and songwriter (Catters from Sheffield will know him) -- won the Shepley heat of the John Birmingham Cup Competition for a cappella singing and song-writing! He was in excellent voice and his song had everyone singing along in no time (which is not at all unusual when Jerry sings).

Apparently, there will be other heats: in Newcastle (where the competition originated) and in Whitby -- where the final competition will be held as well.

There are also rumours of a potential heat in Sheffield (as so many previous winners have come from there), but apparently the tricky bit would be
when and where to hold it...

So, all you Sheffield Catters -- any ideas?

Subject: RE: Songwriting Contest @ Shepley Sun 22 May
From: DrugCrazed
Date: 22 May 11 - 08:41 PM

Who's this Jerry of which you speak, I've never heard of him...

Gratz to Mr Simon.

Subject: RE: Songwriting Contest @ Shepley Sun 22 May
From: Folkiedave
Date: 23 May 11 - 05:31 AM

Good bloke occasionally seen serving on Dave Longley's record stall. For instance at Shepley!

Also it was his birthday on Sunday so that would have been a good present!