Submissions now open for the 2012 Songwriting Contest
Sisters Folk Festival is pleased to announce Alicia McGovern, of Salt Lake City, as the winner of the 2011 Dave Carter Memorial Songwriting Contest.
In the words of renowned songwriter Steve Seskin, Alicia's music is
"passionate, poignant poetry combined with beautiful melodies sung with a
great sense of what she's singing about. Alicia McGovern doesn't just
write songs and sing them, she feels them deeply, and when you listen to
her, you can't help but do the same."
Listen…
"I'll Keep Tryin'"
Congratulations, Alicia!
Follow these links to see other years' contestants
20092010
The Dave Carter Memorial Songwriting
Contest
at the Sisters Folk Festival
As the legendary Guy Clark will
tell you, songwriting isn't a competitive sport.
But putting your songs
out there with others in the genre and testing them against the savvy
of experienced judges is a great way to hone your craft.
Winning the Dave Carter Memorial Songwriting Contest at the Sisters Folk Festival has boosted the careers of songwriters such as Rita Hosking, Beth Wood, Darryl Purpose, Jud Caswell, Christopher Smith, Bob Hillman and the late Dave Carter.
And the $750 grand prize can buy some valuable studio time (or
a lot of guitar strings).
The other four finalists for this year's contest were:
"Ashleigh Flynn represents the next generation of true songwriters. She reminds me of myself and I think she is so brave to come out on stage with just her voice and her guitar. She rules!" – Nanci Griffith, April 2010
Rachel Harrington has toured tirelessly since the release of her 2007 debut, The Bootlegger's Daughter ("Four Stars," Mojo) and her follow-up in 2008, City of Refuge ("inspiringly original!" Q). A finalist in the 2011 Chris Austin Songwriting Contest at Merlefest, she's played major festivals throughout Europe and the US, made three live appearances on the BBC's legendary Bob Harris Show, and reached millions of listeners through airplay at Starbucks.
If you've watched television at all in the last 25 years, you've been subjected to Mark's music. He's composed and arranged tracks for around 1,500 national commercials, but the real Mark Keller would rather sing about Fishin', Drinkin', and Drivin', usually not at the same time.
…He says coming to the Sisters Folk Festival will be like coming home to a place he's only seen in his dreams.
"Niki Leeman is an American original. I get lost in 'Love, Death, and Resurrection', wishing the charts were full of songs like these-brilliant like Dylan, hooky like Paul Simon, as intoxicating as Greg Brown, with a voice that makes you believe every word. Prove me right. Listen."
– Tom Prasada Rao, Singer/Songwriter
Listen…
"Diamond Mines"
If you're looking for a chance to make
your voice heard, do what these folks did and enter the next Dave Carter Memorial
Songwriting Contest at the Sisters Folk Festival.
About the Dave Carter Memorial Songwriting
Contest
An important part of the Sisters Folk Festival,
the songwriting contest is a showcase for outstanding but under-recognized
performing songwriters.
This is a SONGWRITER'S contest, not a SONG contest. Five finalists will
vie for a $750 cash prize as the winner of the Sisters Folk Festival
Songwriting Contest.
2011 Entries will be accepted until July 31.
You may submit up to three songs. Entries will be judged on overall consistency
of quality. Finalists will be selected from the timely entries by mid-August.
The finalists perform in the songwriting contest finals at the Festival
on Saturday.
The winner will perform a short set to open the Saturday night Festival
Main Stage concert. Finalists will have other performance opportunities
at venues around Sisters throughout the weekend festival. Each finalist
will also receive two nights lodging, meal vouchers and one all-events
pass for the Festival.
SUBMITTALS WILL BE JUDGED FOR:
ORIGINALITY AND UNIQUENESS
SONG STRUCTURE
PROSODY (FIT OF WORDS AND MUSIC)
MEMORABILITY
SONGWRITING CONTEST RULES
Submit up to three songs via Sonicbids (mailed-in submissions will not be accepted).
Contest is open to all except members of the Sisters Folk Festival
steering committee and their families.
Songs must be wholly original and all co-writers' names must be
provided.
Entries must not infringe on any existing copyright or other rights
of any third party.
By submitting songs, entrant agrees to indemnify the Sisters Folk
Festival for any liability for copyright infringement.
Separate lyrics must be provided for each song submitted.
Submissions close on JULY 31, entries will be reviewed and notified by August 20.
Entry fee is $20.
What's New & Upcoming Events
My Own Two Hands Art Intake Day Feb. 24, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Sisters Artworks
2012 Winter Concert Series with
Red Molly! Mar. 8, 7 p.m. at SHS Tickets on sale now
Make A Donation to Sisters Folk Festival!
Sisters Folk Festival Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Donations to Sisters Folk Festival Inc. and its programs like Sisters Americana Project and My Own Two Hands are tax deductible.
