Folks Festival Songwriter Showcase
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| 2011 Songwriter Showcase finalists backstage (photo Benko Photographics) |
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The Songwriter Showcase is a nationally-recognized songwriter competition, open to anyone who writes and performs original music, and who is not currently signed to a major recording or publishing deal. Contestants are judged on the quality of the song’s composition, vocal delivery, and the overall performance. Past showcase finalists include Erica Wheeler, Don Conoscenti, Karen Pernick, Deb Talan, Dan Sheridan, Dee Carstensen, Mitch Barrett, Sarah Sample, Chuck E. Costa, Liz Longley, Megan Burtt, 2011 winner Caleb Hawley.
2012 Showcase Rules and Guidelines
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We will begin accepting entries for the 2012 Songwriter Showcase on December 7, 2011. Limit of 2 songs per person. Songs may be submitted two ways:
- Submit online: contestants may submit electronically through SonicBids. Online submissions will cost $10/song payable by credit card. Limit 2 songs/person. (SonicBids will begin accepting Folks Showcase submissions in mid-December)
- Submit by snail mail: send us a CD (no cassette tapes or vinyl, please) with the songs/tracks for consideration clearly specified. Please enclose checks for $10/song payable to Planet Bluegrass. Limit 2 songs per person. Please do not send any lead sheets, lyrics, publicity, bios, etc. Recordings will not be returned. Send your CD and entrance fee to:
Planet Bluegrass
PO Box 769
Lyons, CO 80540
Attn: Folks Showcase Contest - Sorry, no co-writes. Songwriting entries must be entirely written by the entering songwriter.
- We encourage songwriters to submit new / different songs for
the Telluride Troubadour and Folks Showcase contests.
2011 Folks Showcase finalists on stage - Contestants cannot be signed to a third-party label or publishing deal. This competition is meant for emerging and independent performing songwriters.
- All tapes and CD’s must be postmarked or submitted by June 8, 2012 to be eligible.
- Ten finalists will be chosen for the Songwriter Showcase in Lyons. Notification will take place on July 13, 2012.
- Each finalist will receive the following:
- a complimentary three day pass to the Folks Festival that includes on-site camping for one
- an “in the round” performance slot in the Wildflower Pavilion during the festival
- Finalists will play 2 original songs on the Festival Main Stage.
- Recommended time limit is 5 minutes per song.
- Points will be deducted for significantly exceeding this limit.
- Acoustic instruments with pickups are permitted as well as EQ devices but no effects.
- Instruments allowed are those that can be carried out to the mics with the performer. A keyboard will be provided if necessary.
- No backup musicians allowed. This is a solo competition.
2012 Songwriter Showcase Schedule
- Entry Deadline: June 8th (postmarked), finalists will be notified by July 11th.
- Finals: Friday, August 17th, approx. 11:30 AM on the Festival Main Stage. Prizes are awarded immediately after the showcase.
2011 Showcase Finalists
Congratulations to the 2011 Songwriter Showcase winner Caleb Hawley - winner of a new Taylor guitar and a main stage spot at the 2012 Folks Festival (Aug 17-19, 2012). Our judges had the very difficult task of choosing from an exceptionally strong morning of performances from all 10 finalists. The top 5 finalists included: RJ Cowdery (2nd place), Jason Sponner (3rd place), Kyle James Hauser (4th place), and Annabelle Chvostek (5th place).
After closely listening to nearly 500 entries, our panel of songwriting judges selected these 10 finalists to perform on the Folks Festival main stage on August 19, 2011 and during in-the-round sessions in the Wildflower Pavilion throughout the festival. Listen to a song from each of this year's 10 finalists in the SoundCloud player to the right.
- David Berkeley — San Francisco, CA
- Annabelle Chvostek — Montreal, QC
- RJ Cowdery — Columbus, OH
- Kyle James Hauser — Boulder, CO
- Caleb Hawley — New York City, NY
- Maura Jensen — Baltimore, MD
- Olinde Mandell — Somerville, MA
- Jason Spooner — Portland, ME
- Ryan Tanner — Salt Lake City, UT
- Cindy Woolf — Springfield, MO
- Mike Morris — Strafford, NH (Unable to attend contest)
- Alternate: Cary Cooper — Dallas, TX
Honorable Mentions
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