The Cowichan Folk Guild has announced the launch of the 2011 Islands Songwriting contest.
The contest runs from mid-April to the closing deadline on June 6.
You must be a resident of Vancouver Island or the Gulf Islands to enter.
The contest was introduced last year and received more than 100 entries.
“Last year’s contest generated lots of interest,” says the Folk Guild’s artistic director Robert McCourty.
The word has gone out that the contest was fun for all involved, so they’re hoping to get lots of entries again.
The theme of the contest this year is Music and Community, explained McCourty. “We’re looking for a great song which tells us about your hometown or how music has played an important part in your community. Tell us how your community has influenced your music. Do you remember a specific musical event? Does your community appreciate music? Tell us how.
“These are just theme guidelines. Songwriters should feel free to interpret this theme to their own experiences.”
The contest is open to all ages and is not based on the “idol” model, says McCourty. “We have an incredible amount of talent in this part of B.C., all packed into the Gulf Islands and Vancouver Island. There are literally thousands of musicians and singer-songwriters. This contest is for them. We’re not looking for the prettiest songwriter, we’re looking for the best song.”
The contest will be divided into three regional semi-finals to be held in late June: Courtenay for North Island, Duncan for Central Island and Victoria for South Island, respectively. The field will be narrowed to nine songwriters for each regional performance where they will perform their songs for the audience, who will in turn vote for their three favourites from each region.
The nine semi-finalists will then be invited to perform live on the opening Friday night of the 27th Annual Islands Folk Festival (July 22). Three winners will be selected by a panel of music business professionals.
The grand prize winner will receive a professionally produced and recorded version of the song courtesy of Woodshop Studios, an additional performance at the Festival, media interviews, radio airplay and career-building, bragging rights of being the winner of the 2011 Islands Songwriting contest. Second and third place prizes will also be awarded.
The winner last year was Greg Madill from Victoria with his song Circle Me with Water. The song has garnered airplay on many radio stations and will be used as the theme song for the 2011 contest.
Full contest regulations and a printable registration form are available at www.folkfest.bc.ca.
—Cowichan Folk Guild