Ferdinand Folk Festival Accepting Submissions For the 2019 Singer-Songwriter Contest

From Event Organizers 

FERDINAND -- The fifth annual Ferdinand Folk Festival Singer-Songwriter Contest is accepting submissions from June 1 to July 1. The winners will be featured in a performance showcase in the St. Benedict's Brew Works theater at 4 pm ET on Sunday, August 11 — and at 10th annual Ferdinand Folk Festival on Saturday, September 21, they will earn opening time on the NextEra Energy Main Stage at 11 am ET. They will also have an opportunity to perform a 15-minute set on the Kyana Woodstock Market Stage during the festival. Winners will also be recognized in festival marketing.

“Dozens of area artists have participated and received exposure in our first four years of offering this opportunity," states Rock Emmert, chair of the friendly competition. "We encourage people of all ages from the community and region to create original songs from their own life experiences. The contest provides a fun means to perform before a supportive, listening audience and to meet and collaborate with other artists from the area."

The folk music tradition includes songs that tell powerful stories, bring history to life, celebrate nature and relationships, reflect on issues, make people think, laugh, etc.  In the past three years, the contest has attracted dozens of local, regional, and national artists of all ages to submit excellent, diverse songs and genres supported by the festival including folk, Americana, bluegrass, blues, reggae, and more. The public showcases in August have been among the most well-received festival events and support the growing listening room scene in the region.

There are two age divisions: high school class of 2019 and younger and 18 and older. Each entrant may submit up to three songs (with collaborations of up to three people) with each no more than five minutes in length. All submissions are due by midnight on July 1. See below for details and requirements. The showcase performers will be announced later in July.  The showcase will not be a competition; instead, the winners will have the opportunity to share their talent in an intimate, non-competitive setting as well as sell any CDs they may have to offer. 

A committee of experienced music promoters, songwriters, and educators familiar with original songwriting and performing techniques will study each song, applying the following rubric: originality of lyrics (25%), melody (25%), musicianship (25%), and overall quality (25%). Songs that have been previously recorded and released under contract on a label are not eligible.

For all the submission details, visit www.ferdinandfolkfestival.com.


FERDINAND FOLK FESTIVAL SINGER-SONGWRITER CONTEST RULES, 2019

"The creative adult is the child who survived." 
— Ursula Leguin

Please carefully read the following rules. Thanks and good luck!

1.  All songs should be original and genres appropriate to the spirit of the Ferdinand Folk Festival: folk, Americana, reggae, blues, bluegrass, Celtic, country, rock and/or a creative fusion of the above.

2.  Each song may not exceed five (5) minutes.

3.  Participants may enter from one to three songs.

4.  There is no entry fee.

5.  Each song must be submitted as a YouTube or SoundCloud link.

6.  Contest is open to all ages.

7.  Participants may enter as a solo artist, a duo, or a trio. At least one person in each group must be the writer of each song.

8.  Co-written songs are allowed, but at least one of the writers must perform the song.

9.  Participants may enter in more than one group, but no more than three groups.

10.  There will be two age categories: high school class of 2019 and younger, and 18 and older.

12.  Recordings submitted must be representative of the person or group’s live performance.

13.  Because of the songwriting emphasis of the contest, instrumental-only songs are will not be eligible.

14.  The submission of the entry certifies that the songwriter has all rights to the songs and that the songs have not been sold or contractually assigned to another entity.

15.  Songs previously recorded and released under contract on a label are not eligible.

16.  Previous winners are welcome to enter the contest again.

17.  Entries are due by midnight on July 1, 2019.

18.  Entries will be subjected to an independent screening by several experienced music promoters, songwriters, and educators familiar with original songwriting and performing techniques—using the following rubric: originality of lyrics 25%, melody 25%, musicianship 25%, and overall quality 25%.

19.  Showcase artists will be announced on or near July 20 and will perform at a public “showcase” competition in the St. Benedict's Brew Works Theatre at 4 pm ET on Sunday, August 11.

20. All showcase performers will also perform at least one song on the NextEra Energy Main Stage of the Ferdinand Folk Festival to kick off the festival on September 21 at 11 am ET. At the fest, they will also have the opportunity to perform a 15-minute set on the Kyana Woodstock Market Stage, and they will be featured in festival marketing.

21.  Finalists must provide transportation and lodging if necessary to the August 11 showcase and to the September 21 Folk Fest.

22.  Only those one, two, or three artists whose names appear in the e-mailed submission will perform at the two public performances —no additional back-up vocals and/or accompanists.

23.  Those selected to be in the August 11 public showcase should be prepared to perform for about ten minutes (two songs).

24.  The showcase will not be a competition, but rather a relaxing evening of shared music in a small theatre.

25. Only those one, two, or three artists whose names appear in the submission will perform at the Showcase and the Folk Fest—no additional back-up vocals and/or accompanists.

26. To enter, participants must e-mail entries to Rock Emmert at [email protected].

PLEASE INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING, in this order:

SINGER-SONGWRITER + YOUR NAME in the subject box

1.  ARTIST OR BAND NAME

2.  AGE OF ARTIST(S)

3.  CITY AND STATE OF ARTIST(S) RESIDENCE

4.  CONTACT PHONE NUMBER

5.  TITLE OF SONG

6.  YOUTUBE OR SOUNDCLOUD LINK (others not eligible)

7.  LYRICS

8.  if applicable

TITLE(S) OF SECOND AND THIRD SONGS

YOU TUBE OR SOUND CLOUD LINK(S)

LYRICS

8. If your emailed submission has not been acknowledged within 24 hours, please text or call Rock at 812-631-2856.

THANK YOU!

Entries are due by midnight on July 1.