2012 Songwriting Contest

We want to hear your most charming, melodic, ironic, clever, bizarre, hilarious, touching or just plain astounding new song.  The genre is flexible; it just needs to be suited to a stripped-down performance. The focus is on the songwriting, with judges considering lyrics, melody, audience appeal, sing-ability, message, creativity and emotional qualities.

Our judges pre-screen all entries, and determine who will move forward to the live finals and play for a panel of musicians and industry-types for the big money. 

Live finals at the Ship and Anchor Pub

Sonic Youth - Saturday April 28
Untapped Newcomer - Sunday  April 29
Beaver Tales / Rebels & Renegades - Saturday May 5
Pros and Prose - Sunday May 6

Songwriters can enter in ONE of the paid categories. Our free category, Rebels and Renegades, can be entered in conjunction with a paid category or as a stand-alone entry.   

Deadline for entry is March 16, 2012. Click on the links below to complete your order. You will be asked to upload your mp3 file (not .m4a or .wav) and lyrics after you complete the Paypal payment.

Prefer to pay by cheque or cash? 
Download an entry form, burn your .mp3 file to a disc,
and drop of the application at the Ship & Anchor,
or mail it to PO Box 2897 Stn M Calgary AB T2P 3C3.

Eye Candy, our video component of the contest, is open internationally for any non-commercial (not released on a major label) video. Upload your video to YouTube and email your link to johanna@calgaryfolkfest.com before March 16 to be entered. 15 finalists will be screened and a jury will select the best video for $1000 grand prize. View the entries.

Sonic Youth - $15 Sponsored by The New Black. Open to any young Albertan artist between the ages of 13-17 in any musical genre.
Untapped Newcomer - $20 Sponsored by Big Rock. Open to any amateur songwriter from Alberta. Amateur is defined as an artist who has not released their work commercially, does not register their music with SOCAN, and is not paid-to-play on a regular basis. Basement plinkers, weekend songsmiths, budding talent young and old – this one’s for you.
Beaver Tales - $20 Sponsored by Edmonton Folk Music Festival. Open to any Albertan artist for a song about Canada’s people, politics, history or land, from a national or regional perspective.
Pros and Prose - $20 Sponsored by Calgary Folk Club. Open to any Alberta songwriter for a song that has been registered with SOCAN between February 1, 2011 and March 15, 2012 in any musical genre.
Rebels and Renegades - $0 Our free category - open to any Albertan musician for a song that tells the tale, or is inspired by, rebels and renegades. Present-day, historical, fictitious, or for real.