The Songwriting Challenge that could change your life launches this Saturday
Could the Liverpool Acoustic Songwriting Challenge change your life? It certainly did for 2014 Audience Favourite joint winner John Jenkins, who tells how last year’s experience turned him from a bedroom songwriter into a confident solo performer. If you’re looking for inspiration you can read John’s story in his own words below.
If you are a songwriter and fancy the challenge, the Liverpool Acoustic Songwriting Challenge 2015 launches on the afternoon of Saturday 12th September at it’s home on Mathew Street, the View Two Gallery.
From 12pm to 5pm the View Two Gallery on Mathew Street will be open for songwriters to have a look round and be inspired by the art on display. To enter the challenge a songwriter chooses a piece of art and has one month to write a brand new song inspired by it, and submit it as a recording along with a copy of the lyrics and a photo of the art. The judges will listen to the art-inspired songs and mark each one for lyrics, melody, composition and originality. The top ten songs will be performed at the Showcase Final on the evening of Friday 27th November where the Judges’ Award winner will be announced. The Audience Favourite song will be chosen too.
The winning songs in the two categories – Judges Award and Audience Favourite – will be professionally recorded at Liverpool’s Crosstown Studios.
Jon Lawton, owner of Crosstown Studios and judge, says:-
“The Songwriting Challenge is a great experience to be involved in. The competition really helps to showcase some of Liverpool’s best underground musical talents and I can’t wait to see who we end up working with this year!”
The writers of the winning songs in both categories will also receive two hours of vocal coaching or songwriting support at Balance Vocal Studio from returning judge Kaya Herstad Carney. A lecturer in Popular Music Performance at the University of Chester, Kaya is also a musician, singer, and co-organiser of Threshold Festival. Kaya says:-
“It’s always exciting to hear what the songwriters come up with. It inspires me as an artist and it often helps me find new gems for Threshold.“
Liverpool Acoustic’s Graham Holland says:-
“We’re delighted to welcome Stephen Langstaff back after missing last year due to touring and recording commitments. Stephen joins returning judges Kaya Herstad Carney, Jon Lawton, and Robert Vincent to complete this year’s panel. After the exceptionally high standard of songwriting on display last year, the judges can’t wait to see what this year will bring.“
Judge and Patron of the Songwriting Challenge, local singer-songwriter Stephen Langstaff says:
“The Liverpool Acoustic Songwriting Challenge is a great idea. I’ve watched it inspire newly emerging songwriters in our city into create some great and interesting songs. And mixing visual arts with music is always good fun too.”
The Songwriting Challenge is open to anyone of any age living in the UK. However, entrants must have visited the View Two Gallery between 12th September 2015 and the closing date of 11th October. The rules and conditions of entry are available on the Songwriting Challenge website.
The Liverpool Acoustic Songwriting Challenge is free to enter, and there is no charge for entry to the View Two on Saturday 12th September. The same afternoon Liverpool Acoustic will also be hosting the popular Liverpool Acoustic Afternoon in the top floor performance space between 1pm and 4pm. This event features booked guests, plus Liverpool Acoustic’s popular open mic. Refreshments will be available from the bar.
Entry to the Showcase Final on Friday 27th November will be by ticket only, available in advance from 8th November. All money raised will be split between Marie Curie Cancer Care and Garston Animal Rescue in memory of Liverpool Acoustic team member Sharon Jones who died in May 2011.
Full details can be found on the Songwriting Challenge website
challenge.liverpoolacoustic.
- Event: Liverpool Acoustic Songwriting Challenge entry event
and Liverpool Acoustic Afternoon - Date: Saturday 12th September 2015
- Times: 1.00pm to 4.00pm
- Venue: The View Two Gallery, 23 Mathew Street
- FREE ENTRY
Buy tickets for our other events at wegottickets.com/liverpoolacoustic - The facebook event can be found here
- Details of all Liverpool Acoustic music events can be found at liverpoolacoustic.co.uk/live
- Press enquiries & guestlist em
ail contact@liverpoolacoustic. co.uk
“The Liverpool Acoustic Songwriting Challenge changed my life” by John Jenkins
Yes – SINGER songwriter – Even typing that looks strange. This time last year it was “Songwriter “only.
So what happened? Who is to blame?
Well I blame the Liverpool Acoustic songwriting challenge of 2014 (Graham Holland) and Jon Lawton (Crosstown Studios) but I’m not complaining at all. The last twelve months have been musically the most enjoyable period in my life and it’s their fault.
It was like this – a year ago I was writing songs and I’d go in the studio and when it came to the singing I would ask a friend would they sing as I never considered myself a singer at all. This would come out under my project name of “John Jenkins and That Sure Thing. That was the sum of my musical career in 2014.
Last year a friend told me about the Liverpool Acoustic Songwriting Challenge in which you go along to the View Two Gallery in Mathew Street, look at the paintings or drawings and write a song about a particular one that took your fancy. I thought the idea was really good and unique so I popped down and saw a painting that fired my imagination. By the time I got back to work from the gallery I had already formulated the song in my head and finished it over the next few days and then went away on holiday. When I came back I realised I only had a couple of days to submit my song before the deadline.
Due to the short deadline I didn’t have enough time to get anyone in to sing it so I thought – hey ho – I’ll do a demo with me and the piano not expecting much and submitted it.
Lo and behold I got an email to say the judges had thought the song worthy enough to be included in the final and for me to be part of the showcase and I would be expected to perform it in front of an audience with nine other songwriters.
Now I hadn’t expected any of this – least of all to be asked to perform my song – I hadn’t played live in 25 years and even then I was the keyboard player while someone else sang my songs. After panic mode had subdued I began to think “maybe I could do this after all”? So I talked myself into it thinking it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity and only three minutes.
I turned up on the night and drank non-alcohol drinks until it was my turn to play – Drank three Beers in about five minutes after I finished my performance though! and then found I had been voted joint audience winner alongside Kevin Eustace’s beautiful song. Not only had my performance been my first in 25 years but I found I had to play it all over again! Oh dear I thought – I’ve had a few drinks now this will be fun!
Anyway I got through it again, much to my surprise and found one of my prizes was free studio time with me to record and sing the song at Jon Lawton’s Crosstown Studio.
On the performance night I was completely knocked out how friendly and supportive everyone was to each other – and was high on the compliments – not just the song but the performance. I was also conscious of how talented the other songwriters were and since that night I have made some amazing new friends from these and enjoyed endless songs that I would never have come across from these songwriters.
Just when I thought I had survived the experience – Panic mode again – I had the Studio recording to do of the song and I was thinking “how is this going to sound? Well Jon Lawton has the best bedside manner of any Producer or Engineer I have worked with – He made me feel so comfortable that I thought – “you know what, I could do this again with another song” and I did and I did again and now I’m working on an album.
I have had two singles released, been on BAY TV, The Red Sofa Sessions and regularly play around the Liverpool Music Scene. All because of the Songwriting Challenge – It’s started something I never dreamed of twelve months ago and I have made so many very good friends and enjoyed so much music that I will be eternally grateful.
Judges Award 2014: Jo Bywater – Riches To Rags
Click here to listen to the winning song performed by Jo Bywater and recorded by Jon Lawton at Crosstown Studios.
Liverpool Acoustic Songwriting Challenge – previous winners
2014 WINNERS
Judges Award 2014:
Jo Bywater – Riches To Rags
Click here to listen to the winning song performed by Jo Bywater and recorded by Jon Lawton at Crosstown Studios.
Audience Favourite 2014:
Joint first place: Kevin Eustace – Devils Ego
Joint first place: John Jenkins – Put The World To Right
2013 WINNERS
Judges Award & Audience Favourite 2013:
Alexandra Jayne – 1969
Click here to listen to the winning song performed by Alexandra Jayne and recorded by Jon Lawton at Crosstown Studios.
2012 WINNERS
Judges Award 2012:
Vanessa Murray – I Don’t Wanna Lose You Like This
Watch the video for Vanessa’s winning song here.
2011 WINNERS
Judges Award 2011:
Simon Madison – Brother of Fur
Watch Simon playing his winning song at the 2011 Showcase Final here.
Rob Rivieres – Enough is Enough
Listen to Rob’s song recorded at Crosstown Studios here.
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| Sponsor: Crosstown Studios crosstownstudios.co.uk |
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| Sponsor: Balance Vocal Studio balanceyourvoice.com |
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Preview: Liverpool Acoustic Songwriting Challenge launch event
RT @lpoolacoustic: PREVIEW Liverpool Acoustic Songwriting Challenge launch event – Saturday 12th September 2015 @viewtwogallery http://t.co…
RT @lpoolacoustic: PREVIEW Liverpool Acoustic Songwriting Challenge launch event – Saturday 12th September 2015 @viewtwogallery http://t.co…
RT @lpoolacoustic: PREVIEW Liverpool Acoustic Songwriting Challenge launch event – Saturday 12th September 2015 @viewtwogallery http://t.co…