The Liverpool Acoustic Songwriting Challenge 2020 Showcase Final is being broadcast live on Liverpool Acoustic’s YouTube channel on Saturday 16th January 2021 starting at 7.30pm.
In previous years the Showcase Final has been held at LEAF on Bold Street with the money raised being split between Marie Curie Cancer Care and Garston Animal Rescue, in memory of Liverpool Acoustic team member Sharon Jones.
This year we still want to be able to make a contribution to these two worthy causes so we’re asking people where possible to make a donation using our JustGiving page.
justgiving.com/crowdfunding/showcasefinal2020
When the final was held at LEAF on Bold Street the Showcase Final tickets cost £7 so if you want you can donate the same amount this time round. This is just a suggestion and you can donate more than this or less – it’s totally up to you, the show is still free to watch.
The live show will be introduced by Liverpool Acoustic’s Graham Holland.
Judge and Operation Lightfoot supremo Luke Moore will then interview each of the finalists before playing their song.
After all of the songs have been played there will be a break while the Audience Favourite voting takes place. During this time entertainment will be provided by Operation Lightfoot and last year’s winner Alison Benson.
At the end of the Showcase Final the winner of the Audience Favourite Award will be announced followed by the winner of the Judges’ Award.
The finalists are (in alphabetical order)
- Bryony Williams – River
- Chris Whitfield – Homeless
- Gary McDonnell – The Winnings
- Henrio – The Adventure
- Hilde Gundersen and Addae G – Walls
- James Gordon – First We Burn
- John Farrington – Favourite Day
- Lizzie Callow – Again
- Rachel Burnett – Time
- Sarah J – Suitcase Lullaby
All of the songs are available to listen to now on our YouTube playlist. Each video has the song and the work of art that inspired it, with the lyrics available in the video’s discription. We’re featuring one each day on our Twitter and Facebook accounts.
27 songwriters submitted brand new songs inspired by works of art on display across the Liverpool City Region during the September to October entry period. Judges Stephen Langstaff, Kaya Herstad Carney, Robert Vincent, Jon Lawton and Luke Moore listened to all of the entries and gave each one a score based on lyrics, melody, composition and originality. The points from the judges were added together and the songwriters with the ten highest scores were awarded a place at the Showcase Final.
The winning songwriter receives the following prizes.
- Song professionally recorded by Jon Lawton at Crosstown Studios
- Songwriting or singing lesson from Kaya Herstad Carney at Parr Street Music School
- Cello lesson or cello arrangement for song recording from Luke Moore
For further information about the Liverpool Acoustic Songwriting Challenge visit the website challenge.liverpoolacoustic.co.uk