Songwriting contest seeks entrants

The deadline is at the end of this month for entries into the Sisters Folk Festival Songwriting Contest. This contest is an integral part of The Sisters Folk Festival set for September 10-12 in Sisters.

The Songwriting Contest is a showcase for outstanding but under-recognized performing songwriters. Past winners such as Darryl Purpose, Bob Hillman, Chuck McCabe and Christopher Smith have gone on to make their marks on the contemporary folk music scene.

The late Dave Carter was the winner of the first Sisters Folk Festival Songwriting Contest in 1995.

Last year's winner was Sisters' own Dennis McGregor.

This year, five finalists will vie for a $700 cash prize. This is a "performing-songwriter's" contest, not a "song" contest, according to organizers.

Five finalists will be selected to perform the songs they entered at the Sisters Folk Festival on Saturday, September 11.

Entrants must submit at least two, no more than three, songs. Songs will be judged on overall consistency of quality, originality and uniqueness, song structure, prosody (fit of words and music), and memorability.

The winner will perform a short set to open the festival's Saturday night show.

There will be other opportunities for finalists to perform.

The entry fee is $20 per entrant (not per song). The fee must accompany the entry in the form of a check or money order made payable to The Sisters Folk Festival. Entries may be submitted on either a cassette or CD. A lyric sheet must be provided for each song entered. Entries must be postmarked no later than July 31, 2004.

Mail entries to: The Sisters Folk Festival Songwriting Contest 2004, PO Box 3500, PMB 304, Sisters, Oregon 97759.

For further details visit the website at: http://www.sistersfolkfestival.com.