For songwriters

Dublin's In the Round, 4 Sept. 2010

Thanks to singer/songwriter Aisling Kavanagh (left) for news of a new Dublin event for songwriters. Although not strictly bluegrass, some of the writing presented comes from the Americana and alt.country genres, and any further such events would give opportunities for songwriters with bluegrass in mind. Aisling explains:

... After a recent trip to Nashville and seeing their 'in the round' format of gigs I thought I would gig it a try here. For those unfamiliar with the format, three to five songwriters take to the stage at the same time. Each writer plays one of their own songs, followed on by the next writer. All in all, the gig lasts one-and-a-half to two hours long, so each performer gets around five songs.

I believe this is the first of its kind in Dublin, and I would love to make it a regular thing, with the writing personnel changing at each event. The audience gets to experience new performers and new styles of music they may not have heard before, all on the one night.

Our maiden gig is on in the Cobblestone in Smithfield on 4 September, starting at 9.00 p.m. and admission is €8. The proceeds will go to the Pakistan Flood Relief Fund of Concern.

The performers on the night will be Enda Reilly, Aoife Moriarty, Pearse McGloughlin, and myself Aisling Kavanagh. Support on the night will be from Shane Regan.

More information is on the 'Dublin's In the Round' Facebook. The July tour by Ferguson, Holmes, & Henry included sessions 'in the round' with Charlie McGettigan, but no nearer to Dublin than Naul...

'Come home to bluegrass' Songwriting Contest

In an unequivocally bluegrass context, the Ohio County Tourism Commission in Rosine, KY, birthplace of the Father of Bluegrass, announces the first ever 'Come home to bluegrass' Songwriting Contest as part of a programme celebrating the centenary (13 Sept. 2011) of Bill Monroe's birth. The winner of the songwriting contest will debut his/her song at the celebration in 2011. Entries can be submitted from 13 Sept. 2010 to 13 Mar. 2011, and winners will be notified by 1 July. The rules of the contest include:

• Instrumentally and lyrically, songs must represent the traditional bluegrass style of Bill Monroe, should be between two-and-a-half and three minutes long, and should not have been published.

• No professional songwriters, contest judges, or their family members are eligible to enter. Amateurs may enter as many times as they wish, but no more than two songs per $10 entry fee are allowed.

The prizes are: 1st, $500; 2nd, $200; 3rd, $100. For more information about the contest and the whole centenary celebration programme, visit here or call +1-270-298-0036.

Belfast Nashville Songwriters Festival, 23-27 Feb. 2011

The 7th annual Belfast Nashville Songwriters Festival and Song Writing Convention will be held from 23 to 27 February 2011 in Belfast. All info, including videos from previous festivals, can be found on the website.

International Songwriting Competition 2010

Finally, for songwriters in all genres the International Songwriting Competition, with a galaxy of judges, offers a total of $150,000 in prizes. More details can be seen here.