Darebin Songwriters Award - Entries now closed

**Entries have now closed**

Winners will be announced Friday September 17

The Darebin Songwriters Award is an annual songwriting competition that seeks to recognise, showcase and promote the talents of local songwriters.

There is an amazing prize package to be won including cash and studio time. Past winners include Paige Black, Stella Farnan, Jordie Lane, Ben Mason, Brooke Russell and Charm of Finches.

Songwriters who live, work or study in the City of Darebin are welcome to enter. FUSE particularly welcomes entries from songwriters who are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, Deaf or living with disability, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse, Young People, Older People, Women, LGBTIQA+. Songwriters are also welcome to enter songs in languages other than English.

While the search for Darebin’s most incredible songwriter may look a little different this year, the prizes and the strength of competition remain the same. In addition, we’ve extended the deadline to enter which means more time for you to craft your entry to make the maximum impact with the judges.

Here's what’s new in 2021 :

We are extending the deadline for entries to 10pm, Sunday 5 September.
Our panel of distinguished judges will judge entries and the winners will be announced via FUSE on Friday 17 September. Keep an eye on our socials for highlights.
The Winner and Encouragement Award Winner will be showcased via our website and socials. Check out the amazing prizes on offer.

Prizes

The winner of the Darebin Songwriters Award 2021 will receive:

$2000 courtesy of City of Darebin
8 hours recording time with an engineer at HeadGap
EP Mastering by Crystal Mastering
$500 Implant Media Voucher for CD duplication services
$500 Echo Tone Guitars Voucher

Also up for grabs:

Encouragement Award

$500 courtesy of City of Darebin

Judging Process

- - Finalists, Encouragement award winner and Winner will be judged by a panel of distinguished local songwriters.
  - Entries will be shortlisted, with finalists notified by phone on Monday 13 September.
  - Winners will be notified on Friday 17 September

Terms and Conditions of entry

Entries open 2pm Friday 8 July 2021.
Entries close 4pm Thursday 19 August. Late entries will not be considered.
Entry must be composed by a person who currently lives, works or studies in Darebin for a minimum of 10 hours per week.
Entry and payment are submitted online at the same time.
Anonymity is an important part of the shortlisting process. The song file & lyric sheet MUST be marked ONLY with the song title and copyright date. Example - 'Song Title. 2020 .mp3'
Only ONE song may be submitted by any one artist.
The song entered must:
- - Be an original work written by the entering composer(s).
  - Not have been previously awarded a prize in a songwriting competition.
  - Be recorded.
Judges will consider lyric, melody, composition, originality of the central musical or thematic idea and so on. The judges’ decision will be final and not open to any discussion. Entry implies acceptance of these conditions and the conduct of the event.
The shortlisted finalists will be notified the week of Monday 23 August by telephone. All other entrants will be informed of the results by email.
Finalists must be available to participate in the Grand Final event on the evening of Wednesday 8 September at Northcote Social Club.
Entrants must arrive on time or the entrant will be disqualified.
The entrant gives the right for the festival to record and photograph the performance (s) for promotional and archival purposes and understands copyright remains with the entrant.
The entrant must confirm that they hold copyright to the submitted work.
The entrant must declare ownership of this intellectual/creative property.
No refunds will be possible once payments have been submitted.
Any issues with the form or your submission please contact Amanda Palmer, Associate Producer on Amanda.Palmer@darebin.vic.gov.au or by phone on 03 8470 8306