The Liverpool Acoustic Songwriting Challenge is a truly unique event where songwriters are challenged to write a new, original song inspired by a work of art.
Now in its twelfth year the Songwriting Challenge welcomes back judges Jon Lawton (Owner, Crosstown Studios/producer), Kaya Herstad Carney (Threshold/vocal coach), Luke Moore (composer/Operation Lightfoot), Robert Vincent (award-winning musician and songwriter), and Alison Benson (musician, music teacher, and multiple Challenge winner).
To enter the Challenge a songwriter must visit the Liverpool City Region (Merseyside and Halton) during the entry period of 1 – 30 September and choose a piece of art that inspires them to write a new song. The songwriter or songwriters (collaborations are allowed) can choose any work of art on public display in the Liverpool City Region during the entry period, whether a painting, mural, statue, sculpture, stained glass window, pavement art, or anything else generally accepted as ‘art’.
Songwriters have one month from the launch date to write the song 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 on lyrics, melody, composition and originality.
The ten highest scoring songs will be revealed at the end of November and will be performed at the Showcase Final on Saturday 21 January 2023 at Leaf on Bold St where the Judges’ Award winner will be announced. The audience at LEAF will vote for the Audience Favourite award.
The winning songwriters in the two categories – Judges Award and Audience Favourite – receive the following prizes:-
- Song professionally recorded by judge Jon Lawton at Liverpool’s Crosstown Studios.
- A two hour vocal or songwriting lesson, from judge Kaya Herstad Carney.
- A cello lesson or a cello part on the song recording, from Operation Lightfoot’s Luke Moore.
Liverpool Acoustic’s Graham Holland says:-
“Every year the region’s songwriters never cease to amaze me with their talent and creativity, combining their love of art and music to create something truly special. Judges Kaya, Jon, Robert, Alison and Luke really do have their work cut out to rate them all and pick a winner. I don’t envy them in the slightest!”
The Songwriting Challenge is open to anyone of any age living in the UK. However, entrants must have visited the Liverpool City Region (Liverpool, Sefton, Wirral, St Helens, Knowsley, and Halton) between 1st September and the closing date of 30 September.
The Liverpool Acoustic Songwriting Challenge is free to enter.
The full rules and conditions of entry will be available on the Songwriting Challenge website from Sunday 28 August 2022.
Enter The Liverpool Acoustic Songwriting Challenge Here.
Entry to the Showcase Final on Saturday 21 January 2023 at LEAF on Bold Street will be by ticket only, available in advance from the beginning of December 2022. All profits 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.
