Wildflower! Performing Songwriter Contest 2011

Don't miss your LAST CHANCE to submit to the Wildflower! Arts and Music Festival. With 5 stages of entertainment to choose from in 2010, over 60,000 people enjoyed the 3-day event of music and art. One of the most popular features of the festival is the Performing Songwriter Contest and Competition. Some prizes include an invitation to perform on the Bud Light Stage, and $500 cash./n/nFor 19 years, the Wildflower! Arts and Music Festival has produced a feast of musical treats from nostalgia acts, current popular acts, nationally known singer/songwriters, and local/emerging artists. With 5 stages of entertainment to choose from in 2010, over 60,000 people enjoyed the 3-day event of music and art. One of the most popular features of the festival is the Performing Songwriter Contest and Competition.



Entrants Will Be Competing For:

• Recognition of being a Wildflower! Finalist or Winner



• 3 $500 cash awards



• 8 hours of studio time in Houston, Texas OR 2  hours live recording within 200 miles of Houston, Texas (Austin and Dallas included), Plus $250 Cash   - Courtesy of The Sound Catchers (http://thesoundcatchers.com)



• Top 10 finalists will compete for the prizes on the Singer-Songwriter Stage


• The title of “People’s Choice” – from audience judging



• Opportunity of a lifetime to spend a weekend sharing with some of the best performing songwriters in the nation



• The top entries ranked 1 – 20 will be allowed (invited) to perform on the Bud Light Stage for recognition and CDs sales

Help with Expenses:

The festival will provide lodging, festival passes and access to the Green Room for the top 10 finalists during the festival on May 20 and 21, 2011.


Contest Rules:

• There is a limit of 3 entries per person. (An entry is 2 songs)


• A maximum of 300 entries will be accepted on a first submitted basis.


• Recordings submitted must be representative of the artist’s live performance. The screeners prefer recordings that use one instrument, the songwriter’s vocal and no backup harmonies; however, produced recordings are accepted.


• Artist’s name, biographical information, or credits should not be included on the recordings.


• The submission of the entry certifies that the songwriter has all rights to the songs and that the songs have not been sold or contractually assigned to another entity.


• Co-written songs may be submitted; however, only one of the writers may submit an application and perform the song on the recording.


• Each song may not exceed 5 minutes.


• Performances at the contest are limited to one songwriter/vocalist. The vocalist can provide instrumentation or provide a single accompanist (with no backup harmony or effects).


• Each finalist must be at Wildflower! on the day of the contest, Saturday, May 21, 2011 and be available to play a set in the round on Sunday, May 22, 2011 if selected as one of the winners.


• Prior to the contest, finalists may not appear on stage at the Festival with any artist(s) booked for the Festival.


• The finalists will be given opportunities to perform at another venue at the festival.


• Songs that have been previously recorded and released under contract on a label are not eligible.


• Notification to the 10 finalists will be made on or before April 15, 2011.


• All previous finalists and winners are invited to submit with the exception of the 2010 finalists. The 2010 non-winning finalists cannot enter again until 2012 and the winners cannot enter until 2013.

Fair Screening Process:

• All entries are subjected to a blind and independent screening by several experienced music promoters, songwriters and educators familiar with original songwriting and performing techniques.


• The screeners come to a consensus by independent voting and select 10 of the entrants to compete at the festival on Saturday morning, May 21, 2011.


• The contest is a performing songwriting contest. The entries will be judged based on the quality of their songs (50%) and the artist’s presentation of their songs (50%).

Last year, all 4 winners were Sonicbids artists: Grace Pettis (Grand Prize Winner and People’s Choice), Julianna Waters, Allie Farris and Louise Mosrie. Similarly, 5 of the 6 remaining finalists were also Sonicbids artists.


Wildflower! partners with Uncle Calvin’s Coffeehouse, the Dallas Songwriters Association, the Kerrville Folk Festival and 30 non-commercial venues/coffeehouses that offer original music in Texas to produce the event. Many of these promoters/presenters attend the festival and book artists they see in the contest, in the hotel song swaps and on the stages.



For more info check out this handy video.