The Roddy Read Memorial Song Writing Award is an integral part of the Maldon Folk Festival. Both professional and amateur budding songwriters are invited to apply.
This song writing contest commemorates the long-standing contribution to the festival by the late Roddy Read. Roddy was the masterful, witty, humourous, ‘no-nonsense’ MC of the festival concerts for many years.
Previous Winners
2008 Geoff McArthur ‘Sparkle and Shine’ read more...
2007 Rose Bygrave ‘Erarerama’
2006 Neil Robertson ‘Celebration’
2005 Heidi Hibberd ‘Lyndee I Have Lost Your Number’
2004 Mark Cryle ‘Anytime You’d Fall’
2003 Caithlin Meave ‘Buddha and Steel’
2002 Bruce Watson ‘Dad’s Clothes’
2001 Bek Fletcher ‘Fly’
2000 Ben Smith ‘One Little Black Face’
1999 Graham Dodsworth ‘Excuse Me’
1998 Mark Jackson & Cassy Nunan ‘I Just Received’
1997 Tiffany Eckhardt ‘On My Knees’
1996 Geraldine Hughes ‘Caravans’
1995 Enda Kenny ‘My Own Road’
1994 Steve Dennis ‘Don’t Cry for Me’
1993 Don Cowling ‘The Ordinary Man’
Sadly, Roddy passed away in 1992 but hopefully this award will in some measure ensure that his contribution to Maldon is not forgotten. Featuring both professional and amateur songwriters, the contest has become a popular event for both performers and patrons.
Entrants submit their songs in advance of the festival for a selection of final songs for judging on the Saturday afternoon. The song judged the winner at this concert will be awarded a Washburn Rarewood Edition Guitar, courtesy of our sponsors, Washburn Guitars. They will also receive the unique Roddy Read trophy. In addition, the winner will perform their song at the Sunday Main Stage Concert and will be guaranteed a programmed gig at the following Maldon Folk Festival.
So now scribes, songsters, scribblers, people who cover napkins with lyrics or wake in the wee small hours with 'that elusive hook' - get scribing, songstering and scribbling for 2009. The entry form and conditions of entry are downloadable below. Please, please read the conditions and instructions carefully to avoid disappointment and all the very, very best of luck. Roll on Maldon Folk Festival 2009 and the Roddy Read Memorial Songwriting Award for its 17th year!
A recording of the song, on cassette or CD, (playable on a standard CD player), with only the name of the song written on it as identification. Failure to comply will result in disqualification.
Note: No digital format files entries will be accepted, (eg: MP3 or wma).
A legible copy of the lyrics in English with only the name of the song written on it as
identification. Failure to comply will result in disqualification.
Entry Fee
An entry fee of $5 per song.
Only cash, postal orders or cheques are accepted. (No EFTPOS available.)
Make entry fee payable to: "Maldon Folk Festival"
Application Closing Date
Entries must be received at the address below by last mail 11th September 2009.
Send To Roddy Read Memorial Songwriting Contest,
98 St Georges Road,
Northcote VIC 3070
More Information
Further details are available on the downloadable Roddy Read Award Entry Form. If you need any further clarification, contact the contest coordinator, Wendy Ealey, at the Roddy Read Memorial Songwriting Contest:
- Phone: (03) 9489 0504
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Email: macnificent@eftel.com.au
2008 Roddy Read Memorial Songwriting Award Report
2008 was an exciting year for the Maldon Songwriting Awards - a change of guard - one very nervous nelly Wendy Ealey and her groom taking over the reins from cool and capable Phil Young and his bride. It all went off surprisingly well.
Thanks so much to our capable and conscientious judges: Trevor Shard - our new presiding Judge andSA Regional Co-ordinator Victoria, Jeanette Gillespie - Folk Victoria President and Peter Vadivaloo, master drummer, musician and member of Jugularity, the Kavisha Mazella Trio and Vadivaloo Belfrage duo. They agonised at length to come up with avery satisfactory result with the Roddy Read winner for 2008 being Geoff McArthur and a suitably tearful audience moved thus by his winning song "Sparkle and Shine".
Geoff put in a very accomplished performance the next day on the main stage, following on from 2007's winner Rosy Bygrave's set. The sponsors were very generous with their time and with the beautiful guitar.
Thanks very much to Patrick Robertson for his invaluable support in looking after performers and helping to organise the event on the day and to Rick Sedgwick who bravely manned the sound desk. Always a bit of a challenge with constant and speedy changeover of artists and instruments. Job well done both of you. Of course what can I say about the MC other than it was decided that due to her noticeable shortness - as opposed to short notice - all photos of her on the day have been relegated to the archives. But she had a good time too and enjoyed the camaraderie of the audience and artists alike. A very warm and friendly afternoon all round.
Roddy Read 08 Winner - Geoff McArthurs "Sparkle and Shine"
