Applications for the 2024 Milkmaid Songwriting Competition are now closed.
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The competition includes live recordings of each entry from the heats; workshops before the heats; a guaranteed mainstage slot at Bury Folk Festival for the winner and a slot on the Greenstage at the festival for the runner up.
We have also created a Songwriter's Circle for artists to share their work and build a community of creative artists.
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THE MILKMAID
2025 FOLK SONGWRITING COMPETITION
Contemporary folk songwriters can apply now to participate in the 2025 Competition by clicking on the button below.
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Based on the response from previous years, we expect to have more applicants than there will be places for, so there will be a selection process before the heats are scheduled.
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Every song selected will need to be performed live at one of the heats. However, you can use another artist to perform your song if you wish.
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Dates for the four heats and the final will be announced soon.​​
APPLICATIONS CLOSED
DATES
( PROVISIONAL )
HEAT 1 : Weds 19 March
HEAT 2 : Thurs 27 March
HEAT 3 : Thurs 3 April
HEAT 4 : Weds 9 April
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FINAL : Fri 25th April
BEFORE YOU ENTER.......
Please do not enter the competition unless you are able to attend in person. We typically have more applicants than there are places and so that means you will have prevented someone else from taking part if you do not turn up.
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Of course there may be unavoidable circumstances (illness, etc.) in which case we ask you to let us know that you will not be able to attend.
2025 PRIZES
WINNER
2025 Showcase at the Milkmaid Folk Club
2025 set on the Mainstage at Bury Folk Festival
£100 cash
Featured artist on the Songwriters Club website home page for one year.
RUNNER UP
2025 Showcase at the Milkmaid Folk Club
2025 set on the Greenstage at Bury Folk Festival
£50 cash
Featured artist on the Songwriters Club website home page for one year.
INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS
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JUDGING
The 6 songs that get the highest scores from the live performances in the heats go through to the final. This means that you will have to wait until the heats are completed to find out whether you will be in the final .
This is a songwriting competition so please do not be put off if you feel that you are not the best performer in the world. You can ask someone else to perform your song for you if it will help, but the music and lyrics make up more than 50% of the marks whilst the performance only accounts for 20% of the marks:
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Music maximum score 15
Lyrics maximum score 15
Performance maximum score 10
Pertinence to folk maximum score 5
Je ne sais quoi maximum score 5
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The songs will be judged based on the criteria listed above.
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RULES
The closing date for entries is Friday 21st February 2025. Acts will be selected and allocated heats by Friday 28th February 2025 and applicants will be notified straight away.
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Songs can be performed by solo artists or groups of up to 6 members.
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A basic recording (can simply be a one take smartphone recording) of your song should be submitted together with a lyric sheet and any additional notes on the background to the song

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The competition will be split into 4 heats. Each act will have a 10 minute slot to perform 2 songs, a warm up (can be a cover) followed by the competition entry song. The 10 minutes includes any verbal introduction to the songs. The 
main song must be an original composition.
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A sound system and engineer will be provided but there will not be individual sound checks prior to performance. We allow up to 5 minutes for you to set up and for the engineer to check connections. The engineer will adjust the sound during your warm up song so please make sure that it includes the same instruments and voices as your competition entry.
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There is a £10 Entry fee, payable in advance, for all acts. 


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Audience will be charged £5 to attend the heats. £8 for the final.
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Competition organisers and judges are ineligible.
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The Judge's decision is final.​
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LOCATION
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The heats and final will be held at the Risbygate Sports Club, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 3RR