Where are all Ireland's songwriters?

Uncle Bob is reported to be very disappointed at the lack of entries in the Allingham Festival Songwriting Contest!

Where have all the songwriters gone? Did everyone get signed to a record label overnight? Have they all quit songwriting and dedicated themselves to the day job? Did everybody win the lottery? 

Here in the Allingham Festival office we were very excited to revive the songwriting contest to support and promote new musical talent, and to reward one lucky winner with €1000 for their song. We put up posters and posted updates and reminders on Facebook and Twitter. According to the stats, thousands of people have seen these ads. Thousands.

However, we have had such a poor response to the competition that we may have to cancel the contest and refund the few who have entered. We're somewhat baffled and greatly disappointed by this, but have decided to push the deadline for one more week in the hope that we'll get enough entries to run the competition.

If you know any who has a song or two, and might find €1000 handy, give them a little encouragement to enter the Allingham Festival songwriting contest.

Meet the Judges of our Songwriting Contest

With the deadline of Wednesday the 30th of September drawing near, and entries arriving from far and wide, it's time to introduce the judges for this Allingham Festival Songwriting Contest!

 

Cathy Jordan

Cathy Jordan

Cathy Jordan is a singer, songwriter and musician who has been the front woman with traditional powerhouses Dervish for over 20 years. During that time the band have performed to sell out auditoriums all over the world in hundreds of cities in over forty countries. Cathy is also a radio and TV presenter who most recently presented Fleadh TV live from the All Ireland in Sligo, an independent production for TG4. Cathy is well known to the Allingham audience as she first acted as judge two years ago. 

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Ian Smith

Ian Smith

Ian Smith has been touring and performing in Ireland, Scotland, the UK, Europe and the USA for the past twenty years. His album 'A Celtic Connection' has been nominated for Album of the Year in a number of international music magazines. His influences include John Martyn, Dick Gaughan, Archie Fisher, James Taylor, Joni Mitchell and Steely Dan. In great demand as a writer, he has worked with some of the best in the business (including fellow Allingham Judge, Cathy Jordan! - ed.). In addition, he has performed, supported and toured with Darrell Scott, Tim O'Brien, Kevin Welch, John Martyn, Paul Brady, Eddi Reader, and Sharon Shannon to name but a few. Highly respected on both sides of the Atlantic, Ian Smith is considered 'the Real Deal'. 

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Chanele Mc Guinness

Chanele Mc Guinness

Before beginning her solo career, Irish singer/songwriter Chanele McGuinness spent 3 years touring with Calfornian NPO “The Young Americans” teaching children through music all over the world. Having returned to Ireland, Chanele immediately started to play solo shows including Electric Picnic & Sea Sessions - some of Ireland's biggest music festivals. In 2014, Chanele won RTÉ Radio One's “Emerging Talent Contest” & was tipped as one to watch by presenters John Murray & Brendan O'Connor – appearing as a musical guest on both of their shows. 2015 has seen Chanele support American singer Natalie Prass on her EU & UK tour, playing to sold out venues all over Germany, France, Belgium, England & Scotland. Chanele released her EP “Already Gone” in July 2015, reaching #3 in the iTunes singer-songwriter charts. The new Galaxy Duet advertisement features Chanele, alongside London-based rapper Bxnjamin, and their modern twist on the classic hit “Moon River”.  Chanele performed in the Saturday night concert at last year's festival, and we're delighted that she will return this year to judge the contest and headline the Saturday night gig. 

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Chanele Mc Guinness confirmed for Allingham 2015

Allingham 2015 are delighted to announce that local singer-songwriter Chanele Mc Guinness,  now also the star of a popular TV ad, will perform in the Abbey Centre, Ballyshannon, on Saturday the 7th of November. 

The ad for Galaxy Duet sees Chanele perform iconic 'Moon River', with London MC-producer Bxnjamin, and has already been seen by millions on national TV, having originally aired during the ad break for the new series of the X-Factor. Earlier this year she delighted audiences across Europe and the UK while touring with Natalie Prass. If that isn't cool enough, Chanele contributed a number of songs to the soundtrack of hot new Irish thriller 'Pursuit', which coincidentally premiered in Dublin just a few days after Chanele played two gigs at the Electric Picnic! 

The concert promises to be a magical event as Chanele returns to her hometown, before packing her bags for the stratosphere...or should I say the galaxy!!! (Ok, a very corny pun...) 

She will be supported on the night by a number of very special musical guests. More details will be announced soon, but we promise it will be a night to remember! 

Secondary School Fiction & Poetry Competitions

The Allingham Festival is once again running Flash Fiction and Poetry competitions for Secondary School students. 

There are three age groups: Under 13, Under 15 and Under 19. Entries can be downloaded here: http://www.allinghamfestival.com/school-competitions

The deadline for entries is October 16th 2015, and entry is free.  

Ask your teacher for an application form, or download one from the website today!

Deadline Extended!

The deadline for the Allingham 2015 Flash Fiction & Poetry competitions has been extended to midnight on Friday the 18th of September. Upload your entry today here http://www.allinghamfestival.com/poetry-flash-fiction/ or post your entry along with an application form and fee to A Novel Idea, Main Street, Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal, Ireland.

A minor technical difficulty which caused the 'Click Here to Submit' button to disappear when you uploaded more than 3 entries has now been resolved. If this affected you, please try to upload your entry again.