Finalists announced for Liverpool Acoustic Songwriting Challenge 2023

Ten talented songwriters have won a coverted spot at the Liverpool Acoustic Songwriting Challenge 2023 Showcase Final taking place at LEAF on Bold Street on Saturday 27th January 2024.

During the September entry period songwriters were invited to submit brand new songs inspired by works of art on public display across the Liverpool City Region.

Judges Kaya Herstad Carney, Robert Vincent, Jon Lawton, Luke Moore and Alison Benson listened to all of the entries and scored each one on lyrics, melody, composition, and originality.

After the marks were totalled the writers of the top ten placed songs were awarded places at the Showcase Final where they’ll perform their song with the work of art that inspired it projected on the screen for everyone to see. At the end of the evening the Judges’ Award Winner will be announced, and the Audience Favourite will be revealed.

The Showcase Final will also feature performances from Luke Moore’s musical and visual arts collaboration Operation Lightfoot.

The finalists are (in alphabetical order):

Anthony Harrison and Helen Attisha – Chains Around My Heart
Derek & Jenny King – Fantine
Ed Jones – This Boy
Helen Maw – Keepers of the Sea
Iain Paterson – Not a Care in the World
James Chetter – Promised
Jim Pearson – The Boy With The Red Hat
Mark Dennis – Castles Or Freedom
Mike Ryan – Lily’s Last Waltz
Paul Henry – The Ghost Of The Bombed Out Church

The winning songwriters in each category will have their song prefessionally recorded by Jon Lawton at Crosstown Studios. They will also take home a songwriting or singing lesson from Kaya Herstad Carney, and a cello lesson or cello arrangement for their winning song courtesy of Luke Moore.

Doors at LEAF on 27th January open at 7.00pm. The show starts promptly at 7.30pm and finishes at 10.30pm. We’re sorry but no under 18s are allowed after 10pm.

Tickets are £10 from Skiddle.

Proceeds will be split between Marie Curie Cancer Care and Garston

The winning songwriters in each category receive the following prizes.