Days left to submit songs of Hope and Wellbeing

LESS than a week remains for avid songwriters and passionate musicians to make their submissions to this year’s Surf Coast Song Contest.

Returning for a fourth year, the contest will again take centre stage at the Torquay Bowls Club on October 13 as part of the Art of the Minds Festival from October 9-16,

However, the cut-off for submissions on September 15 is fast approaching.

Art of the Minds president Jules Haddock said submissions have been increasing over the past couple of weeks, expecting 2022’s event to be just as successful as 2021’s.

“Mental illness continues to be prevalent, not just in the Surf Coast,” Ms Haddock said.

“Even if you don’t have a mental illness, we still have sad moments, and I think there has been a lot of study around writing, which is fantastic to shift emotions, particularly through song.

“Music lights up the brain within seven seconds, there’s nothing else like it on the planet, so we’re urging as many people to send through submissions as soon as they can.”

“Songs of Hope and Wellbeing” is the theme of this year’s song contest as a way of raising awareness for mental health.

The top 10 submitted songs selected will be shortlisted to perform in front of a live audience and a panel of judges on October 13, all in acoustic fashion.

From there, three will be shortlisted on the night to perform again to select the winning artist.

The winning song will be featured in the 2023 Art Of The Minds Festival with the winning artist also to be given the opportunity to perform at the 2023 Festival launch and Song Contest.

Ms Haddock said the song contest later in the year is a wonderful occasion for people to attend, coming on the back of a sold-out 2021 event.

“It’s free entertainment of talented artists that wear their hearts on their sleeves,” Ms Haddock added.

“Going on from all of our previous events, any competition sees people go for the underdogs, but there is a lovely feeling among the finalists, one that sees the 10 artists become their own support group.

“It’s so powerful to watch, it’s an emotionally-charged event.”

To find out how to submit a song to this year’s contest head to artoftheminds.org.au/event/songcontest.