Surf Coast Song Contest approaches

SUBMISSIONS are still open for the Art of the Minds 2020 Surf Coast Song Contest.

The event was incredibly popular last year, with more than 100 spectators filling Torquay Bowls Club.

Event host Brad “Lukey” Luke said he was amazed how well the competition had been received.

“I didn’t expect it to be such a hit and I certainly didn’t expect so many people to attend. People just kept coming in,” he said.

“The artists were really wearing their hearts on their sleeves. It was fabulous, just a wonderful night.”

Art of the Minds founder and president Jules Haddock said she had similarly been “gobsmacked by the atmosphere in the place”.

She said music could have a profound effect on people’s wellbeing.

“I’ve known people whose song-writing has saved their life, they used it as a vehicle to express themselves and express their pain,” she said.

“They say there is nothing in the universe that lights all your brain up like music. It motivates people and releases all the feel-good endorphins.”

Ms Haddock said the prizes on offer provide people with extra incentive to enter.

“The winner is going to have a full recording in Oxygen College’s Don’t Poke the Bear Studios.”

The competition is open to anyone and any style of music, considering ties into this year’s theme “Songs of Hope and Wellbeing”.

Submissions for the contest will close on Saturday, September 26. Submitters must send their song in MP3 format along with a lyrics document and headshot to [email protected].

The best 10 songs will be performed live at Rocky Point on Saturday, October 24, with a panel of judges selecting the winner.

Also returning as part of Art of the Minds this year will be Lukey’s Open Mic Night.

The event roster was filled about an hour after opening for entries. It is set to run on Saturday, October 3 at Rocky Point.