GOOD LUCK! Local Unsigned Only Competition Finalists!

You've got until August 31, 2017 to help three local artists win the 2017 Unsigned Only Fandemonium competition!  Independent musicians from around the world submit their songs to the contest. There's a separate competition chosen by a panel of judges as well.

Brantford's Benjamin Benjamin Dakota Rogers is up for the Folk/Singer-Songwriter category.



Links: Benjamin Dakota Rogers, More Benjamin Dakota Rogers Stories, Video above courtesy of Cultivate Music

Rockwood musician Wes Mason is the running for the Screen Shot award (for licence-able songs).



Links: Wes Mason, More Wes Mason Stories, Video above courtesy of Wes Mason

Last but not least Mikalyn Hay from Guelph was nominated in the Teen category.



Links: Mikalyn Hay, More Mikalyn Hay Stories, Video above courtesy of Mikalyn Hay Music

Below is a listing of all the Canadian nominees Click here for the complete list.

Folk/Singer-Songwriter

• Benjamin Dakota Rogers: The Soldier Song
• Big Little Lions: Better Than This
• Matt Epp: The Sound
• Brock Zeman: Drinks (the Clown)

Screen Shot

(suitable to use in TV, films, gaming, advertising)

• Wes Mason: Worth It
• Big Little Lions: In the Quieter Times
• LITEYEARS: Zeitgeist
• Jayde Taylor: Hurts Like Hell

Teen

• Mikalyn Hay: Pins and Needles
• Quinton Cochran: Don't Need a Reason
• Faouzia: Knock on My Door
• Tyler Simmons: I'm Already Falling

Adult Album Alternative

• David Blair: What Am I Worried About
• BRAVERY: Sparkles
• North Easton: Love Like That

Adult Contemporary

• Colleen Brown and Major Love: I Love All of You
• Matt Epp: The Sound

Americana

• Big Little Lions: Against the Wall
• Dale Boyle: Gasoline
• Luke Nicholson: Long May He Reign
• The Small Glories: No Friend of Mine

Christian

• Jordan St.Cyr: In My Lifetime + Victory

Country

• Lisa Nicole: Mad About It
• Trevor Panczak: For a Girl
• Powell Peebles: So Far So Good
• Brad Saunders: Cut to the Chase

Pop/Top 40

• Nate Hall: Holiday
• The New Electric: Ride This Feeling

RnB/Hip Hop

• K Montana: Dancing

Vocal Performance

• Janet Cull's In The Red: Mommy's Boy

Categories without Canadian finalists: Electronic Dance Music, Rock,

Blast from the Past: Last Year's Winners

Links: Unsigned Only, More Unsigned Only Stories

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CONGRATS! Local+Canadian Winners in 2017 International Songwriting Competition!

Canadian musicians made a great showing at the 2017 International Songwriting Competition (including the Grand Prize)! Many of them were from our area.

The only local 1st place winner was Hamilton's Lava Dolls who took the top spot of the Unsigned Only category.  As a result, they'll be getting musical gear, CD duplication, free music distribution and more. They also received honourable mentions in Folk/Singer-Songwriter and Unpublished categories.

Links: Lava Dolls, Video above courtesy of Lava Dolls

Fort Erie Bluesman Spencer Mackenzie won 3rd place in the Blues genre. This prize includes free music distribution, musical gear and more.

Links: Spencer Mackenzie, More Spencer Mackenzie Stories, Video above courtesy of Spencer Mackenzie

Other local artists who earned honourable mentions include Suzie Vinnick (Niagara) + Steve Strongman (Hamilton) for Blues, Brantford's Benjamin Dakota Rogers (Folk Singer/Singer-Songwriter) and Wes Mason from Rockwood (Teen).



Links: Wes Mason, More Wes Mason Stories, Video above courtesy of Wes Mason

The big winner was also from Canada. Manitoba's Matt Epp ft Faouzia won the Grand Prize. They'll gain $25,000 (US), recording time, CD duplication, musical gear and much more.



Links: Matt Epp, Faouzia, Video above courtesy of MattEppMusic

CONGRATS EVERYONE!

Here are a few highlights (including all the Canadian winners). Click here for the complete list.

• Grand Prize: Matt Epp ft Faouzia (Canada)
• Unsigned Only: Lava Dolls (Hamilton), 2nd: Raquel Cole (Canada), Council (US)
• Blues: Johnny Drummer (US), 2nd: JaiDan (US), 3rd: Spencer Mackenzie (Fort Erie)
• Christian: Attaboy (US), 2nd: Jaylene Johnson (Canada), 3rd: Tenille (Canada)
• Lyrics Only: Gordon Anthony + Patrick Barry, 2nd: Government Town (Canada), 3rd: Salar Khan (Pakistan)
• Rock: Gang Of Youths (Australia), 2nd:  Keaton Simons (Canada), 3rd: Sam Roberts Band (Canada)
• Folk/Singer-Songwriter: Prateek Kuhad (India)
• Americana: Grace Askew (US)
• Country: Caitlin Notey, Matias Mora, Jeannie Lurie, Keith Armstrong
• Jazz: Shunzo Ohno (Japan)

Canadian Honorable Mentions

• Blues: Suzie Vinnick (Niagara) w Steve Strongman (Hamilton)/Les Copeland
• Folk/Singer-Songwriter: Lava Dolls (Hamilton)/Benjamin Dakota Rogers (Brantford)/Big Little Lions
• Unpublished: Lava Dolls (Hamilton)/The Market Kids/Jaylene Johnson
•  (Folk Singer/Singer-Songwriter)
• Teen: Wes Mason (Rockwood)
• Adult Album Alternative; Sam Roberts Band 
• Adult Contemporary: Nuela Charles
• Americana: Brock Zeman/Government Town
• Children's Music: The Kerplunks/Rory Gardiner
• Christian: Brant Pethick
• Country: Jacqui V/Jessica Mitchell/Raquel Cole
• Instrumental: Chris Andrew/Louis Larouche/Open Strum
• Jazz: Eli Bennett
• Lyrics Only: Alia Bhimji/Harvey Downes/Mike Guiney
• Music Video: KAIS
• Performance: Mathew V/Vicki Brittle
• Pop/Top 40: Elena Goddard/The New Electric/Tinah
• RnB/Hip Hop: Graph/Phe
• Rock: Pigeon Park
• Unsigned Only: Big Little Lions/Pigeon Park
• World: Sultans Of String

Blast from the Past: Last Year's Winners

Links: International Songwriting Competition, More ISC Stories

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