Penland Phezants through to the final of the Milkmaid Songwriting competition 2018.
The competition which took place before a live audience at the Station Social Club in Bury St Edmunds, is judged on lyrical content, tune, pertinence to folk, performance and a fourth factor described by the organisers as 'je ne sais quoi'. It was open to solo folk artists and folk bands.
Each act performed two songs, a warm up (which can be a cover) and their competition entry song. This entry had to be an original composition. Heat winners each then rounded off the evening with an encore of their competition song.
The Phezants' heat-winning entry was "Freeborn John" a Civil War song seen from the Parliamentary side. It celebrates the long struggle for democratic representation in English history from Magna Carta to the Second World War. The lyric and opening war chant was written by poet Gareth Calway and the main tune by folk musician Andy Wall. The performance featured Andy on lead vocals and guitar, Gareth on chant vocal, backing vocals and drum and Vanessa Wood Davies on harp and harmony vocals.
The Phezants warm up song was "Awake for Hereward!" a showcase of their Hereward The Wake show which will tour Bury Arts Festival and Ely Folk Festival this year, was composed for voice, harp and guitar by all three Phezants.
4 heats, each featuring six acts, have now taken place and a final featuring six contenders - the four heat winners and the two highest scoring runners up - will take place early next month. Watch this space for news of the Phezants' progress!