Performer and Songwriter Information
Eligibility
Each entry must be wholly original (co-writers allowed) and shall not infringe on any copyrights or any other rights of any third party.
No composition or lyric may be entered that has been placed under contract for commercial sale with any record label in which the underlying contract prohibits the distribution of the artist’s recording on our website.
AI must not have been used to write the lyrics or music to the song.
General Information
Entries are welcome from a diverse array of sub-genres including, but not limited to Appalachian, Americana, Blues, Bluegrass, Celtic, Cajun, Country, Folk, Global Roots, Gospel, Old-Time, or various fusions as long as the songs are original compositions of the artist making the submission and NOT AI generated.
The South Florida Folk and Acoustic Club and the Community who attends our Festivals value diversity, equity, and inclusion. We strive for gender parity and actively welcome participation from individuals of all cultures, races and religions.
You may either include a youtube video or other url where the song and performance can be viewed.
Do not send a “mastered track” of your song/performance. We want to SEE YOU PERFORM your song. It could be live or just from your phone.
Songwriters retain all rights to their songs.
All songwriter entries must be submitted online by 11:59 pm EST on Sept 30, 2026. Performer applications will open Oct 1 and close when we reach 75 entries (or by Oct. 31)
Performers- Applications will open Oct. 1, 2026.
We will only accept the 1st 75 applications, so apply early!
There are 2 stages at the Festival. The Will McLean Stage is dedicated to the BEST Florida Artists. It runs from 11 or 12-5 pm on Saturday and Sunday. Most of our Florida Artists will perform on this stage. The Gator Stage runs from Friday night through Sunday night . This is where our National Singer-Songwriter competition is held and where our national performers will play.
Most performance slots are 30 minutes with a few late day slots of 45 minutes (headliners will play for 1 hour).
We pay all of our performers, but we do not pay for housing or transportation. Performers and Singer-Songwriters may camp for free on-site. We do try to help with home hospitality (if available) when requested by performers only.
There is no fee to apply to perform at the festival. Just fill in the form and be sure to include a link to your videos. We want a video of YOU playing your music We do not want a mastered track or a band if you play alone. We want to see you perform how you will be performing at the festival. We are looking for a diverse group of performers who play a wide range of music to fill our stages and entertain our audience.
There will also be daily jams and workshops from 12-5 pm. We ask our performers to help with these activities when possible. It is a great way to connect with the audience and promote your merchandise.
Singer -Songwriter Applications will be open Sept 1-30 2026.
Be sure you have included a url to a video of your performance of the song in the application.
You may enter more than once: submit two songs with each entry fee. Don’t enter a given song more than once per year.
National Singer-Songwriter competition
A panel of preliminary judges will assess the submissions. 12 finalists will be invited to attend the South Florida Folk and Acoustic Music Festival (at their own expense) Feb. 5-7, 2027. Our National Songwriter competition is on Friday, Feb. 5, 2027. A panel of 3 judges will assess the performances and announce the 3 winners. The winners will then perform in a round either on Saturday or Sunday and be invited back the following year as paid performers. Each winner will also win $300.
Entry Fee $25 for 2 songs.
South Florida Singer-Songwriter Competition
Singer songwriters from Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties are invited to enter this competition. (You can also enter the national competition if you want!)
A panel of preliminary judges will assess the submissions. Finalists (10-12 – depending on the number of entries we receive) will be invited to perform at Anne Kolb Nature Center on Sunday, Jan. 10th, 2027 from 2-5 pm. A panel of 3 judges will assess the performances and announce the 3 winners. The winners will then perform in a round at the Festival (Feb. 6 or 7th). Each winner will also win a cash prize of $200.
Entry Fee $15 for 2 songs.
