Calling All Cornish Songwriters and Bands

Kan rag Kernow - the annual competition to choose a song to represent Cornwall at the Pan Celtic Festival in Ireland is now underway and MAGA, the Cornish Language Partnership, is offering help writing lyrics in Cornish to bands and singers that would like to enter.

The search is now on to find a winning song to represent Cornwall at the 2014 Pan Celtic Festival, which will take place in Derry in Northern Ireland from 22 – 27 April. Cornwall has met with success several times in this competition and in recent years singer / songwriter Benjad won in both 2012 and 2013. The 2014 festival is of special significance to Cornwall as the international president of Pan Celtic will be Dave Crewes of Perranporth.

“What better way to get your song heard on an international stage?” said Councillor Julian German, Cornwall Council portfolio holder for Economy and Culture. “This is a must for all aspiring young musicians in Cornwall.”

Entries to the Kan rag Kernow competition should be newly composed especially for the competition and are welcomed in any genre of music.  All songs must also be written and performed in Cornish and, as previously, MAGA is offering assistance to writers and bands wanting to enter the competition. 

“If you would like to enter the competition but feel you don’t have sufficient knowledge of the language to write lyrics in Cornish yourself, MAGA can help by assigning you a translator to work with you on your song, free of charge,” said Jenefer Lowe, Manager of MAGA

Shortlisted entries to the Kan rag Kernow competition will compete against one another at a live concert in Cornwall, and a panel of judges will decide which song will go on to represent Cornwall in Ireland in April.

The deadline for entries is Friday 10 January 2014.  Anyone interested in entering a song, or working with one of the MAGA translators, should contact MAGA for an application pack on 01872 323497 or email cornishlanguage@cornwall.gov.uk.

http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=35667