Belfast-Nashville songwriters' festival

Budding songwriters are being asked to dust of that old guitar and write an Ulster-Scot song for this year's Continental Airlines Belfast Nashville songwriters' contest.  The songwriter who creates the 'Best Love Song in Ulster-Scots' will be rewarded with a Gold Series Avalon Guitar worth £1,599 and studio time. 

Last year's winning song 'Fareweel Celtic Hamelans' written by Pauline  Nelson of Ballyclare, has been hailed as a very special song.  

Contest organiser Colin Magee, confirmed: "Pauline recorded her song and we took it to Nashville in October.  We gave out  copies of the winning songs in Ulster-Scots, Irish and English and Nashville people were amazed at the beautiful words in PaulineÕs song.   Over the 12 days in Tennessee we  talked about our Belfast festival and highlighted the link between our music and the music of North America."

  The festival was launched in Nashville on October 11 and the  Mayor  Bill Purcell delivered a speech at the event.

  "Nashville's sister city Belfast shares many qualities with Music City. One of these is a love of country music. The roots of that music can be traced back to the people of Ireland. The upcoming festival will highlight those special connections and build upon the musical foundation that our cityÕs earliest settlers created," he said.

  Songs can be written in any style and the songwriters' contest closes Friday December 16.  Entry forms and details are available at www.belfastnashville.com or collect forms from Marcus Music, Royal Avenue, Belfast.

  The Continental Airlines Belfast-Nashville Songwriters' Festival takes place in the Hilton Hotel, Belfast on February 22-26.