Edinburgh Folk Club host their Annual Songwriting Competition at Summerhall this Wed 17 May.

The prize, now in its 41st year, has an illustrious history. Previous winners include a young Karine Polwart who won in 1999 with ‘Whaur Dae Ye Lie?’ and Robin Laing who won with ‘Isle of Eigg’ in 1986. More recently, 2013’s prize was won by Mairi Campbell and Dave Francis with ‘If I Should Meet My Maker’. Nancy Nicolson, recently reviewed on these pages, was a runner-up in the very first competition in 1976, before winning in 1977 and 1978.

This year’s around 25 hopefuls have taken up the challenge of putting their songwriting skills to the test. They will be judged by a panel of three: Jim Weatherston of local groups Ragged Glory and Fairmile, journalist Neil Hedgeland and Marianne Doig, booker for Leith Folk Club. Winners of the jury vote will receive a cash prize of £100 and have their name engraved on the cup. Runners-up will get smaller prizes of £50 and £30.

The audience also get to have their say. The winner on the audience vote will receive a quaich engraved with their name and the title of their winning song.

Edinburgh Folk Club Annual Songwriting Competition is @ Summerhall, Edinburgh on Wed 17 May 2017. Tickets, £10 (£9 concessions, £7 members) are available from Summerhall box office.