fRETfEST® Regional Song Contest
Bringing music career opportunities to singer songwriters in Regional Australia.
The fRETfEST® Regional Song Contest provides an annual opportunity for singer songwriters from across Australia and New Zealand to present their songs to a live audience during the Tamworth Country Music Festival.
2025 Regional Song Contest
The fRETfEST® Regional Song Contest was held in January 2025 at Tamworth City Bowling Club.
BEST SONG – Kial Malone “My Old Man”
BEST VOCAL – Briar Sharp “Patchy”
BEST LYRIC – Izzy James “Thirteen”
BEST GUITAR – Zach Ruston-Walkom
BEST ONLINE – Gabi Forman
ENCOURAGEMENT AWARD – Jane A Naoi
2025 FINALISTS – Pictured below
(L-R) Standing : Gabi Forman * Lucy Watson * Faith Williams * Briar Sharp * Angus Kitt * Abigail Wighton * Keelan Ruston-Walkom. (L-R) Kneeling : Izzy James * Kial Malone * Zachary Ruston-Walkom * Jane A Naoi
How to Enter
Entrants simply need to:
- upload a video of their song and post it on their socials page (don’t forget to tag fRETfEST on Facebook!);
- submit the video link via the form below (or via email to entries@fretfest.com) before January 1st 2025, including song lyric sheets.
The Entrant may enter 2 songs and each song video is a new entry.
The video must be 100% live, solo, acoustic or electric (guitar only) and feature the Entrant only, with no backing tracks or offensive lyrics and not co-written.
The video must be a unique recording that has not been published before and a copy of the lyrics must be included in the email for each song.
Entrants will be judged live on stage during the Tamworth Country Music Festival in January 2026.
Contact fRETfEST® today
Send your 2026 Regional Song Contest Application
Go on, you could be our next winner!
Conditions of Entry
All songs must be original, written by the Entrant and not be a co-write, nor a cover.
Entrants will be notified to confirm they have made the starting line-up and must confirm their availabilitiy to perform live on stage in Tamworth on 23rd, 24th and 25th January 2026. Times to be confirmed.
The semi-finalists will be chosen and invited to return and perform their 2 songs on successive days.
The finalists will be chosen and invited to perform their 2 songs again the category winners will be announced and prizes will be presented live on stage.
Finalists must be available to receive their prize and stay for the group photo at the end of the Final.
Entrants will be responsible for their own transport, costs, insurance, meals, accommodation and safety.
Entrants remain responsible for their song’s authenticity, composition and/or originality.
Entrants may withdraw up to the commencement of the contest and forfeit their place.
The organiser makes no claim in relation to rights or royalty in the Entrant’s song.
Judges decisions will be final and no correspondence will be entered into, except at the discretion of the organiser.
The Entrant acts independently and the organiser takes no responsibility for liabilities attributable to the Entrant, their equipment, conduct or other acts.
The Entrant accepts these terms and conditions upon entry.
The History
The fRETfEST® Regional Song Contest was launched in 2014 to recognise the depth of song writing talent in our regions.
In that first year, entries were received from as far away as Julia Creek, Roma and the central highlands of Queensland, as well as the Gold and Sunshine Coast regions. We gave away a gorgeous MATON SRS60 featuring solid Queensland Maple timber and started something big!
This followed our successful staging of fRETfEST at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) where over 200 entrants competed across 4 different age categories with the winners performing live on stage at the PLAYHOUSE THEATRE to an audience of 800 people (see pic).
"Our Regional Song Contest offers musicians the chance to be recognised and rewarded for their songwriting talent, with the credibility and results to prove it." says fRETfEST Founder & Director, Al Buchan
fRETfEST started as a Singer Songwriter Showcase that revealed the careers of some of Australia’s best new talent; including Pete Murray Pete Murray who went on to sell over 1 million albums, Bobby Flynn who starred on Australian Idol and Tom Busby who went on to form everyone’s favourite duo, Busby Marou!
fRETfEST also discovered Mark Lowndes who starred on Australia’s Got Talent after winning his age Finals at fRETfEST in 2007 and Alan Boyle who went on to WIN the Billy Thorpe Scholarship Award.
Talk about great outcomes!
In 2008 we brough 40 of our Finalists to the Woodford Folk Festival which inspired even more musicians to join, including Daniel Champagne who now tours the world with his amazing guitar skills, Andrew Redford who went on to win the Telstra Discovery Award at TAMWORTH and Jac Stone who made the finals of The Voice!
So fRETfEST certainly has the credentials that could help propel your careeer positively!
PAST WINNERS
Our 2024 Winners
Best Song : Ricky Pann ‘Magnolias’
Best Vocal : Carly Robinson
Best Guitar : Pete Campbell Music
Best Lyric : Kirsty Larkin
Best Online : Harriet Lowe Music
Encouragement Award : Tamika Bailey
Special Mention : Yolanda Wf (Rose)
Our 2020 Winners
BEST SONG : ‘Hand In Hand’ by Kim Wright from Ipswich, QLD
BEST LYRIC : “Yilalu’ by Loren Ryan from Tamworth, NSW
BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE : Glenn Bidmead from Sydney, NSW
BEST GUITARIST : Hamish Nilsson from Tamworth, NSW
SPECIAL MENTIONS :
Songwriting: Trinity Woodhouse from Newcastle
Lyrics: Kelly Winning for ‘That Fire Truck’
Vocal: Bella MacKenzie from Mackay, QLD.
2020 FINALISTS :
Kristine Best from Gosford, Kat Angela from Blue Haven, Phillip Doring from Wee Waa, Paul Owen from Tamworth, Kelly Winning from Sydney, Julie Prowse from Blackville, Bella MacKenzie from Mackay, Darren Smith from Orange, Glenn Bidmead from Sydney, Kim Wright from Ipswich.
Our 2019 Winners
1st PLACE : 53yo Chad Sinclair with his song, ‘Upon Me’
Runner Up : 16yo Sophie Volp, with her song, ‘Letters’
Encouragement Award : 14yo Shyanne Irwin
ABOUT THE WINNER – Chad Sinclair
53yo Chad Sinclair is a respected local in Tamworth best known for his work with Bluedog Fences. Chad’s face is recognised along with his voice, featuring in the fencing company’s telelvision adverts. The words “Manufactured right here in Tamworth” lend an air of authenticity to Chad’s humble attitude and he is a true blue “Aussie”.
Chad is happy about his win however he’s not the kind of bloke to get too excited. He’s just glad to have taken part and to get into the studio and remix his winning song, ‘Upon Me’ with international session maestro, Phil Weaver on keys, Dave ‘Sticksey’ Adams on drums and Al Buchan on guitars!
LISTEN TO THE SONG > CLICK HERE to find Chad Sinclair UPON ME on your preferred platform
Our 2017 Winners
1st PLACE : 39yo Clinton Hoy from Dubbo, with his song ‘Pieces of Different Puzzles’
Runner Up : 17yo Tameka Kennedy
Encouragement Award : 11yo Felicity Maher from Coonabarabran
On hearing the announcement, Clinton said, “I am honoured, and I appreciate that a platform like this exists for regional artists, especially with its focus on original songs.”
Clinton was featured at the FANZONE STAGE showcase on 27th January at Tamworth Country Music Festival, alongside the 6 Finalists (listed below) as well as special appearances by former winners Molly Millington and Tyler Shoobert!
This year’s Runner up was 17yo TAMEKA KENNEDY and she won the beautiful new Tanglewood acoustic guitar.
List Of Finalists:
* WOLF GORDON from Thiroul near Wollongong
* LUCY PARLE from Lisarow, Central NSW Coast
* JOEL McKAY from Werris Creek
* JOHNNY AMERICAN HORSE from Adelaide Hills
* DENVAH BAKER-MOLLER from Rockhampton
* CLINTON HOY from Dubbo (Winner)
* TAMIKA KENNEDY from Bathurst (Runner Up)
* FELICITY MAHER from Coonabarabran (Encouragement Award).
Thanks to our guest guitarist, Rory Phillips, to all our fans and friends on Facebook and to all the entrants. The field was tough to split with such a high standard this year so thanks for your patience as we finalised the judging.
Here is Clinton Hoy with his winning song, ‘Pieces Of Difference Puzzles’ :
YOUTUBE > https://youtu.be/8DCZ_F9DLu0
Our 2016 Winners
1st PLACE : 16yo Molly Millington from Woy Woy, NSW
Runner Up : 14yo Luke Furbank, from Bathurst
As the winner, Molly received a Music Mentorship Package from fRETFEST® and she performed on stage at the Tamworth Country Music Festival in recognition of her win and took part in the Tamworth CMF Busking Competition where she placed in the Top Ten!
Molly went on to win the grommit section of the 2017 Byron Bay BLUESFEST Busking Competition and she also the won 2017 Today’s Country, 94.1 Brand New Star competition!
Molly recorded her debut EP with country music artist, Shane Nicholson and she is now being played on radio.
LISTEN TO MOLLY HERE > www.mollymillington.com.au/fretfestwinner
The 2016 runner up was 14yo LUKE FURBANK, from Bathurst.
Luke won a unique, purple Tanglewood acoustic guitar (pic) and he performed live on the FANZONE stage at Tamworth as part of the prize.
Our 2015 Winners
1st PLACE : 16yo Tyler Shoobert from Binnaway, NSW
Runner Up : 15yo Georgie Taylor from Thornlands, Brisbane, Queensland
Our 2014 Winners
1st PLACE : 17yo Harry Marshall from Emerald in Central Queensland
Runner Up : 18yo Frank Swaby
17yo Harry Marshall from Emerald in Central Queensland won the 1st annual Queensland Regional Song Contest.
As part of his prize, Harry recorded a single with UK producer, Kev Browne and through his own efforts, he performed live on stage with MUMFORD & SONS.
Marshall also won a mentorship with Fretfest Pty Ltd and went on to sign with the A&R DEPARTMENT.
Harry is hoping he can go on to make a profession of writing and singing his own songs, with this big break. He said, “If I could live my life on the road playing shows for the rest of my life, I would be a happy man. Music will always be a part of me, music is my life!”, says the talented 17yo.
The inaugural song contest attracted entries from as far afield as Julia Creek, 2hrs east of Mt Isa, Roma, Miles, Dayboro, the Scenic Rim and Buderim. It also attracted Frank Swaby from the Gold Coast hinterland who entered the competition hoping to win the Maton SRS60 acoustic guitar, supplied by GUITAR BROTHERS in Brisbane.
18yo Swaby is a Graphic Design student at the Gold Coast Institute of TAFE and he has been announced as the winner of the guitar, much to his delight! Excitedly, Frank says, “I am looking forward to performing live with fRETfEST and playing the guitar. This is a chance to improve my skills as an artist, songwriter and musician.”
Fretfest founder and director, Al Buchan says this is a milestone in the music industry.
“With all the energy being absorbed by nationally televised TV music game shows, hundreds of teenagers are being inspired to play songs but there’s not a lot being done to promote song ‘writing’. We see the Regional Song Contest as a voice in the wilderness. Yes, Australia has got talent. But at fRETfEST, we’re looking for the next great singer songwriters. The next Pete Murray, Kate Miller-Heidke, Tom Busby or Emma Louise.”