The Ship and Anchor/Calgary Folk Music Festival songwriting contest 120 aspiring and established songwriters entered the inaugural The Ship and Anchor/Calgary Folk Music Festival songwriting contest. Of these, 16 performed live in the Alberta Song category, 19 in Best Newcomer and 11 in the Best Original Category (including 4 winners from the previous rounds). A wonderful amount of diversity and creativity was put in to all the entries. Judges from the media and music community took lyrics, melody, audience appeal, sing-ability, message and the emotional qualities into account in their decisions. None of the songs had been previously published in any form or awarded a prize in any other competition. The winner in the Best Original Song category won manufacturing of 500 CDs from Canada Disc and Tapes, $500, a 4-day Folk Fest pass. The Best Newcomer won 20 recording hours at Sundae Sound, one day of mastering at Canada Disc and Tape, $500.00 cash and a 4-day Folk Festival Pass. The Alberta Song winner took home a Calton Case and $500. All three winners will performance of their song at the 2004 Festival. The first runner-up in each category won $250 and Festival tickets. The second runner-ups won $100.00 cash and Festival tickets. The Judge's Discretionary prizes were either $100 cash or a $50 Ship and Anchor gift certificate. And the winners are: Best Original Song: John Wort Hannam “Church of the Long Grass” 1st Runner Up: The Cape May “Hunting Grounds” 2nd Runner Up: Nancy Laberge “This Old Soul” Judges’ Discretionary Prizes Best Imagery to Come Out of a Heartbreak: Dolly Sillito “Machine” Most Likely to Become a Hit Song: Amy Bishop “Just Like Her Best Summer Lullaby: Julie Kerr “Home” Best Alberta Song: The Cape May “Hunting Grounds” 1st Runner Up: John Wort Hannam “Church of the Long Grass” 2nd Runner Up: Charlie Ewing "Curse of the Lost Lemon Mine" Judges’ Discretionary Prizes Most Original Song: Chantal Vitalis, "Roadside Attractions" Best Line: Maria Guacomin "Girl from the Sex Shop" Stompin' "Tim" Award: Tim Hus "Hotel & Saloon" Best Song by a Newcomer: Richard Brown: "You Can Never Tell" First runner up: Sarah Richards "Look Thru Me" Second runner up: Lisa Lobsinger "Strangers" Judges' Discretionary Prizes Most likely to offend a major record label: David Morley "Everything Sounds the Same" Best political song: Geoff McKenzie "The Lynndie England Show" Most heartfelt song: Ellen Francis "Thelma" For further information contact the Folk Festival at 403-233-0904 or visit: calgaryfolkfest.com or shipandanchor.com.