Seven-time ARIA Award winner Wendy Matthews joins the Whitsundays Songwriter Festival
The Whitsundays Arts Festival is thrilled to announce Wendy Matthews will visit Airlie Beach for the third annual Whitsundays Songwriter Festival. Her many hits include ‘I Don’t Wanna Be With Nobody But You,’ ‘Let’s Kiss,’ ‘Woman’s Gotta Have It,’ ‘Standing Strong,’ ‘If Only I Could,’ and ‘The Day You Went Away.' With a career spanning four decades across multiple continents and platinum selling albums, audiences and aspiring artists in the Whitsundays will have the chance to experience her music live-in-concert and hear about her personal insights and creative process in a concert event and songwriter workshop.
Seven-time ARIA award winning Australian-Canadian singer Wendy Matthews joins the Whitsundays Songwriter Festival lineup
The Whitsundays Songwriter Festival comprises a professional Songwriter Residential Retreat (10 - 15 October), a one-day workshop for emerging songwriters on Saturday 12 October, and a Concert & Conversation, an evening performance by Wendy Matthews and the professional faculty at Whitsunday Sailing Club in Airlie Beach on Saturday 12 October from 6pm.
Professional Australian songwriters of diverse music genres have been invited to attend the 2024 Whitsundays Songwriters Festival and Residency as part of the mentorship program. Over four days the faculty will co-write songs, network, and share their personal experiences in the music industry. This year, joining Wendy Matthews is Queensland Music Award winner and viral star Jude York, AGT, Eurovision and The Voice sensation Johnny Manuel, APRA Award winner Mark Sholtez, Los Angeles Music Award winner Francesca de Valence, and AIR Award nominated songwriter and Whitsundays local Karen Jacobsen.
Karen Jacobsen, international performer, recording artist, and songwriter, and original Australian voice of Siri, co-founded the Songwriter Festival with Francesca de Valence as part of their commitment to promote the art of songwriting in Australia.
“We were energised by the feedback from our last festival, with memories of Toni Childs wowing the audience at our Concert and Conversation event and are over the moon to be able to continue this life-changing arts program in regional North Queensland, and to fulfil our mission to develop the next generation of songwriters.”
Emerging songwriters will experience a full day workshop learning about song craft, writing songs, and being mentored by professional songwriters on Saturday 12 October at Whitsunday Sailing Club.
Led by the founder of the revolutionary online songwriting club I Heart Songwriting Club, Francesca de Valence, this inspiring workshop offers practical tools for overcoming songwriters’ biggest blocks and barriers once and for all.
Francesca de Valence says, “As a young songwriter, I struggled to find support and mentorship for songwriting which led me to create I Heart Songwriting Club and lead workshops across the world.”
20-year-old Mackay-based singer-songwriter Tiffany Grace has attended the previous emerging songwriter workshops. She says, “Being in a regional area, it’s extremely hard to get this experience at such a high level. I really hope this workshop will continue.”
Participant Pe Le, wrote his very first song at last year’s workshop with the support of Linda Bull of Vika & Linda, and went on to continue writing ten songs in the months that followed, demonstrating the transformative power of the festival's mentorship and guidance.
President of the Whitsundays Arts Festival, Jessica Begun, says of the Residency:
“We are thrilled to facilitate the continuation of this significant and important event in the Whitsundays which will have a lasting impact on the lives of our local songwriting talent and promote Australian stories through song.”
Tourism Whitsundays Interim CEO Aimee Cameron said:
“For the third year running, the Whitsundays Songwriter Festival continues to amplify local music, nurturing creativity and showcasing incredible talent. Our region’s commitment to fostering songwriting not only enriches our cultural landscape but also draws attention to the Whitsundays as a vibrant hub for artists and music lovers alike. We are thrilled to see the festival grow and inspire, bringing fresh voices and new sounds that echo across our beautiful shores.”
The Whitsundays Songwriter Festival is presented in partnership with I Heart Songwriting Club and made possible through the support of Whitsunday Regional Council through the Regional Arts Development Fund, Aussie Mackay, Elementa Whitsundays, Airlie Beach Music Centre, Whitsunday Sailing Club, and Whitsundays Arts Festival.