THE TEAM
The Songwriter's Club and the competition is run entirely by volunteers.
All income from the competition, events and workshops is used to cover the cost of venue hire and prizes for the competition winners.​
Lesley Paris
Competition Judge
Lesley is a seasoned performer and vocal artist with a lifelong dedication to music. From her early years as a school soloist to leading a band in the late 70s, her musical experiences include jazz performances, classical choral pieces, and lively gigs on U.S. airbases. Lesley's versatile background also spans providing backing vocals in a Cambridge recording studio, an Ipswich stage show and entertaining audiences on cruise ships, transitioning from passenger spots to featured roles in crew shows.
A passionate advocate for folk music, Lesley plays the Bodhran and actively supports the folk community, volunteering at festival like the Bury Folk Festival. Her love of listening to storytelling through music and her commitment to nurturing young talent makes her a valued judge on songwriting panels. With a keen ear for vocal performances and a deep appreciation for meaningful lyrics, Lesley strives to inspire the next generation of songwriters by spotlighting contemporary folk music in increasingly competitive spaces.
Holly Green
Competion Judge / Organiser
Holly Green is known on the folk scene as a captivating performer and a singer of stories. She is a songwriter and storyteller who morphs between live music, storytelling and poetry. Holly’s heartfelt lyrics woven together in memorable tunes are sung with a voice that is warm, ethereal and passionate.
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Holly gives listeners an intimate, thought provoking experience, and her songs deliver: 'hauntingly exact observations... with poetic candour'. Her voice is repeatedly praised as 'mellow, clear and expressive', her sound: ‘seductive and enthralling’. ‘An amazing talent’.
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Tony Phillips
Organiser
Tony won the competition in 2017 with ‘Rolling on’ which has gone on to become the theme tune for a national touring project looking at the state of sessions and singarounds all over the UK.
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David Bartlett
Competition Judge
David has been involved in music since primary school days when he sang in the choir and duetted at seasonal concerts. During his teens he was an avid folk club attendee and went on to set up a club at Cambridge College of Arts and Technology during the 70s. Here he performed regularly with local folk artists and also arranged concerts booking such local luminaries as Robyn Hitchcock among others. He later performed in London folk clubs duetting with his partner Linda as ‘Foxearth.’
In 2004 he was implemental in the formation of Sound Tradition an a cappella four-piece folk group singing mainly traditional English songs; they now have four CD releases. Sound Tradition won an early Milkmaid Song Competition in 2014 and have performed locally at the Apex in Bury, Cambridge, Ely, and Folk East festivals as well as internationally. With Sound Tradition he has written folk song lyrics in the traditional style including one which was joint winner of the John Birmingham Cup at Whitby Festival; it also won the Fastnet Maritime Folk Festival Songwriting Competition held in Ballydehob, Ireland. Having work with the Milkmaid for ten years he currently helps run the Bury Folk Collective - another local folk club.
A lover of all types of folk music from traditional to contemporary, David is a great believer in the music and the community involved in folk music. It is an important form of expression and a support to many people.
Chris Bullen
Organiser
Chris began his career as a recording engineer and went on to compose and produce soundtracks for video and film. He continues to write music and perform in rock and folk bands.
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Until 2014, Chris ran the High Barn record label, recording studio and music venue. During this time he was also a member of the Arts Council Escalator panel for contemporary music. High Barn Records released around 25 albums with both well established and new artists.
Throughout his career Chris has been a gigging musician, working as guitarist and bass player in various pop, rock and folk bands performing a mix of original material and covers.
Chris has produced albums for a wide range of artists. In the folk genre, artists he has worked with include Ashley Hutchings, Ken Nicol, John Buckley, Marina Florance, Two Coats Colder, Sound Tradition, Moses, The Rainbow Chasers and many more.