The Folk Project’s 2026 Songwriting Contest

Announcing The Folk Project’s 2026 Songwriting Contest

Enter Folk Project’s first annual Songwriting Contest to win a cash prize and the opportunity to play an opening act at the Troubadour Acoustic Concert Series.

Key Dates:

• July 24, 2026 – Deadlines for entries
• August 24, 2026 – Winners announced
• September 26, 2026 – Performance at Troubadour

Prizes: Three winners will each win a $200 cash prize and will get to perform their award-winning songs in the opening set for Ellis Paul at the Troubadour Acoustic Concert Series on Sept. 26, 2026 in Morristown, NJ.

How to enter:

• Register for the contest at https://folkproject.clappia.com/app/AJC367603
• Songs must not be subject to any existing publishing contract or exclusive administration deal.
• You will be pasting a URL link to your songs from any of a number of cloud-based services like Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, DropBox, Samply, SoundCloud or a similar service.
• Entry fee is $15 per two-song entry, and you may enter as many times as you like.
• Deadline for submission is July 24, 2026 (11:59 PM ET)
• You can send questions to [email protected]

Eligibility and Judging: The contest is open to all songwriters, anywhere. It will be judged by professional songwriters on the basis of melody, lyrics, composition and originality.  To the extent possible it will not be judged on production quality, but your recording needs to be good enough to show off what the judges will be looking for.

AI Use Policy:  We are seeking songs written by human creators. While AI tools, such as Suno or Udio, may be used to assist with production, all core songwriting elements – including lyrics, melody, and structure – must be the original work of the submitting artist.

Any use of AI in the production process must be disclosed at the time of submission. Fully AI generated songs are not eligible for consideration.

Other details: You retain all rights to your own work. Should you win, you allow us to use your name and likeness for promotional purposes. If necessary, Folk Project may choose to extend the deadline for entries, but we will not make it any earlier.

Meet our esteemed panel of judges – Steve Seskin, Susan Cattaneo and Natalia Zukerman.

They are all treasures.

Steve Seskin

Steve Seskin is a successful songwriter who has written seven number one songs, including Grammy-nominated “Grown Men Don’t Cry,” recorded by Tim McGraw, and “Don’t Laugh at Me,” winner of NSAI Song of the Year and Music Row Magazine Song of the Year in 1999 as recorded by Mark Wills. His other #1 hits are “No Doubt About It” and “For a Change,” both recorded by Neal McCoy, “No Man’s Land” and “If You’ve Got Love,” both recorded by John Michael Montgomery, and “Daddy’s Money,” recorded by Ricochet.

Other chart toppers include “I Think About You,” recorded by Collin Raye, and “All I Need To Know,” recorded by Kenny Chesney. The video for Raye’s “I Think About You” single was named the Academy of Country Music’s Video of the Year in 1997, and the song and video were also given an award by the Tennessee Task Force Against Domestic Violence.

In 2014, 2018 and 2020, Steve was nominated to the NSAI Hall of Fame. Recent recordings of his songs include “Pictures,” by John Michael Montgomery, “We Shook Hands,” by Tebey, and “I’ll Always Be There For You,” by Brian McComas, “This Too Shall Pass,” by Sinclair and “Standing Still”, “Proof”, “Lift You Up” and “Electricity” by Seth Glier.

Steve is also an active keynote speaker and songwriting teacher for the West Coast Songwriters Association, the Nashville Songwriters Association International, the Swannanoa Gathering, and the Song School at Rocky Mountain Folks Festival, and several NETN events. He has also been the director of the Kerrville Songwriter’s School since 2012.

Susan Cattaneo

Susan Cattaneo is not only a Berklee trained musician but she taught there as well. Her songwriting classes were highly regarded by the students. Susan helped them to blend their words to the music and vice versa — and to keep the original freshness and integrity of each song so that it’s their own song, not hers. Not an easy task.  She’s a songwriter.  She’s a guitarist.  She’s a singer. She’s a show producer. She’s a mentor to many.

Susan won the CT Folk Festival and was nominated for Singer Songwriter of the Year at the 2022 Boston Music Awards. She has been a finalist or winner in the country’s most prestigious songwriting and music contests including being a three-time Kerrville New Folk finalist. Her 2016 double album The Hammer and The Heartcharted #1 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart and yielded a folk radio #1 single and top 10 album.

With her powerful voice, captivating melodies and finely-crafted lyrics, Susan Cattaneo is one of Boston’s most respected singer-songwriters. Combining vivid storytelling with a modern songwriter’s spin. Susan’s music blends folk, rock and blues with hint of country. She likes to call it, “New England Americana”.

Natalia Zukerman

Natalia Zukerman comes equipped with a triple-threat toolbox: She’s an incisive songwriter with the phrasing of a jazz-blues singer and the phenomenal instrumental talent on anything with strings.” The Rogovoy Report

Born and bred amidst the vibrant tapestry of New York City, Natalia’s artistic journey has taken her on a mesmerizing adventure. From her formative years at Oberlin, where she honed her skills as a visual artist, to the bustling streets of San Francisco, where she birthed her mural business, “Off The Wall,” Natalia’s artistic spirit knows no bounds.

Moving to Boston in 2005 marked the genesis of a remarkable musical career that has since seen her become an international solo performer and the proud creator of eight independent albums, released through Weasel Records and her own label, Talisman Records. She has shared the stage, been a side player for, and/or opened for some of acoustic music’s most beloved artists including Ani DiFranco, Shawn Colvin, Dar Williams, Janis Ian, Nanci Griffith, Susan Werner, Willy Porter, Melissa Ferrick, Glen Phillips, Richard Thompson and many others.

But her artistic journey doesn’t stop at music. Natalia’s brush strokes adorn both private and public murals, and her illustrations breathe life into adult and children’s books alike. She has crafted sets for plays in the bustling streets of New York City and immortalized countless individuals (human and animal!) through her private portrait commissions.

In 2017, Natalia Zukerman became a Cultural Diplomat for the U.S. Department of State, embarking on a transformative journey with her trio, “The Northern Lights,” performing and conducting workshops across Africa. She continued her global outreach in 2022, co-leading workshops with social action musicians in Zimbabwe alongside the band Raining Jane. Excitingly, Natalia and Raining Jane were selected once again to lead workshops through American Music Abroad again in 2024.

Nurturing the next generation of talent, Natalia imparts her wisdom through private songwriting lessons and has graced the coveted Song School and festivals throughout the U.S. and Canada with her teachings as well as working with Paul Reisler of Kid Pan Alley.