ABOTMA Songwriting competition

The competition is open from 1 July 2026 to 30 September 2026

If you would like more information email: abotmasongs@gmail.com

The ABOTMA Songwriting competition will be on again in 2026, thanks to our sponsor Suzanne Diprose, director of Performance Advantage

The objective of the songwriting competition is to encourage artists to develop their own sound and story, and to further Bluegrass and Old-time traditions in a contemporary context. 

A prize of $500 cash will be presented to the winner and $200 cash to the runner-up at the Mountaingrass Festival 2026 where they (or their nominee) will have the opportunity to perform their winning songs. The winner and runner-up also receive a season pass to the Mountaingrass festival in 2026. 

The first prize is offered through the generous sponsorship of Performance Advantage, a company providing HR services to small business. It's Director Suzanne Diprose will present the prizes at Mountaingrass 2026 along with award-winning songwriter, Dave Diprose (one of the Judges).  ABOTMA supports the competition with the provision of festival passers for the winner & runner up.  Second prize is now sponsored by Greg McGrath of the Australian Bluegrass Blog. 

The ABOTMA Songwriting competition 2026
proudly sponsored by Performance Advantage

Competition Entry Criteria & 
How to Enter

To enter:

1. Entries open on 1 July 2026 and close at midnight on 30 September 2026. 

2. Click on the Enter Songwriting Competition button below to purchase your entry and enter the details for each song.  Entries are $20 each. 
3. Email a pdf of your song lyrics and your MP3 recording to the email address abotmasongs@gmail.com  (this email address is on your entry ticket).  

Note: If your attachments are larger than 5MB send a shared link, ensuring the person at the other end has permission to open and download the file. 

If you would like more information or have any questions please email: abotmasongs@gmail.com

How To Enter

Entry Criteria

Criteria: 

1. Songs entered must be written (or co-written) by the entrant and must not be published prior to Mountaingrass 2026 (Spotify; Apple Music etc); 
2. A recording (MP3) and lyrics (PDF) are required for each entry.  Please note .WAV files are not acceptable as they are too large for email.  If attachments are larger than 5MB you can send a shared link (eg Dropbox).  If sending a link, please ensure the person opening at the other end has the rights to do so.
3. Entries must be performed on acoustic stringed instruments (bass excepted) in a solo or duo format, with backing tracks unacceptable for performance of the winning entry. 
4. Entries are not required to be genre specific however priority in judging will be given to songs suitable for performance as Bluegrass, Old-Time and associated styles. 
5. The judges will consider song structure and form (verse; chorus; instrumental section etc); melody (don’t forget the hook lines); lyrics (metre -flow with music; rhyme; alliteration etc); and originality. 
6. Submissions that are instrumental only, or lyrics only, will not be accepted.
7. Original lyrics to an existing tune or song are unacceptable. 
   
8. The judges decision will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.

9. Entrants are encouraged to be members of ABOTMA. Become a member here (membership cost is $30).

The ABOTMA Songwriting competition was started by Suzanne Diprose, the director of Peformance Advantage in 2024.  Suzanne started the competition to honour the creative song-writing endeavours of her awarding winning song-writing husband, Dave Dipose, with the intent of encouraging other artists to develop their own sound and story, and to further Bluegrass and Old-time traditions in a contemporary context. 

ABOTMA supports this initiative with technical support and provision of the festival passes for the winner and runner up.  One of the ultimate aims of the competition is that it becomes self-funding through the collection of the songwriting competition entry fees.

In 2024 a prize of $500 cash was offered to the winner by Performance Advantage and Dave Diprose offered $100 cash to the runner-up.  The prizes were presented on stage at the Mountaingrass Festival in 2024 by Suzanne Diprose as the competition sponsor accompanied by Dave Diprose as competition Judge.  Dave was assisted in 2025 in judging the competition by multi-award winning songwriter Pete Denahy.

The prize presentations were followed by performances of the winning songs.  Karen Lynne performed her winning song 'Out There On The Road' with her husband Martin Louis and her son William Louis.  Ben Thomas performed his song with Paul Abrahams backing him on double bass.  

In 2025 a prize of $500 cash was again offered to the winner by Performance Advantage and ABOTMA provided $100 cash to the runner-up from competition entry fee proceeds.  The prizes were presented at the Mountaingrass Festival in 2025 by Suzanne Diprose as the competition sponsor accompanied by Dave Diprose as competition Judge.  Dave was again assisted in 2025 in judging the competition by multi-award winning songwriter Pete Denahy.

The prize presentations were followed by performances of the winning songs.  Emmy Ryan performed her winning song 'Unfold' solo, followed by Liz Frencham performing her song Restless solo too. 

History of the ABOTMA Songwriting competition

Past Winners

The winners of the ABOTMA Songwriting competition in  2025 were:

First prize: Emily Ryan - Unfold

Runner up: Liz Frencham - Restless

2025 ABOTMA Songwriting Competition Winners

The winners of the inaugural ABOTMA Songwriting competition in 2024 were: 

First prize: Karen Lynne - Out There On The Road

Runner up: Ben Thomas - I’ll Be Going Back There Next Year.

2024 ABOTMA Songwriting Competition Winners (Inaugural)