Songwriting Contest Application

Jane Titland Memorial Songwriting Contest 2025 Theme: "Play Time”

The  Application form for the 2025 Jane Titland Memorial Songwriting Contest is downloadable using the button below.

You will have until April 20, 2025, to complete and return it, along with a recording of you performing your song, a lyric sheet, and other supporting information. 

Please send your application and accompanying files as physical hardcopy (with accompanying CD or other storage device for your performance recording), to the 3RFS PO Box as listed on the application, or electronically, to Tumbleweedsubmissions@gmail.com.

Once all songs have been submitted, a judging panel will select ten finalists and three alternates.  If you are selected as one of the ten finalists or three alternates, you will receive a confirmation in approximately mid-July.  At this time, the finalists and alternates will be asked to complete a Tech Sheet for their performance; see the “Performer Application” page for that link.

The ten finalists will perform their songs on Saturday afternoon, at the Tumbleweed Festival, for the panel of judges, who will then determine the top three winners.  In addition, there will be audience voting for “People’s Choice.”  The winner of the contest will perform their winning song on the North Stage during the Saturday night benefit concert.

The first prize winner receives $300 and the hand-crafted Jane Titland Memorial Songwriting Contest trophy.  The second prize winner receives $150, the third prize winner receives $75, and the “People’s Choice” award-winner receives $50.  We look forward to hearing from you!

Jane Titland Memorial Songwriting Contest Entry Form
Have you applied to perform at the 2025 Tumbleweed Music Festival?

Please send the following items to the festival at the address above by April 20, 2025:

  • This form
  • Lyric sheet
  • If available, a current photo, performer bio, and website/social media information
  • A recording that is representative of live performance. (Electronic files OR CD or thumb drive - must be separate from the recording you submit with your Tumbleweed performer application). Please title or label your recording with the songwriter’s name and the name of the song.

Attachment 1: Contest Finalist’s Video Requirements

We’re asking for our Songwriting Finalists to record a video of a performance of your song, to be able to present a compilation of the finalists on our virtual festival website. We’d like to present your recorded performances in the highest quality possible. To avoid any problems when we present your performances to the world, please use our requirements below for your submissions.

  • Record your video at the highest resolution possible, up to 4K; we desire at least 1080p if at all possible.
  • Video formats: .mp4 or .mov. Please ask us before sending any other format. If all you can use is a phone or a webcam, please make sure that the phone is in the HORIZONTAL position when you record your performance. (Note that we will review all recorded performances; if we judge that the quality is too low, we reserve the right to not include the performance in the festival. [We’ll be quite forgiving]).
  • If at all possible, please record your audio to a separate, high-quality file (e.g., .WAV, .mp4/AAC, FLAC, etc.) at the highest sample rate possible; submit this file along with your video file (with its native audio track intact), and we’ll take care of the final assembly.
  • Please leave at least 5 seconds at the beginning and the ending of your recording that are just silent - this makes editing easier and allows for subsequent removal of ambient sounds, if needed.
  • File transfers will be via a link that will be sent to you. Please send an email to tumbleweedsubmissions@gmail.com when you are ready to submit, and we’ll send you a link for you to upload your video and audio files.
  • When you send the files for your performances, please make sure to send us the address(es) of your own websites (for your merchandise) and tip jar(s), so that we may be sure to include them on your performance screen and on a separate Performer Bio page on the festival site that will remain live as long as the festival remains online.
  • Also, please send us the wording you would like for a copyright statement to scroll across the bottom of the screen at the beginning of your segment.

Maximum file size: 268.44MB

Past Winners

2024 – Daniel James – Slow Grow

2023 – Sonya Lorelle – Whiskey Cryin’

2022 –  Eric Schaeffer – My Friend​

2021 – Laura Zucker – Sea Glass

2020 – The Go Janes – ​Who Can Name the Wind?

2019 – Katie Fitz – One Little Word​

2018 – Claudia Nygaard – Lucky Girl

2017 -Jen Hajj – Love is Everywhere

2016- Amanda Winterhalter – Shirt

2015- James Nason – ​Changing Times

2014 – Jeff Knoch  – Only A Game

2013 – Mike Murray – Cicero’s Hands

2012 – Jeff Knoch – Crossroads

2011 – Tracy Spring – The Weaver’s Loom

2010 – Tracy Spring – Long Time Gone

2009 – Mike Murray – Grandpa Held the Snakes

2008 – Karena Prater – Arlea’s Lament

2007 – Chris Roe – The Gates of Troy

2006 – Wes Weddell – Carry On

2005 – Art Hanlon – Last Sunday

2004 – Joe Jencks – On Belay

2003 – Joe Jencks – Rise as One

2002 – Larry Murante – It Just Looks that Way

2001 – Groovesmith Collective (Songwriters Jim Coleman, Mary Hartman, Janet Humphrey, and Gary White) – Power Puzzle

2000 – Bill Davie – Lone Ranger on the Moon

1999 – Six Legged Frog – To the Other Side

1998 – Larry Murante – By the Water’s Edge

1997 – Six Legged Frog – Ride the Tumbleweed