Play Mullum Songwriting Competition

Congratulations to Jodie Grinsted who has won her chance to Play Rhythms Stage (Mullum Bowlo) at Mullum Music Festival 2011!

Rhythms magazine was invited to collaborate in this year’s inaugural Play Mullum Songwriting Competition, with the winner awarded the opportunity to play a set on the Rhythms Stage at Mullumbimby Bowling Club at the Mullum Music Festival.

The entry brief was to submit a previously unreleased original composition around the theme of ‘small town’.

Mullum Fest’s Glenn Wright received a healthy number of entries with a diverse and colourful take on the theme.

Rhythms Managing Editor Martin Jones was called in to pick the winner. “Whilst some entries displayed a particularly strong attribute – great singing or strong instrumental prowess – 23-year-old Jodie Grinsted’s entry, ‘Crawling Back’, was the most complete package,” said Jones. “Jodie had put the most work into her arrangement and her lyrics were both heartfelt and refined.”

“I read a news article on the festival back in September,” said Grinsted, who currently lives in Brisbane, “and while it referenced the Play Mullum competition, I can't say I ever really intended on entering. A few weeks later, I found myself clicking through the Mullum Music Festival website where I learnt of the 'small town' brief, which proved to be quite the catalyst.”

“The concept stayed with me,” Grinsted added, “and eventually made its presence known as I was driving home one day. Luckily, my dictaphone was close by and I managed to record the melody and lyric without breaking any road rules.”

An entertainment journalist by day, Grinsted has performed regularly around Brisbane over the past few years and has been “sitting on a few musical eggs for a while.” Following her performance at Mullum Fest, she plans to record a debut EP.

Jodie will play the Rhythms Stage at the Mullumbimby Bowling Club on Sunday November 27 at 5.15pm as part of the Mullum Music Fest alongside the likes of The Perch Creek Family Jug Band, Ray Bonneville, Declan Kelly and The Rising Sun and Hussy Hicks.

Congratulations Jodie - see you on stage, and a huge thank you to all who entered this year's competition!!!

Listen to Jodie's winning Track 'Crawling Back' & join her on Facebook here.

C r a w l i n g B a c k

(Jodie Grinsted, October 2011)

Take me where I know I left my head

Trees will line the streets and I'll be safe again

All I ever want is in your arms

I'll take the wheel and crawl back in my mother's bed

I'll leave the city lights behind me now

I'm driving back to my small town

Stars will shine so brightly in the night

Relive the days I'd string the moon on like a kite