Whitsundays Songwriter Festival and Residency
Whitsundays Songwriter Festival and Residency
The Whitsundays Songwriter Festival (WSF) is fast becoming one of Airlie Beach’s most loved festivals, where six world-class songwriters and artists are invited to the region to mentor a new generation of local songwriters, create new work, deliver an emerging songwriter workshop, and perform in an intimate concert and conversation event for the community. Co-founded in 2022 by Queenslanders Karen Jacobsen and Francesca de Valence, together with the Whitsundays Arts Festival, WSF has hosted songwriters including Wendy Matthews, Toni Childs, Vika & Linda, Graeme Connors, Jude York, Tia Gostelow, and Mark Sholtez.
We are proud to present our festival on Ngaro and Gia land, in regional North Queensland.
Professional Songwriters
Professional Australian songwriters of diverse music genres have been invited to attend the 2025 Whitsundays Songwriters Festival and Residency. Over five days the faculty will participate in a retreat, co-writing songs, networking, and sharing their personal experiences in the music industry.
This year, the faculty includes incredible multiple Golden Guitar winner Brad Butcher, The Voice winner Chris Sebastian, emerging sensation Zipporah, APRA Award winner Mark Sholtez, Los Angeles Music Award winner Francesca de Valence and AIR and QMA Award nominated songwriter and Whitsundays local Karen Jacobsen.
The Residency will be led in our 4th year by Whitsundays Songwriter Festival co-founders Francesca de Valence and Karen Jacobsen.
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Established Songwriter Residential Retreat
Invited songwriters participate in a professional level songwriting retreat, co-writing, masterminding and connecting with other writers.
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Emerging Songwriter One Day Workshop
9:30am - 3pm, Saturday 7 June 2025 at Whitsunday Sailing Club
The professional faculty will mentor emerging songwriters at the Emerging Songwriter Workshop.
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Concert & Conversation
6pm - 8pm, Saturday 7 June 2025 at Whitsunday Sailing Club
Enjoy a Concert and Conversation event at Whitsunday Sailing Club in Airlie Beach with artists including Brad Butcher, Zipporah, Mark Sholtez, Francesca de Valence & Karen Jacobsen.
Sponsors
The 2025 Whitsundays Songwriter Festival is supported by sponsors including Whitsunday Regional Council, Airlie Beach Music Centre, Think Real Estate Mackay, Aussie Mackay, Hon Amanda Camm MP, Sea Star Apartments and Cruise Whitsundays. This project was made possible by the Australian Government Regional Arts Fund, which supports the arts in regional and remote Australia.
The Whitsundays Songwriter Festival is presented in partnership with I Heart Songwriting Club, Whitsunday Sailing Club, and the Whitsundays Arts Festival which is proud to be auspicing arts events such as the Songwriter Festival in the region in 2025.
