
WSF 2023 Songwriter Workshop. Photo credit: Tropix Photography
Fresh songs and a chance to learn from some of Australia’s leading songwriters will take centre stage when the Whitsundays Songwriter Festival returns for its sixth year.
The festival returns from June 2–6, 2027, with Saturday June 5 set aside for music lovers to join the fun at the Whitsunday Sailing Club through workshops and live performances.
The daytime Songwriting Summit and workshops will welcome emerging and experienced songwriters, along with anyone curious about how songs come together. Visitors can hear from professional songwriter mentors about their craft, while local writers will have opportunities to showcase their own work.
For event organizer Karen Jacobsen, the appeal is giving people a glimpse into a process they might rarely consider when listening to their favourite music.
“We demystify that by letting people behind the curtain,” she said.
“It's a true celebration of the art and craft of writing songs and being together with other people who are either doing that or love original music.
“That's something we're really proud of, preserving that craft of songwriting.”
Six professional songwriters will come together at Pinnacles Airlie Beach for the festival’s residency, with audiences later hearing how the songs took shape by enjoying live performances of the newly written material.
“It's a very exciting, uplifting event we have because, again, it's just that palpable experience of witnessing brand new creative work performed for the first time,” Karen said.
The 2027 lineup is yet to be announced, with artist announcements and ticket updates being shared through the Whitsundays Arts Festival website.