Vote for the July/August 2021 "Covers" festival

[64Guitars]

It's time to vote for our next two festivals which will run from July 1 to August 31. Voting starts now and runs for 10 days. You can change your vote any time until the closing of the poll on Tuesday, June 29th (Wed the 30th in some time zones). To do so, click "Remove vote" to cancel your previous vote, then vote again.

This poll is for the "Covers" festival. There is a separate poll for the "Originals" festival. Please vote in both polls.

Remember, "Covers" is covers only, and "Originals" is originals preferred but covers welcome unless otherwise stated in the festival's description.

• 21st Century Songs - Covers of songs released from 2000-2021.
• Country & Western Covers - Covers of songs in the classic American genre.
• Stiff Records - Covers of songs released by Stiff Records.
• The Everly Brothers - Covers of songs by The Everly Brothers.

[64Guitars]

Voting closed. The winner is:

Covers of songs in the classic American Country & Western genre.

[Bishmanrock]

I know nothing about country and western, but luckily I know someone who does so I'll turn to him for some guidance to see if there's anything I could potentially pull off, hoping I can!

To be clear, the songs being covered have to be country and western, but the cover itself can take on different genres and influences?

[Hook]

So we did this with the original fest a year or 2 ago. Being originals the goal was to write and produce in that style. Not being into country music myself I thought it would be super difficult but was surprised with how much I ended up producing. I certainly stretched the idea of country music but it was a great exercise.
This being a cover fest, I would assume as long as it's a "country song" your version could be in a different genre. All songs are just chords and melodies and when played by you its your style.
I find it fun to dive into genres like this that I'm quite unfamiliar with. Hope I can find time over the next 2 months.
Rock on!

[64Guitars]

To be clear, the songs being covered have to be country and western, but the cover itself can take on different genres and influences?

Correct. But the song must still be recognisable. For example, you can't just take the country & western lyrics and sing them over an original composition to a different melody. The basic chord progressions, melody, and lyrics should be retained, but you can change the style/genre of the music to anything you like. Instrumentals are allowed too. So you could play the vocal melody of a country & western song on a guitar or synth, for example, instead of singing it.

[Bishmanrock]

That's all good. Yeah, I think too much original composition crosses the line from cover into original with sample/remix/mash-up territory instead. I wasn't planning on anything that drastic.

Instrumentals are allowed too. So you could play the vocal melody of a country & western song on a guitar or synth, for example, instead of singing it.

Hadn't considered this, will keep it in mind, ta!