On Saturday June 7th, 2025 an appreciative audience of music lovers attended the 4th annual Whitsundays Songwriter Festival’s Concert & Conversation event at Whitsunday Sailing Club.
Locals were treated to an experience of intimate performances and interviews by performers including Golden Guitar winner Brad Butcher, The Voice winner Chris Sebastian emerging talent Zipporah, APRA Award Winner Mark Sholtez, Los Angeles Music Award Winner Francesca de Valence and AIR and QMA nominated and Whitsundays local Karen Jacobsen. The evening provided a fascinating behind the scenes look at the creative process and the songwriters’ experience collaborating while in our region. Brand new works written the day before as part of the annual professional songwriter residency were performed live, in addition to songs from the artist's catalog.
A celebration of original creative work, the finale was performed with the entire faculty accompanying Zipporah as she sang the Australian classic made famous by her mother Christine Anu, ‘My Island Home’. This was a highlight for the audience and performers.
Invited by Samu and Suy woman, from Saibai Island, Zipporah, Karen Jacobsen and Francesca de Valence learned a section of the song in language, rehearsing then performing at the event.
Mayor Ry Collins opened the concert and conversation event, affirming the support of Whitsunday Regional Council for the arts in our community. Following the event, Mayor Collins said “now in its fourth year, this festival keeps going from strength to strength, nurturing local talent and proving once again that the Whitsundays is more than just paradise, and is North Queensland’s home of entertainment and live music.”
This unique world-class performance in a local setting followed a one day workshop for emerging songwriters, being mentored by this professional songwriter faculty. Led by groundbreaking I Heart Songwriting Club founder Francesca de Valence, the workshop attendees traveled from Mackay and Brisbane joining Whitsundays based participants.
Save the date for the 5th annual festival on June 6th, 2026.