The judging panel for www.greatsouthernsongcomp.com 2023 featured Roll Call of Australian music and includes luminaries:
Steven Allen – a stella career in lighting, in the Australian music industry, now working for major Host City Organising Committees, on every Summer/Winter Olympic games, amongst others. Current projects include the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics.
Lisa j Aston – award winning Australian Singer/Songwriter
Bloom – Australian legendary singer and performing artist
Deline Briscoe – is a strong Yalanji woman of song from the Daintree Region of far North Qld. Singer, songwriter, performer Deline’s debut album ‘Wawu’ combines the two worlds of the Yalanji Culture & Gospel vocals, produced by Airileke (Yothu Yindi), Pianist Stephen Maxwell (Jimmy Cliff) and 5 time ARIA award winning composer Andrea Keller for the track ‘Sonrise’. With Ethereal Tree co written by Bart Willoughby based on a poem by Kevin Gilbert is a Hymn to creation and nature.
Michael Browning – Artist Manager, Consultant
John Diamond – JD has a diverse background the professional side of both the music biz and radio broadcasting and is involved in judging roles with major song writing associations and groups. JD’s background covers being a Radio Broadcaster/Radio Sound Engineer – New 2UW/ABC/Radio National/Double J/Triple J/Sound Engineer – Jesus Christ Superstar/A&R Manager Leeds Music/Musician/Judge – Song Central/Judge – Tamworth Song Writers Association
Elise Eaton – Journalist & song writing partner Washuntara (Brenton Roberts)
Jane English – Music Publisher
Mark Gable – The Choirboys
Duncan Hill – songwriter/President of the Tamworth Songwriters Association (TSA)
Karen Jacobsen – songwriter/vocalist/musician & international voice of Suri – Tourism Ambassador and voice of the Whitsundays!!
Scott Johnston – Drumer/Producer/Music Teacher. Scott has performed and recorded with acts such as Jimmy & The Boys/Outline/Swanee/Rose Tattoo/Peter Wells band/John Farnham/The Whitlams as well as international acts including Billy Gibbons and at the 2022 Blues Fest with Clarence Bekker from Spain. Currently playing in and producing Australian/French band “Eastern Kings”. Currently producing and played on tracks for up coming artist ‘Conor Odonahue’ as well as his current country blues band ‘Blueshoud’ whose EP is coming out soon!! Scott is also involved in the fantastic song writing program in NSW jails called ‘Song Birds 2’ taking music/using music and song composition in the most innovative and positive of ways
Roxanne Kiely – Author/Singer-Songwriter/Producer – Scoop FX music tuition
Stephen Kiely – Singer-Songwriter/Multi instrumentalist/Producer – Scoop FX music tuition
Steve Kilbey – The Church
Melissah Kochel – Music Teacher expat in USA
Sam McNally – Premium Keyboardist/Producer/Music Educator/Author, Sam McNally, is a true veteran of the Australian music industry, boasting a history that includes stints with Tommy Emmanuel, Stylus, John Farnham, Doug Williams, Taylor Dayne, Donovan, Sharon OʼNeill, Seals & Croft, Air Supply, Tim Finn (Split Enz), Marcia Hines and a dozen more high-profile artists. His specialty is “playing the right thing” and the enjoyment of collaborating with others.
Pixie Michaels – Sound Production Producer
Chris Molloy – Musician/Promoter and Booking Agent
Rusty Nails – Promoter & music industry larrikan
Nero Swan – The Machinations – currently embarking on re-mixing the Machinations legendary song catalogue
Michael Vidale – Bass player/Music Mixer/Producter: Acts include: Stepps, Anne Kirkpatrick, Reg Lindsay, Jimmy & The Boys, Slim Dusty, Flying Emus, Bluemoons with Mark Punch, Col Joy & The JoyBoys, Peter Wells, Dave McCombe & The Red Ponies European Tour, The Whitlams, Richard Davies US Flaming Lips Tour, Dale Watson, Red Rivers, Rosie Flores, Baylor Brothers Band, Don Walker & The Suave F***S, The Bushwackers, Flaming Stars, Albert Lee, The Prannies, Ian McNamara’s Australia All Overs, Blueshound
Steve White – Manager – Lee Kernaghan
Eddie White – The Cosmic Cowboy – Radio 2RRR
Roni Wildeboer – Music Industry Executive
Tracey Yarrad – Songwriter/Vocalist/Musician expat now living in NYC running a Brooklyn live music venue and recording her own independent productions
and the list goes on!!!