Songwriters interested in performing during Avalonfest in West Virginia in mid-August are invited to enter the festival’s annual songwriting competition. June 15 is the deadline for submission of two songs that have not previously been released for sale on CD, on the Web or any other media.

A panel of judges – including Anne Hills (the featured performing songwriter at Avalonfest 2010), Scott Moore (vice president of Focus Music and a house concert presenter in Maryland), Shari Gallery (concerts chair for the Hampshire County Arts Council), and Sue Trainor (a performing songwriter and member of the all-female trio, Hot Soup) – will select four finalists. They will perform their songs at Avalonfest on Aug. 13, with the winner to play a paid 30-minute set the following day.

Now in its 13th year, Avalonfest is a music, arts and craft festival that takes place August 7-9 at a clothing-optional resort and campground near Paw Paw, West Virginia. Besides Hills, artists slated to perform during the festival include Craig Bickhardt, Creole Stomp, ilyAIMY, Iona, David Kleiner (winner of the Avalonfest 2009 Performing Songwriter Competition), Guy Mendilow Band, Miss Tess and the Bon Ton Parade, Resonance, The Two Man Gentlemen Band and Randall Williams.

A complete list of application procedures, contest rules and prizes can be found online at www.avalon-resort.com and www.sonicbids.com.