Eighth Annual Minneapolis SongSLAM
January 25, 2026 @ Icehouse MPLS
Doors at 3PM, Show at 5PM
Host: Chris Koza
co-presented by Sparks & Wiry Cries and Source Song Festival
songSLAM - Info and Rules
The Sparks & Wiry Cries songSLAM, in partnership with Source Song Festival, is a unique opportunity for composer/performer teams to premiere new art songs and compete for cash prizes. This social event will take place at ICEHOUSE MPLS 2528 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN, 55404, on January 25, 2026, and will be hosted by Chris Koza.
Each team will present a new song for voice and piano in any language for the voting audience, who—in the poetry slam tradition—will then vote on their favorites and award $1500 in prize money:
$700 for first place, $500 for second place and $300 for third place
Information about the performance & premieres:
- Source Song Festival, ICEHOUSE MPLS
- Teams are encouraged to bring their friends, as all prizes will be awarded by audience vote!
RULES:
1) Registration is $20 and opens on November 21, at 5PM CST, on a first-come, first-served basis.
https://www.sparksandwirycries.org/songslam-events/songslam-minneapolis
2) Performance slots will be given to the first 10 applicants to apply; there will also be space for 5 alternate slots in the event of cancellations. Teams who do not successfully register in time to at least be an alternate will have their money refunded. Those on the alternate list will not have their fee immediately refunded; instead, they will have the choice to either stay on the list or be taken off, in which case their fee will be refunded.
3) Original compositions presented at the Minneapolis songSLAM must:
- be composed for voice and piano
- feature texts that are in the public domain or have
written and signed permission from the author/trust
- receive their world premiere at our event.
4) Songs should be no more than 5 minutes in length.
5) A composer can only submit ONE song for the event. Performers can only perform in ONE song for the event.
6) Prize money is as follows: $700 for first place, $500 for second place and $300 for third place and will be awarded by the audience.
7) Further prizes may be granted at the discretion of the Co-Artistic Directors of Sparks & Wiry Cries, including but not limited to: professional recording during the event for use by the composer and performers; online publication and sales of winning songs, hosted through Sparks & Wiry Cries’ website; and possible inclusion in a songSLAM song book published through New Music Shelf. Please note, regardless of premiere, publication, and recording, Sparks & Wiry Cries nor any partner institution will ever claim ownership of the music premiered at any songSLAM. The rights to the premiered works will remain solely with the Artistic Team that applied, and they can further decide how to divide any assets.
8) Texts may be in any language. Be advised that if your registration is successful, you will need to obtain permission from your poet, or from the trust of the poet if deceased, to use it in your premiere on a specified date before the event on January 25, 2026, if your text is not already in the public domain. Your poet may also be a part of your team if you wish.
9) There is no age limit for those who wish to apply.
10) Composer must be present during the premiere event.
11) Scores for songSLAM must be completed and submitted by no later than January 3, 2026.
12) Teams should be complete at the time of registration and must consist of at least two people. Composers can be either pianist or singer.
Teams are encouraged to invite their friends and share the event as widely as possible, as all prizes will be awarded by audience vote.
