Amnesty’s Search For A Folkie

Amnesty International UK has enlisted the help of The Guardian music writer Dorian Lynskey in what appears to be a search for a new Bob Dylan.

Photo: AP Photo

Festival Des Vieilles Charrues, Carhaix City Center, Carhaix-Plouguer, France

The human rights organisation with more than 3 million members and supporters is looking for someone to become the country’s next top protest song writer.

The competition’s announcement says the idea is to find “the UK’s answer to Dylan, Joan Baez or Black Eyed Peas.”

“As a teenager I became politicised largely by music and music journalism,” Lynskey explained, after agreeing to join. Poet and rapper Kate Tempest is on the judging panel.

“Good protest songs can express political ideas and emotions like nothing else and I’m delighted to be part of Amnesty’s efforts to inspire young songwriters to try their hand at this challenging and rewarding form,” he said.

The competition is open to all UK-based secondary and further education students aged 11-19.

There are two categories, best lyrics and best performance.