Latest News

Teghan Devon Wins Mid-Atlantic Song Contest

Teghan Devon has been named the grand-prize winner of the 39th annual Mid-Atlantic Song Contest presented by the Songwriters’ Association of Washington (SAW). The Maryland-based folk-pop singer-songwriter was recognized for her song “Our Garden,” which was also the first place (Gold) winner in the contest’s Folk-Acoustic category. Tony Denikos, also of Maryland, was awarded second place overall for his song “Purple Hearts, ” which was also the second place (Silver) winner in the Americana category. [Click on the headline to continue reading this article.]

GRAMMY and International Folk Music Awards Presented

Winners in the 65th Grammy Awards’ American Roots Music Field were recognized during a ceremony that took place prior to The Recording Academy’s televised awards show from Los Angeles, California on Sunday, February 5, 2023. Folk Alliance International presented its annual International Folk Music Awards in Kansas City, Missouri on February 1. [Click on the headline to continue reading this article and to view a couple of videos.]

Performing Arts Presenters Gather in NYC

More than 2,700 performing arts professionals from throughout North America and beyond converged on New York City, Jan. 13-17, 2023 for the annual conference of the Association of Performing Arts Professionals (APAP) – its first in-person gathering in several years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As in years past, dozens of performers from the folk, roots and singer-songwriter communities were featured among the more than 1,000 showcases during the global multidisciplinary performing arts marketplace and conference. [Click on the headline to continue reading this article.]

Performing Songwriter Contests Open for Entries

Entries are now being sought in three performing songwriter competitions: The Al Johnson Performing Songwriter Contest, Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Competition, and Songwriter Serenade. Although these contests take place in Texas, they are not solely for songwriters based in the Lone Star State. [Click on the headline to continue reading this article.]

FAI Folk Radio Charts – December 2022

A Lunch At Allen’s Christmas – Zuzu’s Petals by the Canadian band Lunch At Allen’s was the top album on folk radio during December 2022, while “Light the Lamp (A Song for Hanukkah)" by Alaska-based singer-songwriter Emily Kurn was the month’s most-played song. Revered folksinger-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist John McCutcheon was the most-played artist for a second consecutive month. So say charts compiled by Folk Alliance International based on radio playlists submitted to FOLKDJ-L, an electronic discussion group for DJs and others interested in folk-based music on the radio. [Click on the headline to view the monthly top albums, songs and artists charts that are posted with permission and to view a couple of videos.]

Remembering Ian Tyson, 1933-2022

Ian Tyson, an influential Canadian troubadour best known for having penned the hit songs “Four Strong Winds” and “Someday Soon” as half of the internationally acclaimed folk duo Ian & Sylvia, died on December 29, 2022 at his ranch in southern Alberta at age 89. Folk DJ Charlie Backfish will pay tribute to him and his music during a special edition of his long-running weekly radio show Sunday Street that airs January 8 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. ET on WUSB 90.1 FM on Long Island, NY and online at wusb.fm or https://tunein.com/radio/WUSB-901-s2324/. [Click on headline to continue reading this article and to view several performance videos.]

FAI Folk Radio Charts – November 2022

Sam Bush had the top album (Radio John: Songs of John Hartford) on folk radio during October 2022. The much-heralded mandolinist, multi-instrumenalist and progressive bluegrass pioneer’s rendition of his late close friend's “In Tall Buildings” tied with singer-songwriter Brian Blake’s “Rice Field in the Distance” for the month’s most-played song, while Bush and revered folksinger-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist John McCutcheon were November’s most-played artists. So say charts compiled by Folk Alliance International based on radio playlists submitted to FOLKDJ-L, an electronic discussion group for DJs and others interested in folk-based music on the radio. [Click on the headline to view the top albums, songs and artists charts that are posted monthly with permission.]

FAI-Administered Fund Offers Grants for Folk Artists and Industry Professionals

Independent folk artists and industry professionals seeking funding to support their careers are invited to apply for $500 grants through The Village Fund administered by Folk Alliance International. [Click on the headline to continue reading this article.]

Danny Kalb, Noted Blues Guitarist, 1942-2022

Danny Kalb, best known as a co-founder of the seminal band the Blues Project but who cut his musical teeth as part of the Greenwich Village folk scene of the early 1960s, died of cancer on November 19, 2022. He was 80. [Click on the headline to continue reading this article.]

Americana Honors & Awards Airs on Circle Network, Nov. 23

Performances by some of Americana music’s biggest stars – including Brandi Carlile with Lucius, Fairfield Four, Indigo Girls, Chris Isaak, Lyle Lovett, The McCrary Sisters, James McMurtry, The Milk Carton Kids, Allison Russell, The War and Treaty, and Lucinda Williams – captured live during the 21st annual Americana Honors & Awards show in September will air on Circle Network, November 23, 2022 at 9 p.m. CT. [Click on the headline to continue reading this article.]

GRAMMY Nominees Named in American Roots Music Field

Nominees have been named for the 65th GRAMMY Awards to be presented by the Recording Academy on Sunday, February 5, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. These include those in the American Roots Music Field and select others of likely interest to readers of AcousticMusicScene.com. Among those with multiple nominations are Brandi Carlile, Lucius, Aoife O’Donovan, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, Bonnie Raitt, and Molly Tuttle. [Click on the headline to continue reading this article and to view the complete list of nominees in the American Roots Music Field, as well as those in select other categories.]

FAI Folk Radio Charts – October 2022

Pat Wictor, a touring singer-songwriter and slide guitarist, had both the top album (Flare) and the most-played song (“How Will They Tell It?”) on folk radio during October 2022. Loretta Lynn, the Coal Miner’s Daughter and queen of country music, who died Oct. 4 at age 90, was the month’s most-played artist. So say charts compiled by Folk Alliance International based on radio playlists submitted to FOLKDJ-L, an electronic discussion group for DJs and others interested in folk-based music on the radio. [Click on the headline to view the top albums, songs and artists charts that are posted monthly with permission.]