Latest News

Finalists Named in 2024 Kerrville New Folk Competition

Twenty-four songwriters have been named as finalists in the 2024 Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Competition for Emerging Songwriters. Chosen from among a record-breaking 1341 entries, the finalists will perform the two songs they submitted on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, May 25 and 26, as part of the first weekend of the 52nd annual Kerrville Folk Festival. [Click on the headline to continue reading this article.]
FAI Folk Radio Charts - March 2024

FAI Folk Radio Charts – March 2024

Sarah Jarosz had the top album (Polaroid Lovers), two of the top ten songs, and was the most-played artist on folk radio during March 2024. “The Ballad of Sally Anne” by Rhiannon Giddens and “If God is an Apple” by Erik Balkey and Jessica Smucker tied for the month’s top song. 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 see the top albums, songs and artists charts that are posted monthly with permission, as well as to view a few videos.]

Winners Named in 2024 Canadian Folk Music Awards

Winners of this year’s Canadian Folk Music Awards were recognized at a bilingual, celebratory and music-filled event that took place over two nights during the 2024 CFMAs, April 3-7, in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. William Prince, a Winnipeg, Manitoba-based singer-songwriter from Peguis First Nation, was the top recipient -- with awards for Contemporary Album of the Year (Stand in the Joy), Solo Artist of the Year, and Single of the Year (“When You Miss Someone”). [Click on the headline to continue reading this article and to view the complete list of award winners.]

Entries Sought for Emerging Artist Showcase at 2024 Susquehanna Folk Festival

Up-and-coming roots musicians who would like an opportunity to showcase their talents during this summer’s Susquehanna Folk Festival in York, Pennsylvania have until April 19 to submit application for the event’s Emerging Artist Showcase at the Appell Center on Saturday, August 10, 2024. [Click on the headline to continue reading this article.]
Semifinalists Named in 2024 Songwriter Serenade Competition

Semifinalists Named in 2024 Songwriter Serenade Competition

Fifteen songwriters have been invited to showcase their original songs and compete for prize money at the St. John’s Outdoor Pavilion in Schulenburg, Texas on Saturday, May 11 after being named as semifinalists in the 2024 Songwriter Serenade competition. [Click on the headline to continue reading this article.]

William Prince and David Francey Win JUNO Awards

William Prince’s Stand in the Joy was named Contemporary Roots Album of the Year and David Francey’s The Breath Between won Traditional Roots Album of the Year during the 53rd annual JUNO Awards ceremonies on March 23, 2024 at the Scotiabank Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Members of the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) selected award recipients in these and other categories. [Click on the headline to continue reading this article and to enjoy a couple of songs.]

Entries Sought in 2024 Kerrville New Folk Competition

Entries are now being accepted in the 2024 Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Competition for Emerging Songwriters, to be held on Saturday and Sunday, May 25 and 26, 2024, during the first weekend of the annual Kerrville Folk Festival in the Texas Hill Country near Austin and San Antonio. The first 800 entries received by March 15 will be judged, and 24 finalists will be named in mid-April. [Click on the headline to continue reading this article that also includes information about a New Folk Concert Series tour and the initial festival lineup.]

FAI Folk Radio Charts – January 2024

Alice Di Micele had the top album (Interpretations: Volume 1) and was the most-played artist on folk radio during January 2024. “The Great Forgetting” by Natalia Zukerman edged out "Let’s Get Happy Together” by Jim Kweskin, the month’s second most-played artist, for top song. 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 continue reading this article and see the top albums, songs and artists charts that are posted monthly with permission.]

Nominees Named for 2024 Juno Awards

The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) has revealed the nominees for the 2024 JUNO Awards – including those for Contemporary Roots Album of the Year and Traditional Roots Album of the Year. The coveted awards will be presented on Saturday, March 23 at the Scotiabank Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Hosted by Canadian pop star Nelly Furtado, the ceremonies will be broadcast live across Canada at 8 p.m. ET on CBC TV, CBC Radio One and CBC Music, and may be viewed online globally at CBCMusic.ca/junos and CBC Music’s YouTube page. In the running for Contemporary Roots Album of the Year are The Returner (Allison Russell), We Will Never Be The Same ((Good Lovelies), Beyond the Reservoir...

Grammy Winners Named in American Roots Music Field

Winners in the 66th GRAMMY Awards’ American Roots Music Field were recognized during a ceremony that took place prior to The Recording Academy’s televised and livestreamed awards show from Los Angeles, California on Sunday, February 4, 2024. Brandy Clark, Jason Isbell and Allison Russell, who led the nominees with three nominations each, were among the winners. [Click on the headline to continue reading this article that includes a listing of winners in the American Roots Music Field and select other categories.]

Winners Named in South Florida Folk and Acoustic Music Festival’s Singer-Songwriter Competition

Lynn Biddick (LaCrosse, WI), Jane Fallon (Dunedin, FL) and Sarah McCulloch (Davie, FL) have been named as winners in the 2024 South Florida Folk and Acoustic Music Festival’s Singer-Songwriter Competition. [Click on the headline to continue reading this short article.]

Lucas Rotman Wins Music For Humanity Songwriting Contest

Lucas Maehara Rotman, a Brooklyn, New York-based singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, was named the first-place winner in the first annual Music for Humanity Songwriting Contest during the upstate New York-based nonprofit organization’s 158th Free Performance Night at Noble Coffee Roasters in Campbell Hill, NY, on December 16, 2023. [ Click on the headline to continue reading this article, which includes comments from the contest winner and mention of the runner-up and honorable mention recipients.]