Entries are now being sought for the 2009 Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Competition for Emerging Songwriters to be held on Saturday and Sunday, May 23 and 24, during the 38th Annual Kerrville Folk Festival.  The first 800 entries received prior to March 15, 2009 will be accepted and 32 finalists will be named in April.

Songwriters may either send two original songs (written after Jan. 1, 2007) on a home-burned CD, not to exceed eight minutes in total length, to the Kerrville Folk Festival office or submit them electronically via Sonicbids.  The entry fee is $25. Official guidelines, along with entry information and forms, are posted at www.kerrvillefolkfestival.com/newfolk.htm.

Six songwriters will be named as 2009 New Folk Winners after performing, along with 26 other finalists, in the Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Concerts next May at the Threadgill Theater on the Quiet Valley Ranch Campgrounds at the Kerrville Folk Festival in the Texas Hill Country. 

The 2008 winners were RJ Cowdery of Columbus, Ohio; Robby Hecht of Nashville, TN; Betty Soo of Austin, TX; Devon Sproule of Charlottesville, VA; CJ Watson of Nashville, TN; and Hans York of Seattle, WA.  The six received cash honorariums and other prizes, as well as the opportunity to strut their stuff  for 20 minutes each during a New Folk Winners Concert at the festival.

Established in 1972 at the urging of Peter Yarrow, the Kerrville New Folk concerts have become a highlight of the annual festival, and being named as a New Folk winner is regarded as a very prestigious honor.