Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Jim Lauderdale, who also serves as volunteer chairperson for MerleFest’s Chris Austin Songwriting Contest, will engage in a live chat on Facebook on Tuesday, Feb. 1, at 7 p.m. EST. Fans and aspiring songwriters can join the chat and pose questions to Lauderdale about the contest and songwriting in general by visiting the official page of the contest at the social media site. To participate, you must have a Facebook account and be a “fan” of MerleFest’s Chris Austin Songwriting Contest page.

Jim Lauderdale

Lauderdale, who hails from the Carolinas, has had songs recorded by such notable artists as Solomon Burke, Mark Chesnutt, the Dixie Chicks, Dave Edmunds, Vince Gill, George Jones, Patty Loveless, Kathy Mattea, George Strait and Lee Ann Womack, among others. He has collaborated with such artists as Elvis Costello, Emmylou Harris and Ralph Stanley and is currently part of a six-week Hot Tuna Blues Tour. Lauderdale chairs a volunteer panel of Nashville songwriters, publishers and other music industry professionals, who will judge entries in the songwriting contest based on originality, lyrics, melody and overall commercial potential.

The 19th Annual Chris Austin Songwriting Contest is open to aspiring songwriters who derive no more than 50% of their income from songwriting or music publishing. Winners will be recognized in four categories – country, bluegrass, gospel/inspirational and general. The contest deadline is February 18. Entries may be submitted via mail to P.O. Box 121855, Nashville, TN 37212, Sonicbids or American Songspace.

As previously reported on AcousticMusicScene.com, 12 finalists – three from each category – will be named in early April and will compete on the Austin Stage at MerleFest, April 28-May 1, on the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina. The first place winners will receive performance slots on the Cabin Stage during the festival.

Additional information is available online at www.chrisaustinsongwritingcontest.org or by calling the contest hotline at (800) 799-3838.