Up-and-coming bluegrass artists who offer a fresh take on the genre are invited to compete for the 2014 FreshGrass Award, a highlight of the eponymous three-day bluegrass and roots festival held each fall at MASS MoCA in North Adams, Massachusetts.
In its sophomore year, the contest expands from one category to three – affording unsigned bands, duos and banjo players an opportunity to compete for cash prizes totaling $15,000, recording time at Compass Records’ studio in Nashville, and a main stage slot at FreshGrass 2015. Judged by a panel of industry professionals, the competition is held concurrently with the festival on September 19-21, 2014, with contest performances taking place on an indoor stage throughout the event.
“We want to hear musicians who know the rules well enough to break them,” says festival producer Chris Wadsworth. Entrants must submit two videos via the festival’s website (www.freshgrass.com) – one live performance of an original composition and one live performance of a traditional bluegrass number. The videos will be evaluated based on originality, instrumental/vocal skill, and bluegrass proficiency. Finalists will be notified in mid-August, while the winners will be announced on the festival main stage on Sunday afternoon, Sept. 21.
“It’s a thrill to watch the next generation of music-makers hunker down in this contest, while the top bluegrass musicians in the country are playing right outside the doors on festival stages, jamming in workshops, picking in the courtyards, and sometimes popping on to the contest stage to have a listen,” Wadsworth continues.
The artist lineup for FreshGrass 2014 includes Sam Amidon, Darol Anger, Alison Brown, Sam Bush, The Carolina Chocolate Drops, Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, Cricket Tell the Weather (2013 FreshGrass Award winner), Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn, The Gibson Brothers, David Grisman Sextet, The Infamous Stringdusters, Claire Lynch, Aoife O’Donovan, Liam O Maonlai, Railroad Earth, Martha Redbone Roots Project, and Valerie June.
The family-friendly festival in the Berkshires of northwestern Massachusetts will be held rain or shine. Limited-time, early-bird, three day festival passes are available via the FreshGrass website, while single-day tickets may be offered closer to the event.
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