Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Winners Named

Five songwriters and a duo have been named as winners in the 2014 Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Competition for Emerging Songwriters. Daniel Boling (Albuquerque, New Mexico), Connor Garvey (South Portland, Maine), Frank Martin Gilligan (Dickinson, Texas), The Lovebirds featuring Lindsay White and Veronica May (San Diego, California), Matt Nakoa (Brooklyn, New York), and Caroline Spence (Nashville, Tennessee) were selected by a panel of judges from among 32 finalists who performed two songs each during the New Folk Concerts on May 24 and 25 as part of the Kerrville Folk Festival, an 18-day event that continues through Sunday, June 8, at the Quiet Valley Ranch in the Texas Hill Country.

The six will perform in the New Folk Award Winners Concert on Sunday, June 1. They will receive cash honorariums and other prizes, as well as the opportunity to participate in the New Folk Concerts Fall Tour culminating with the opening slot on the 2014 Fischer Festival stage (previously Rice Fest). Established in 1972 at the urging of Peter Yarrow, the Kerrville New Folk concerts have become a highlight of the annual festival that is geared towards singer-songwriters of various musical styles.

Now in its 43rd year, year, the Kerrville Folk Festival was created by Rod Kennedy to celebrate songwriters. Affectionately known by many as the “RodFather,” Kennedy died this spring. Kerrville is the longest continuously running festival of its kind in North America. In addition to concerts each evening, it features “Ballad Tree” song-sharing sessions, campfire jam sessions, concerts and activities for children, organized canoe trips on the Guadelupe River and Hill Country bike rides, a professional development program for teachers, as well as a three-day songwriters school and instrumental workshops.

Editor’s Note: An article listing the 32 Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Finalists was posted on AcousticMusicScene.com on April 23 and is archived in the Awards & Contests and Festival Focus sections.