March entry deadlines for both the Susquehanna Music and Arts Festival Songwriting Contest and the Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Contest for Emerging Songwriters are fast approaching.  Both contests are associated with festivals taking place in late spring. 

Entries in the Susquehanna Songwriting Contest must be postmarked by March 7 and are open to singer-songwriters not signed to a major label or publishing deal.  If interested, send a CD or cassette (rewound, please) that is clearly labeled with your name and the title(s) of up to two songs that you would like the judges to listen to, along with a press kit and lyric sheet and a check for $15 to Susquehanna Music and Arts Festival Songwriting Contest, P.O. Box 139, Abingdon, MD 21009. 

The Sixth Annual Susquehanna Music and Arts Festival (SMAF) takes place over Mother’s Day Weekend, May 11-13, at the rustic Ramblewood Resort in Darlington, Maryland (near Havre de Grace).  Finalists will be invited to perform on May 11 and will be entitled to free on-site camping, while the winner to be chosen that day will play the main stage on May 12.  Cash prizes also will be awarded.  For more information on the contest and on the festival, visit www.smaf.info.

Last year’s winners were John Seay (first place), Nick Annis (second place), and Danielle Miraglia (third place).

The Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Contest, considered one of the highlights of the prestigious Kerrville Folk Festival, continues to accept entries until March 15 or until 800 entries have been received – whichever comes first.  As of last week, the halfway mark had been reached. 

From among the entrants, 32 writer-performers will be invited to share their original songs during the first weekend of the 36th Annual Kerrville Folk Festival, May 26 and 27, at the Threadgill Theater on the Quiet Valley Ranch campgrounds, nine miles south of the city of Kerrville, Texas. Six New Folk Winners will be selected from among that group to return on Sunday, June 3 to perform 20 minutes of their original songs.   Besides the prestige of being a Kerrville New Folk Winner, a coveted achievement that has helped to open doors for a lot of singer-songwriters over the years, the six also will receive cash awards and other prizes.  Each of the 32 finalists will receive five-day passes for themselves and one guest for May 24-28.

All writer-performers are invited to send the Kerrville Folk Festival a rewound cassette or home-burned CD containing only two original songs written after Jan. 1, 2005, along with a contact information sheet (no lead sheets, lyrics, bios or press kits) and $20 entry fee via check or money order.  The official 2007 New Folk Competition guidelines are posted online at www.kerrvillefolkfestival.com/newfolk.htm.

The 2006 Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Winners were Jud Caswell, KJ Denhart, Antje Duvekot, Diana Jones, Gordy Quist and Andrew Smith.