A Quick Q & A with Tom Rush

Tom Rush has been captivating audiences with his rich, melodic voice and gently laid-back, rustic brand of folk music since he first burst on the coffeehouse scene in Cambridge, Massachusetts while a student at Harvard in the early 1960s. One of the most acclaimed singer-songwriters of our time, he has both written songs that have been covered by others and introduced the world to other notable artists through his gifted reinterpretations of their work. Kathy Sands-Boehmer posed a few questions to him recently. [To read Kathy's quick Q & A with Tom Rush, click on the headline.]

Continue ReadingA Quick Q & A with Tom Rush

Roots Music Report Folk Radio Chart, 04-23-09

Roots Music Report compiles weekly radio airplay charts for various roots-related genres. These are based on spin totals reported by music directors and DJs from more than 400 terrestrial and Internet radio stations. The latest Folk chart is posted here with permission. [To view the latest Folk radio airplay chart compiled by Roots Music Report, click on the headline.]

Continue ReadingRoots Music Report Folk Radio Chart, 04-23-09

Finalists Named in 2009 Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Competition

Thirty-two songwriters have been named as finalists in the 2009 Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Competition for Emerging Songwriters. Chosen from among 800 submissions from around the world, the finalists will perform the two songs they submitted during the New Folk Concerts slated for Saturday and Sunday afternoons, May 23 and 24, as part of the Kerrville Folk Festival. [To read the entire article, click on the headline.]

Continue ReadingFinalists Named in 2009 Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Competition

The Pocono Mountains Come Alive with the Sound of Folk Music Over Memorial Day Weekend

Folk music will abound in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains over Memorial Day weekend. There will be plenty of opportunities to sing, play, listen, learn, relax and enjoy the company of other folks as both The Folk Music Society of New York, Inc. (a.k.a. New York Pinewoods Folk Music Club) and the Philadelphia Folksong Society hold their music-filled annual spring weekends. [To read the entire article, click on the headline.]

Continue ReadingThe Pocono Mountains Come Alive with the Sound of Folk Music Over Memorial Day Weekend

George Wein Secures Permit for Folk Festival 50 in Newport

Fifty years after launching the first Newport Folk Festival, George Wein, 83, a pioneer among producers of outdoor music festivals, will return to steer another one this summer at Fort Adams State Park in Newport, Rhode Island. Following months of negotiations, the Newport City Council last night approved a permit for what will be called George Wein’s Folk Festival 50. Slated for July 31-August 2, the event will feature several notable established folk artists who performed during the festival’s early years, as well as some more contemporary singer-songwriters and musicians. Tickets go on sale May 6 at www.folkfestival50.com. [To read the article in its entirety, click on the headline.]

Continue ReadingGeorge Wein Secures Permit for Folk Festival 50 in Newport

Roots Music Report Folk Radio Chart, 4-16-09

Roots Music Report compiles weekly radio airplay charts for various roots-related genres. These are based on spin totals reported by music directors and DJs from more than 400 terrestrial and Internet radio stations. The latest Folk chart is posted here with permission. [To view the latest Folk radio airplay chart compiled by Roots Music Report, click on the headline.]

Continue ReadingRoots Music Report Folk Radio Chart, 4-16-09

A Quick Q & A with AJ Roach

It’s been said that AJ Roach’s music illustrates the blurry line between traditional folk and indie folk. His musical heritage harkens back to the old-time roots of pure and simple Appalachian music, yet there’s a certain edginess that is very evident throughout all of his music, asserts Kathy Sands-Boehmer. She considers that " a great combination." Kathy recently posed a few questions to the Baltimore, Maryland-based singer-songwriter. storyteller and relentlessly touring artist, whose second album, Revelation, reached #1 on the Euro-Americana chart in late 2006, prior to its U.S. release by Waterbug in 2007. AcousticMusicScene.com was pleased to include him in our Midnight Hoot during the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance (NERFA) Conference that year. [To read Kathy's Q & A interview with AJ Roach, click on the headline.]

Continue ReadingA Quick Q & A with AJ Roach

Roots Music Report Folk Radio Chart, 04-09-09

Roots Music Report compiles weekly radio airplay charts for various roots-related genres. These are based on spin totals reported by music directors and DJs from more than 400 terrestrial and Internet radio stations. The latest Folk chart is posted here with permission. [To view the latest Folk radio airplay chart compiled by Roots Music Report, click on the headline.]

Continue ReadingRoots Music Report Folk Radio Chart, 04-09-09

A Quick Q & A with David Mallett

His songs -- most notably "The Garden Song" -- have been covered by many artists over the years -- including Pete Seeger, Arlo Guthrie, Emmylou Harris, Alison Kraus, Kathy Mattea, and John Denver (with The Muppets). David Mallett also is a gifted singer in his own right, as those who have heard him will readily attest. Kathy Sands-Boehmer recently posed a few questions to the singer-songwriter from Maine, many of whose songs are informed by his own rural small town roots. [To read Kathy's Q & A with David Mallett, click on the headline.]

Continue ReadingA Quick Q & A with David Mallett

Finalists Named in 2009 Chris Austin Songwriting Contest

Twelve finalists have been named in the 17th annual Chris Austin Songwriting Contest, hosted by MerleFest 2009, the popular “traditional-plus” Americana music festival that takes place April 23-26 on the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina. [To read the article, click on the headline.]

Continue ReadingFinalists Named in 2009 Chris Austin Songwriting Contest

Roots Music Report Folk Radio Chart, 04-03-09

Roots Music Report compiles weekly radio airplay charts for various roots-related genres. These are based on spin totals reported by music directors and DJs from more than 400 terrestrial and Internet radio stations. The latest Folk chart is posted here with permission. [To view the latest Folk radio airplay chart compiled by Roots Music Report, click on the headline.]

Continue ReadingRoots Music Report Folk Radio Chart, 04-03-09

A Quick Q & A with Terri Hendrix

Terri HendrixSome folks may be quick to label Terri Hendrix' music as acoustic Americana. And although the San Marcos, Texas-based singer-songwriter calls The Spiritual Kind, her ninth independent release, a folk record, Hendrix -- no relation to 'that Hendrix,' although her dad's name is Jim -- professes to like all styles of music, and her own musical stylings cannot be easily pigeonholed. Kathy Sands-Boehmer recently posed questions to this gifted artist. [To read Kathy's Q & A with Terri Hendrix, click on the headline.]

Continue ReadingA Quick Q & A with Terri Hendrix