Erik Balkey Wins 2007 SMAF Songwriter Contest

Eric Balkey may have won the 2007 Susquehanna Music & Arts Festival (SMAF) Songwriter Contest last weekend, but the 37-year old, self-described “traveling painter and poet” doesn’t let things like that go to his head. “I’m confident with what I do and believe that there’s great value in it,” he said, noting that, while nice, he does not need such awards and honors as an affirmation or validation of his work. For Balkey, who has been a performing songwriter since buying his first guitar at age 24, while completing his last semester in college, being named as one of the eight finalists in this year’s SMAF contest provided the impetus for him to get down to Darlington, Maryland “to hang out and share music with a bunch of friends and kindred spirits.” [To read the entire article, click on the headline].

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Online Discussion Group Focuses on Living on the Folk Scene

Sensing a void and eager to help foster a spirit of community, “a place to discuss issues related to living on the contemporary folk scene,” singer-songwriter Erik Balkey launched a new listserv through Yahoo Groups earlier this spring. To date, more than 160 people have signed up for free memberships in LivingFolk, which Balkey describes as “a community of kindred folk who share a commitment to, and are personally and spiritually invested in, the shaping of an evolving folk scene for today [To read the entire article, click on the headline].

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The Future of Internet Radio May Hinge on Royalty Rates Issue

Some 70 million Americans currently listen to online radio each month, according to Nielsen Media Research and a Bridge Ratings study. And many independent artists have come to rely on it as a key way of gaining exposure for their music that they would not otherwise get through commercial broadcast radio. But just how many webcasters (particularly nonprofits and small organizations) will be playing music in the near future -- and the diversity of styles that will be heard -- may well depend on the outcome of a currently raging battle royale over Internet royalty rates. {To read the entire article, click on the headline].

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Long Island Summer Festivals Take Shape

Acoustic artists from near and far will be performing at a number of festivals on Long Island this summer. These include the 2nd Annual Acoustic Long Island Summer Festival in St. James (June 29), a new Great South Bay Music Festival in Patchogue (July 13-15), Babylon Village Bayfest (July 25), the 2nd Annual Huntington Folk Festival (August 11), and the 5th Annual Long Island Bluegrass Festival in Copiague (August 18). [To see the entire article, click on the headline].

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Mountain Stage NewSong Contest Seeks Entries

Performing songwriters in all musical genres are invited to submit entries in the sixth annual Mountain Stage NewSong Contest. The submission deadline for the general round, open to anyone from anywhere, is July 25. There is a May 18 deadline for entries into new live regional rounds for the Northeast, Southeast, New England, Southwest, Mid-Atlantic, Ohio River Valley and Canada. Eligible performing artists may submit entries in both a regional round (provided they live in the region) and the general round. All entries must be submitted online via sonicbids.com. [To read the entire article, click on the headline].

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“Acoustic Long Island” Moves to Deepwells Mansion

The growing popularity of Acoustic Long Island, Dave and Rob Dircks’ wonderful weekly coffeehouse series in St. James, that also ranks as the top acoustic music podcast on iTunes, has prompted the brothers to expand their live venue to hold about 100 people comfortably. After percolating for more than 18 months at Cool Beanz, a cozy coffeehouse in a strip shopping center, the series has moved just a bit further down Route 25A to a larger space within the historic Deepwells Mansion (circa 1845), a Suffolk County-owned treasure situated just west of Moriches Road. [To read the entire article, click on the headline].

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SMAF Songwriter Contest Finalists Named

Eight finalists have been named in the 2007 SMAF Songwriter Contest and will perform Friday evening, May 11, during the Susquehanna Music & Arts Festival at the rustic Ramblewood Resort in Darlington, Maryland (near Havre de Grace). They are Erik Balkey of Pennsylvania, Karen Collins of Virginia, Stephen DiJoseph of Pennsyvania, Annie Dinerman of New York, Jennings & Keller of Florida, Glen Roethel of New York, Bob Sima of Maryland, and Victoria Vox of Maryland. The contest winner will perform on the main stage on Saturday, May 12. More than 30 other artists are slated to perform at SMAF over Mother's Day Weekend. For more information, visit www.smaf.info.

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Celtic Music Festivals Springing Up

Two Irish and Celtic festivals are slated to take place over the Memorial Day Weekend, while several others are happening in June. These include Chicago Gaelic Park's Irish Fest 2007 in Oak Forest, IL (May 25-28), Poconos Celtic Music Festival in Blakeslee, PA (May 26-27), Riverfront Irish Festival in Cuyahoga Park, Ohio (June 8-10), Irish Fest Louisville in Louisville, KY (June 9-10), Potomac Celtic Festival in Leesburg, VA (June 9), and Fairfield County Irish Festival in Trumbull, CT (June 15-17). [To see the entire article, click on the title in red].

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Keeping Up With New Releases

Little Toby Walker, Tom Griffith and Bob Koenig have new CDs out this month... NYC CD release party slated for Johnny Cuomo... Former LIer Arlon Bennett to make Acoustic Long Island appearance in May... Glen Roethel is a finalist in Susquehanna Songwriting Contest... and LI artists offer quality music for children, too. [To read the entire article, click on the title in red above].

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Odetta Honored at Special Lifetime Tribute & Concert

Luminaries from the folk music world honored living legend Odetta, one of the most influential artists of the 20th century, with a special tribute and concert on March 24.

Odetta The World Folk Music Association’s 22nd Annual Benefit Concert, held at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center on the Alexandria campus of Northern Virginia Community College, honored the singer of folk, blues, jazz and spirituals, whose voice helped spark the flames of social justice and freedom during the height of the civil rights movement.  [To read the entire article, click on the title in red].

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Music & More for Mothers & Others This May

Rather than merely sending mom a musical greeting card for Mother’s Day, consider treating her (or yourself) to a weekend filled with music. Both the Susquehanna Music & Arts Festival and the Folk Project’s Spring Festival are slated for May 11-13. So, too, is the Lake Eden Arts Festival.

Lake Eden Arts Festival

[To read the entire article, including comments from SONiA, one of the performing artists at SMAF, click on the title in red above.]

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“Acoustic Long Island” Series Continues to Percolate

Newsday readers are learning what many on the local acoustic music scene have known for some time now: Dave and Rob Dircks’ wonderful weekly Acoustic Long Island series at Cool Beanz in St. James is garnering increased interest from performers and fans alike, and the buzz extends far beyond Long Island. Acoustic Long Island is much more than just a Wednesday night open mic at a cozy coffeehouse - as much fun as that is. As Steven Snyder’s March 20 Part 2 cover story declares, it’s “Long Island’s Podcast Hit.” {Click on the title in red to read more about "Acoustic Long Island" and about a "Long Island Blues Boy" who is starting to gather steam and notice].

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