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.

The Susquehanna Music and Arts Festival (SMAF) has extended the postmark deadline for its singer-songwriter contest to March 25. The contest is open to singer-songwriters who are 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 , as well as a check for $15. to Susquehanna Music and Arts Festival Songwriting Contest, P.O. Box 139, Abingdon, MD 21009. [To see the entire article, click on the title in red].

Entries are currently being sought for the 2007 USA Songwriting Competition. Now in its 12th year, this competition provides winners not only with cash and music gear, but also helps expose their music to a wider audience via airplay on the nationally syndicated radio program “Acoustic Café,” as well as on XM Satellite Radio. [To see the entire article, click on the title in red].

Fertitta and McClintock won the overall grand prize in the third annual International Acoustic Music Awards (IAMA). The Orange County, California-based duo -- whose songs have been recorded by such artists as Sammy Kershaw, Lorrie Morgan, Juice Newton and Andy Williams -- also was named best group/duo. [For a list of top winners, click on the title in red].