Eric von Schmidt, 1931-2007

Eric von Schmidt, an influential figure on the Boston-Cambridge, Mass. and east coast folk scene during the 1960s, died peacefully in his sleep on Feb. 1 at age 75. The folk-blues guitarist and singer-songwriter had struggled to regain his health after suffering a stroke last August. [Click the title in red to see the entire article]

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Registration Open for 8th Annual Americana Music Conference

The 2007 Americana Music Conference is slated for Wednesday-Saturday, Oct. 31-Nov. 3, in Nashville, Tennessee. The festivities get under way with a night of music showcases around the city. Panel discussions, a trade show, lunches and other daytime activities are being planned at the Nashville Convention Center for Thursday through Saturday, while the evenings will be filled with artist showcases and parties. The 6th Annual Americana Honors & Awards will be held at the Ryman Auditorium on Thursday evening, Nov. 1.
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The Grascals: Expanding Bluegrass’ Horizons While Remaining True to Its Roots

By Michael Kornfeld

The Grascals - reining International Bluegrass Music Association Entertainers of the YearDuring their short time together as a band, Rounder recording artists The Grascals have accomplished quite a bit. The Grascals are the reining International Bluegrass Music Association Entertainers of the Year, having been named the IBMA Emerging Artists of the Year in 2005. The group made its Grand Ole Opry debut in ... [Click the title in red to see the entire article]

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Engaging Next Generation Audiences

Among the wide array of workshops and burning issues forums during the Association of Performing Arts Presenters 50th Annual Members Conference in New York was a so-called super session on "Engaging The Next Generation" with Rebecca Ryan, founder and CEO of Next Generation Consulting.

Although Ryan’s remarks focused on trends, facts and strategies for getting younger people involved in arts leadership, the research her team conducted with the Arts Council of Indianapolis sheds important light on positioning -- what venues and acoustic music presenters throughout the country can do to better reach those in the 20-40 age-range, assuming there’s an interest in doing so. [Click on the title in red to see the entire article]

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Glen Roethel’s “Namaste” Featured in Multi-media Exhibit at George H.W. Bush Presidential Library Museum in Texas

Local singer-songwriter Glen Roethel’s song, "Namaste, '" is featured in a powerful multi-media exhibit, “Children Speak: Tsunami,” by photojournalist Arlene Atherton that runs through Feb. 15 at the George H. W. Bush Presidential Library Museum in College Station, Texas. "Namaste" means "I greet the spirit in you." Atherton explains her joy in discovering the song because it "unifies the Buddhist traditions shared by Sri Lanka and Thailand and reflects the Christian and Islam understanding of our spiritual nature, that we have a sacred soul." "Namaste,” which appears on Roethel’s 2004 independent release, “From Beginning To End," is the finale to the Kids Drawing Project. [Click on the title in red to see the entire article]

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