Michael Kornfeld – Page 2 – AcousticMusicScene.com

FAI Folk Radio Charts – September 2025

Post published:October 7, 2025
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Acoustic Radio Waves

Long Journey Home: A Century After the 1925 Mountain City Fiddlers Convention by various artists was the top album on folk radio during September 2025, while Molly Tuttle’s rendition of “I’ve Always Been a Rambler” from the album was the month’s top song. Canadian singer-songwriter Connie Kaldor was the most played artist in September. So say charts compiled by Folk Alliance International based on radio playlists submitted to FOLKDJ-L, an electronic discussion group for DJs and others interested in folk-based music on the radio. [Click on the headline to continue reading this article and to view the top albums, songs and artists charts tat are posted monthly with permission.]

Billy Strings was named Entertainer of the Year during the 36th Annual IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards. (Photo: Ed Rode)

IBMA 2025 Bluegrass Music Awards Presented

Post published:September 21, 2025
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Awards & Contests Bluegrass & Beyond

Billy Strings was named Entertainer of the Year for a fourth time, while bluegrass fiddle virtuosos Jason Carter and Michael Cleveland received several awards during the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA)’s 36th Annual IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards on September 18. The awards show – co-hosted by Steve Martin and Allison Brown – was a highlight of the IBMA’s five-day--long World of Bluegrass and took place at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium in Chattanooga, Tennessee. [Click on the headline to continue reading this article and to see the complete list of award recipients.]

FAI Folk Radio Charts – July 2025

Post published:August 12, 2025
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Acoustic Radio Waves

The Accidentals had the top album (Time Out 3) and was the most-played artist folk radio during July 2025, while the instrumental “Sommer” from Ponyfolk’s #2 album The Woods Have Shown Us was the month’s top song. So…

Philadelphia Folk Festival Set for Aug. 15-17

Post published:August 11, 2025
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Festival Focus News - Northeast U.S.

Throngs of music lovers are expected to converge on the Old Pool Farm in Upper Salford Township (Montgomery County), near bucolic Schwenksville and Harleysville, Pennsylvania, August 15-17, for the annual Philadelphia Folk Festival Https://folkfest.org). This will be the 62nd edition of the family-friendly event that is produced and presented by the Philadelphia Folksong Society, a nonprofit arts organization.

Falcon Ridge Folk Festival Set for July 25-27

Post published:July 8, 2025
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Festival Focus

The Falcon Ridge Folk Festival returns to the Goshen Fairgrounds in Goshen, Connecticut, July 25-27, 2025, preceded by a Pre-Fest Day of Tastings & Farm Market and Thursday Night Music Stage on July 24. In addition to dozens of artists performing on several stages, dancing, children’s music and activities, and a wide array of of crafts, food and other vendors, AcousticMusicScene.com will join with Tribes Hill in hosting late-night song swaps and open song circles under a big white canopy tent. [Click on the headline or link to continue reading this article.]

Carolyn and Daniel Routh are the hosts of Bluegrass Ridge.

Bluegrass Ridge TV Celebrates 25 Years

Post published:June 9, 2025
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Bluegrass & Beyond

Bluegrass Ridge TV, a trailblazing weekly television program marks its 25th year of production in 2025. The largest broadcast show dedicated to bluegrass music in the world, Bluegrass Ridge showcases bluegrass music videos, exclusive artist interviews, and behind-the-scenes content.

Winners Named in 2025 Kerrville New Folk Competition

Post published:May 28, 2025
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Awards & Contests Festival Focus News - U.S. National

Six singer-songwriters have been named as winners in the 2025 Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Competition for Emerging Songwriters. They were chosen by a panel of judges from among 24 finalists who performed two songs each during the New Folk Concerts on May 24 and 25 as part of the Kerrville Folk Festival, an 18-day event at the Quiet Valley Ranch in the Texas Hill Country near Austin and San Antonio. [Click on the headline to continue reading this article and to view videos of the New Folk Concerts.]

Barry Poss, who co-founded and led Sugar Hill records for many years, died on may 13, 2025.

Barry Poss, Co-Founder of Sugar Hill Records, 1945-2025

Post published:May 19, 2025
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Bluegrass & Beyond News - U.S. National

Barry Poss, co-founder and longtime owner of Sugar Hill Records –- an influential independent label whose roster included numerous notable bluegrass, Americana, old-time and roots music artists –- died on May 13, 2025. He was 79 and had been battling cancer for years.

SolarFest Songwriter Showcase Applications Due June 1

Post published:May 17, 2025
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Awards & Contests Festival Focus

SolarFest -- slated for August 8-10, 2025 in Brandon, Vermont -- hosts a Singer-Songwriter Showcase. It’s free to enter and open to all artists who write and perform original music and are not currently signed to a major recording label.

Tim Grimm had the top album and was the most-played artists on folk radio during April 2025.

FAI Folk Radio Charts – April 2025

Post published:May 10, 2025
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Acoustic Radio Waves

Tim Grimm had the top album (Bones of Trees), was the most-played artist, and had five of the top 10 songs on folk radio during April 2025. “Ain’t That the Way“ by Rees Shad was the month’s top song. So say charts compiled by Folk Alliance International based on radio playlists submitted to FOLKDJ-L, an electronic discussion group for DJs and others interested in folk-based music on the radio. [Click on the headline to continue reading this article and to view the top albums, songs and artists charts that are posted monthly with permission.]

Singer-Songwriter Jill Sobule died in a tragic house fire on May 1, 2025. She was 66.

Remembering Jill Sobule, 1959-2025

Post published:May 8, 2025
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:News - U.S. National

Jill Sobule, 66, was groundbreaking and much revered and loved singer-songwriter and human rights activist best-known for her 1995 breakthrough hit single “I Kissed a Girl” (the first openly LGBTQ-themed song to crack the Billboard Top 20) and “Supermodel” from that year’s popular “Clueless” film soundtrack. Both songs appear on the first of her 12 albums. In the week since her tragic death in a Minnesota house fire on May 1, 2025 sent shockwaves through the folk and singer-songwriter communities, many of her fellow artists have expressed their grief and shared personal reflections on Facebook. A sampling follows. [Click on the headline to continue reading.]

Finalists Named in 2025 Kerrville New Folk Competition

Post published:April 19, 2025
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Awards & Contests Festival Focus

Twenty-four songwriters have been named as finalists in the 2025 Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Competition for Emerging Songwriters. Chosen from among 1,118 entries from around the world, the finalists will perform the two songs they submitted on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, May 24 and 25, as part of the first weekend of the 53rd annual Kerrville Folk Festival. Ten finalists also have been recently selected as finalists in the Al Johnson Performing Songwriter Contest that is held in conjunction with the Wildflower Arts and Music Festival the previous weekend.