Michael Kornfeld – Page 20 – AcousticMusicScene.com

Winners Named in 2020 Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Competition

Post published:October 13, 2020
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Awards & Contests Festival Focus News - U.S. National

Six singer-songwriters have been named as winners in the 2020 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 that streamed online October 10 and 11 on the Kerrville Folk Festival’s website, Facebook page and YouTube channel as part of a Virtual Celebration held in place of the annual event on the Quiet Valley Ranch in the Texas Hill Country. [To continue reading this article, including reflections from a couple of the winners, click on the headline.]

FAI Folk Radio Charts – September 2020

Post published:October 8, 2020
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Acoustic Radio Waves

Old Friends by Gathering Time was the top album on folk radio in September 2020 and features seven of the month’s top 25 songs, while the folk-rock harmony trio was the month’s most-played artist. James Lee Baker’s “100 Summers” edged out Scott Cook’s “Say Can You See” for the 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. [To continue reading this article and to view the monthly top albums, songs and artists charts, click on the headline.]

2020 Kerrville New Folk Concerts Go Online

Post published:October 5, 2020
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Awards & Contests Festival Focus

Twenty-four songwriters who were named as finalists in the 2020 Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Competition for Emerging Songwriters will perform the two songs they submitted during Virtual New Folk Finalists Concerts slated for Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 10 and 11, beginning at 1:30 p.m. CDT. [Click on the headline to continue reading this article and learn how to view the concerts online in the comfort of your own home.]

IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards Winners Named

Post published:October 2, 2020
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Awards & Contests Bluegrass & Beyond

Sister Sadie –- a female quartet featuring Tina Adair, Dale Ann Bradley, Gena Britt and Deannie Richardson –- was the recipient of the coveted Entertainer of the Year award during the 31st annual IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards on October 1, 2020. The reigning IBMA Vocal Group of the Year also retained that distinction, while Richardson was named Fiddle Player of the Year and was also part of the Collaborative Recording of the Year (The Barber’s Fiddle). [Click on the headline to continue reading this article and view the complete list of award winners.]

FAR-West Hosts a Virtual Gathering on Oct. 8

Post published:September 28, 2020
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Conferences of Note

Like its counterparts at the other regional affiliates of Folk Alliance International, the board of directors of Folk Alliance Region-West (FAR-West) felt compelled to cancel its annual conference this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. FAR-West will, however, host a virtual gathering on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020. Entitled “We Belong Together,” the free, one-day event will be in two parts and will take place via Zoom and YouTube. [To continue reading this article, click on the headline.]

SWRFA Hosts Virtual Conference, Sept. 25-27

Post published:September 23, 2020
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Conferences of Note

Southwest Regional Folk Alliance (SWRFA) hosts a 2020 Virtual Conference online from Friday, September 25 - Sunday, September 27. It will feature a dozen official showcases, several workshops, breakout sessions and one-on-ones, open mics, and song assignments.

Michigan Irish Music Festival Hosts Virtual Celebration, Sept. 17-20

Post published:September 13, 2020
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Celtic Corner Festival Focus

The COVID-19 pandemic and the social distancing guidelines associated with it prompted cancellation of the Michigan Irish Music Festival that is held annually at Heritage Park in Muskegon. Determined to help keep Irish in y(our) hearts during the “weekend that would have been,” festival organizers have arranged a virtual celebration featuring special online musical and cultural performances that you can enjoy from the comfort of your own home, Sept. 17-20, 2020.

FAI Folk Radio Charts – August 2020

Post published:September 10, 2020
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Acoustic Radio Waves

Ghost Tattoo by Americana quartet Kristen Grainger and True North was the top album on folk radio during August 2020, while “Keep the River on Your Right,” one of its tracks, tied with Canadian prairie roots balladeer Scott Cook’s “Say Can You See" for the month’s top song. John McCutcheon, a revered folksinger-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, was August’s most-played artist -- closely followed by Cook and Granger. 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 view the monthly charts that are posted on AcousticMusicScene.com with permission.]

TradMad Virtual Camp 2020 Airs on Folk Music Notebook, Aug. 31-Sept. 3

Post published:August 30, 2020
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:News - Northeast U.S.News - U.S. National

Each summer, folks flock to Pinewoods Camp in Plymouth, Massachusetts for an annual six-day gathering of live music and dance for adults interested in Anglo-American traditional music and dance known as TradMad. Although the current COVID-19 pandemic prompted the Folk Music Society of New York (aka Pinewoods Folk Music Club) to postpone this year’s event, TradMad Virtual Camp 2020 will be presented Aug. 31 - Sept. 3 via FolkMusicNotebook.com. [Click on the headline to continue reading the article.]

Global Music Match Launches August 31

Post published:August 29, 2020
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Featured

Fourteen music export organizations from around the world have partnered to launch a new pilot initiative designed to continue raising the profile of local artists in international music markets during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Known as Global Music Match, the innovative six-week program extends from August 31-October 11, 2020. 96 acoustic, folk, roots, traditional, and world music artists from 14 countries are taking part in what could be the largest online matchmaking of musicians ever undertaken. [To continue reading this article, click on the headline.]

FAI Folk Radio Airplay Charts – July 2020

Post published:August 6, 2020
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Acoustic Radio Waves

Cabin Fever: Songs From the Quarantine by John McCutcheon was the top album on folk radio for a second consecutive month in July 2020, while the revered folksinger-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist also was the month’s top artist and folk-rock harmony trio Gathering Time’s rendition of “Get Together” was the month’s #1 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 this month's charts.]

Goderich Celtic Roots Festival Streams Online

Post published:August 2, 2020
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Celtic Corner Festival Focus

For more than a quarter of a century, lovers of Celtic music, crafts and culture have gathered each August at a park along the shores of Lake Huron in Goderich, Ontario for the Goderich Celtic Roots Festival. Like a number of other music festivals forced to cancel or postpone this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the festival’s organizers have arranged for an abbreviated festival online in its place. Featuring pre-recorded musical performances and live hosts, Celtic Roots 27.5 Virtual Festival will stream on Friday August 7, 2020 from 7-11 p.m. EDT and on Saturday, August 8, from 1-5 p.m. EDT. [Click on the headline to continue reading.]