Author Archive

Falcon Ridge ‘Most Wanted’ Artists Named

Scott Cook, Zoe Mulford and South for Winter have been invited to participate in the Most Wanted Song Swap at this summer’s Falcon Ridge Folk Festival. They were chosen in balloting by 2019 festival attendees from among 24 artists/bands who performed in last year’s Falcon Ridge/Grassy Hill Emerging Artist Showcase. [To continue reading this article -- that also includes several video links, as well as information on applying for this year's Emerging Artist Showcase -- click on the headline.]

Winners Named in South Florida Folk Festival Singer-Songwriter Competition

Pamela Machala (Boulder, CO), Aaron Nathans (Chester Heights, PA) and Karyn Oliver (Stokesdale, NC) have been named as winners in the 2020 South Florida Folk Festival’s Singer-Songwriter Competition. [To continue reading this article, click on the headline.]

SPBGMA Presents its 2020 Bluegrass Music Awards

Carolina Blue was the top winner in the 46th annual Bluegrass Music Awards presented by The Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America (SPBGMA) at the Sheraton Music City Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee on Sunday, February 2, 2020. Winners in 19 categories were honored during an awards show that capped the nonprofit organization’s 37th national convention. [To continue reading this article, click on the headline.]

Official Showcase Artists Sought for IBMA Bluegrass Ramble

February 29 is the deadline for artists to submit online applications for Official Showcases during the IBMA Bluegrass Ramble and IBMA Business Conference that are part of the International Bluegrass Music Association’s annual five-day World of Bluegrass, September 29 – October 3, 2020. Considered the genre’s annual industry gathering and family reunion, World of Bluegrass takes place in Raleigh, North Carolina for an eighth consecutive year. [To continue reading this article, click on the headline.]

Winners Named in Fifth Annual UK Americana Awards

The fifth annual UK Americana Awards were presented in London, England on January 30. The awards show, presented by the Americana Music Association UK, capped AmericanaFest UK 2020 –- a three-day conference with two evenings of showcases featuring more than 75 artists at various venues in the London borough of Hackney. [To continue reading this article, click on the headline.]

Nominees Named for 2020 JUNO Awards

The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) has revealed the nominees for the 2020 JUNO Awards – including those for Contemporary Roots Album of the Year and Traditional Roots Album of the Year. The coveted awards will be presented on Sunday night, March 15 at SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. [To continue reading this article -- which also includes listings of nominees for Blues Album and Indigenous Artist/ Group of the Year -- click on the headline.]

Bob Shane, Co-Founder of The Kingston Trio, 1934-2020

Bob Shane, the last original member of The Kingston Trio, died on January 26 – just a few days shy of his 86h birthday. Along with his bandmates, Shane, a singer and guitarist, helped to spur the folk revival of the late 1950s -1960s. [To continue reading this article, click on the headline.]

Grammy Awards Presented in American Roots Music Field

Young singer-songwriter Billie Eilish and tributes & shout-outs to basketball great Kobe Bryant, who died in a helicopter crash earlier that day, dominated the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards telecast on Sunday, January 26. However, a number of coveted Grammy Awards also were presented by The Recording Academy in the American Roots Music Field and others during a premiere ceremony at Los Angeles’ Staples Center that streamed live on Grammy.com hours prior to the televised awards show on CBS. [To continue reading this article, click on the headline.]

Showcase Applications Sought for AMERICANAFEST

The Americana Music Association is now accepting applications from artists and bands interested in showcasing their talents during the 21st annual AMERICANAFEST -- a six-day festival and conference celebrating American roots-inspired music that takes place in Nashville, Tennessee in mid-September. The showcase submissions deadline is Friday, March 6. [To continue reading this article, click on the headline.]

International Folk Music Awards Presented

The Small Glories, Amythyst Kiah and Mavis Staples were among the recipients of International Folk Music Awards presented Wednesday, Jan. 22, on the opening night of the 32nd annual Folk Alliance International Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana that continues through Jan. 26.. [To continue reading this article, click on the headline.]

David Olney, Beloved Singer-Songwriter, 1948-2020

David Olney, a revered folk and Americana singer-songwriter, died after suffering an apparent heart attack on Saturday night, Jan. 18, while onstage at the 30A Songwriters Festival in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. During a musical career that spanned more than four decades, Olney, 71, recorded and released more than 20 albums and had his songs covered or co-written by such other notable artists as Steve Earle, Emmylou Harris, Laurie Lewis, Del McCoury, and Linda Ronstadt. [To continue reading this article and to view a few videos, click on the headline.]

Performing Songwriter Contests Open for Entries

Entries are now being sought in three performing songwriter competitions: the Al Johnson Performing Songwriter Contest, Songwriter Serenade, and Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Competition. Although these contests take place in Texas, they are not solely for songwriters based in the state. [To continue reading this article, click on the headline.]