Michael Kornfeld – Page 24 – AcousticMusicScene.com

Grammy Awards Presented in American Roots Music Field

Post published:January 27, 2020
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Awards & Contests Bluegrass & Beyond News - U.S. National

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

Post published:January 26, 2020
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Conferences of Note Festival Focus

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

Post published:January 24, 2020
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Awards & Contests Conferences of Note News - U.S. National

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

Post published:January 20, 2020
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:News - U.S. National

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

Post published:January 18, 2020
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Awards & Contests

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.]

Folk DJ Radio Airplay Charts – December 2019

Post published:January 16, 2020
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Acoustic Radio Waves

The Longest Night of the Year, Volume 2 [Hudson Harding Music] -- a compilation featuring songs recorded by various artists -- was the top album and featured 11 of the 25 most-played songs on folk radio during December 2019. Topping the monthly songs chart was “Bringing in the Light” by Gathering Sparks, the Southern Ontario folk-roots duo of Eve Goldberg and Jane Lewis, that appears on both its album, All That’s Real, and the compilation. 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. [The monthly charts are posted here with permission. To view them, click on the headline.]

Performing Arts Professionals to Gather in NYC

Post published:December 26, 2019
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Conferences of Note

Several thousand people are expected to converge on New York City, January 10-14, 2020, for the annual conference of the Association of Performing Arts Professionals (APAP). The global performing arts gathering, marketplace and conference will feature more than 1000 artist showcases (including a number of folk and roots music artists), nearly 400 exhibitors, daily plenary sessions, a wide array of professional development sessions, and networking opportunities galore. Daily plenary sessions also will be streamed via Facebook Live, while Wavelengths: Global Music Conference at APAP and other pre-conference sessions on Jan. 9-10 are open to the public -- as are some of the ticketed showcases at venues throughout the city. [To continue reading this article, click on the headline.]

SERFA Conference Set for May 13-17, 2020 in Chattanooga, Tennessee

Post published:December 21, 2019
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Conferences of Note

Registration is now open for the 13th annual Southeast Regional Folk Alliance (SERFA) Conference, with super early-bird discounts available through January 31. An extended weekend of contemporary and traditional folk music, networking and learning opportunities, the conference – slated for May 13-17 in Chattanooga, Tennessee -- will be keynoted by acclaimed singer-songwriter Mary Gauthier and will feature some two-dozen juried official showcases. [To continue reading this short article, click on the headline.]

Entries Sought in 2020 Kerrville New Folk Competition

Post published:December 14, 2019
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Awards & Contests

Entries are now being accepted for the 2020 Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Competition for Emerging Songwriters, to be held on Saturday and Sunday, May 23 and 24, 2020, during the first weekend of the 49th Annual Kerrville Folk Festival in the Texas Hill Country near Austin and San Antonio. The first 800 entries postmarked or submitted online by February 29 will be judged, and 24 finalists will be named in April. To continue reading this short article, click on the headline.]

Folk DJ Radio Airplay Charts – November 2019

Post published:December 10, 2019
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Acoustic Radio Waves

The Early Risers had the top album (Making Life Sweet) and the three most-played songs on folk radio during November 2019. Renowned folksinger-songwriter Si Kahn, whose albums have previously topped the charts, edged out the New England-based duo of Putnam Smith and Ashley Storrow for the month’s most-played artist and had the second most-played album (Best of the Rest). So say charts compiled by Folk Alliance International from radio playlists submitted to FOLKDJ-L, an electronic discussion group for DJs and others interested in folk-based music on the radio. [The monthly charts are posted on AcousticMusicScene.com, with permission. To view them, click on the headline.]

Grammy Award Nominees Named in American Roots Music Field

Post published:November 23, 2019
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Awards & Contests News - U.S. National

Nominees in 84 categories have been named for the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards to be presented by The Recording Academy on Sunday, January 26, 2020. Yola and I’m With Her lead the nominees for awards in the American Roots Music Field with three and two nominations, respectively. Those awards will likely be presented prior to the live broadcast airing on CBS television stations that evening from the Staples Center in Los Angeles. [To continue reading this article and see the list of nominees in the American Roots Music Field, click on the headline.]

Nominees Named for 2020 Canadian Folk Music Awards

Post published:November 22, 2019
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Awards & Contests

Singer-Songwriter Dave Gunning, who hails from Nova Scotia, tops the list of nominees for the 2020 Canadian Folk Music Awards with four nominations. Jenn Grant (also a Nova Scotia-based singer-songwriter), The Small Glories (the Winnipeg-based duo of Cara Luft and JD Edwards), and Vishten (an Acadian trio from Canada’s East Coast) each received three nods, while more than half-a-dozen other artists/acts received two nominations apiece. They are among the many artists and groups from throughout Canada vying for awards in 19 categories to be presented at the PEI Convention Centre in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, during two Awards Weekend Concerts on April 3-4, 2020. [To continue reading this article and see a complete listing of nominees, click on the headline.]