Michael Kornfeld – Page 25 – AcousticMusicScene.com

Ron Olesko receives NERFA's 2019 Creator of he Year Award from Michael Kornfeld, the nonprofit organization's board president (Photo: Jake Jacobson)

Ron Olesko Receives NERFA’s Creator of the Year Award for Folk Music Notebook

Post published:November 15, 2019
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Acoustic Radio Waves Awards & Contests Conferences of Note News - Northeast U.S.

Veteran folk DJ Ron Olesko was the recipient of the inaugural Creator of the Year Award presented by the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance (NERFA) during the nonprofit organization’s 25th annual conference in Stamford, CT, Nov. 7-10, 2019. Olesko, a NERFA stalwart, who has been hosting a folk show (Traditions) on WFDU-FM (Teaneck, NJ), was recognized for launching Folk Music Notebook, an online radio station showcasing folk music 24/7 earlier this year. [To continue reading this article -- which includes mention of the other award-winners and some other conference highlights -- click on the headline.]

Finalists Chosen in South Florida Folk Festival Singer-Songwriter Competition

Post published:November 13, 2019
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Awards & Contests Festival Focus

Finalists have been named in the 2020 South Florida Folk Festival’s Singer-Songwriter Competition. Each of them will perform two songs live during the festival at its new location, the Bergeron Rodeo Grounds in Davie, on Saturday, Feb. 8. [To continue reading this short article -- including the names of the 12 finalists -- click on the headline.]

Folk DJ Radio Airplay Charts – October 2019

Post published:November 12, 2019
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Acoustic Radio Waves

Debra Cowan had the top album (Greening the Dark) and the three most-played songs on folk radio during October 2019. She also was the month’s most-played artist. 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 top albums, songs and artists charts are posted on AcousticMusicScene.com with permission. To view them, click on the headline.]

NERFA Celebrates 25 Years of Music and Community at Its Annual Conference, Nov. 7-10

Post published:November 3, 2019
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Conferences of Note Featured News - Northeast U.S.News - U.S. National

Some 700 performing artists, presenters, promoters, agents and managers, folk DJs, and others actively engaged in contemporary and traditional folk music are expected to converge on the Crowne Plaza in Stamford, Connecticut, Nov. 7-10, 2019 for the 25th Annual Northeast Regional Folk Alliance (NERFA) Conference. AcousticMusicScene.com will again have a major presence as it hosts afternoon and late-night song swaps in addition to its popular Midnight Hoot at the close of the conference’s first day. [To continue reading this article previewing the conference and including the complete AcousticMusicScene.com showcase lineup, click on the headline.]

Kate MacLeod and Art Podell are Best of the West Honorees

Post published:October 15, 2019
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Awards & Contests

Kate MacLeod and Art Podell were honored as the recipients of the 2019 Best of the West Awards during an Oct. 12 luncheon as part of the 16th annual Folk Alliance Region-West (FAR-West) Conference in Woodland Hills, California. [To continue reading this article, click on the headline.]

Folk DJ Radio Airplay Charts – September 2019

Post published:October 11, 2019
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Acoustic Radio Waves

The soundtrack for Country Music – A Film by Ken Burns that premiered on PBS television stations across the U.S. recently was the top album on folk radio during September 2019, while Midwest urban folk duo Annie & Rod Capps’ “(That Would Do) Some Good” was the top song and Canadian troubadour Dave Gunning edged out southern Indiana-based singer-songwriter Tim Grimm as the month’s most-played artist. 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 top albums, songs and artists charts are posted on AcousticMusicScene.com, with permission. To view them, click on the headline.]

Entry Deadline Nears for 2020 South Florida Folk Festival Singer-Songwriter Competition

Post published:October 6, 2019
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Awards & Contests Festival Focus

Singer-songwriters from throughout the U.S. are invited to enter the 2020 South Florida Folk Festival’s Singer-Songwriter Competition. The submission deadline is Oct. 31, 2019. A preliminary selection committee from the local folk community will choose 12 finalists, each of whom will perform two songs live during the festival at its new location, the Bergeron Rodeo Grounds in Davie, on Saturday, Feb. 8. [To continue reading this article, click on the headline.]

2019 International Bluegrass Music Awards Presented

Post published:September 29, 2019
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Awards & Contests Bluegrass & Beyond Conferences of Note

The coveted Entertainer of the Year Award, the top honor in the 30th Annual International Bluegrass Music Awards – presented Sept. 26, 2019 at Raleigh, North Carolina’s Duke Energy Center for the Arts – went to Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers, a five-member band that also serves as hosts of the Southern Ohio Indoor Music Festivals that are held twice annually. [To continue reading this article -- including the complete list of award winners -- click on the headline.]

John Cohen, Founding Member of the New Lost City Ramblers, 1932-2019

Post published:September 17, 2019
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:News - U.S. National

John Cohen, a founding member of the influential folk group the New Lost City Ramblers, died on Sept. 16, 2019. Cohen, 87, also was a musicologist, photographer and filmmaker. [To continue reading this article, click on the headline.]

2019 Americana Honors & Awards Presented

Post published:September 12, 2019
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Awards & Contests Conferences of Note Festival Focus News - U.S. National

Singer-Songwriter John Prine was the big winner in The 2019 Americana Honors & Awards that were presented on Wednesday, September 11 at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. His 2019 release, The Tree of Forgiveness, was named Album of the Year, while “Summer’s End” was voted Song of the Year. [To continue reading this article and learn about all of the award winners, click on the headline.]

Folk DJ Radio Airplay Charts – August 2019

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

Southern Indiana-based singer-songwriter Tim Grimm had the top album (Heart Land Again) on folk radio for a second consecutive month during August 2019 and also topped the monthly top artists chart, while New York-City-based quartet Bobtown had the month's most-played song ("Daughters of the Dust"). 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 top albums, songs and artists charts are posted on AcousticMusicScene.com, with permission. To view them, click on the headline.]

Monica Rizzio Wins 2019 Grassy Hill Songwriting Competition at CT Folk Fest

Post published:September 9, 2019
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Awards & Contests News - Northeast U.S.

Singer-Songwriter Monica Rizzio was named the winner of the 2019 Grassy Hill Songwriting Competition following a final round featuring four artists during the 14th annual CT Folk Fest & Green Expo in New Haven, Connecticut on Sept. 7. As the songwriting competition winner, she receives a cash prize and will have a performance slot in next year’s festival produced by the nonprofit organization CT Folk. [To continue reading this article, click on the headline.]