Folk Alliance Region-West (FAR-West), Folk Alliance Region Midwest (FARM) and Northeast Regional Folk Alliance (NERFA), regional affiliates of Folk Alliance International, are currently accepting applications for juried showcases during their respective annual conferences this fall. All showcase entries must be submitted online. [To continue reading this article, click on the headline.]
Thirty artists and bands have been selected to participate in the Bluegrass Ramble series of showcases slated to take place at select venues throughout downtown Raleigh, North Carolina during the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA)’s World of Bluegrass 2015, Sept. 29-Oct. 3. [To continue reading this article, click on the headline.]
Thirty-two songwriters have been named as finalists in the 2015 Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Competition for Emerging Songwriters. Chosen from among hundreds of submissions from around the world, the finalists will perform the two songs they submitted during the New Folk Concerts slated for Saturday and Sunday afternoons, May 23 and 24, as part of the Kerrville Folk Festival. [To continue reading this article on AcousticMusicScene.com, click on the headline.]
The Burns Sisters’ Looking Back: Our American Irish Souls was the most-played album on folk radio during March 2015, while Pharis and Jason Romero’s “A Wanderer I’ll Stay” was the most-played song, according to charts compiled from radio playlists submitted to FOLKDJ-L, an electronic discussion group for DJs and others interested in all folk-based music on the radio. The monthly FOLKDJ-L top albums and song charts are posted with permission on AcousticMusicScene.com. To view them, click on the headline.
Catherine MacLellan’s The Raven’s Sun and The Bros. Landreth’s Let It Lie were named Roots and Traditional Album of the Year – Solo and Group, respectively, in the 2015 JUNO Awards, the Canadian equivalent of the Grammys. They were recognized by the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (CARAS) prior to televised ceremonies from the FirstOntario Centre in Hamilton, Ontario on March 15. [To continue reading this article, click on the headline.]
"Sliding Delta," a collection of 1920s-1930s rural blues that inspired roots artist Michael Jerome Browne, was the most-played album on folk radio during February 2015, while its title track was the most-played song, according to charts compiled from radio playlists submitted to FOLKDJ-L, an electronic discussion group for DJs and others interested in all folk-based music on the radio. [February's FOLKDJ-L top albums and songs charts are posted with permission on AcousticMusicScene.com. To view them, click on the headline.]
Both the Philadelphia Songwriters Project and the Rhode Island Songwriters Association (RISA) are now accepting submissions in their respective performing songwriter contests. One does not need to be a member of either organization or to live in the areas they serve in order to enter. [To continue reading this article, click on the headline.]
Folk Alliance International (FAI) has released a white paper entitled Understanding Copyright, Royalties and Practical Applications in Folk Music. Prepared by the FAI board of directors’ advocacy committee and staff, and aimed at helping to foster understanding of this complex issue among the nonprofit organization’s membership, the paper will be presented on Friday, February 20, during the 27th Annual International Folk Alliance Conference in Kansas City, Missouri. To continue reading this article -- which also includes a preview of the conference, winter music camp and music fair -- click on the headline.
The Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America (SPBGMA) presented its 41st Annual Bluegrass Music Awards on February 8, 2015 at the Sheraton Music City Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee. Winners in 23 categories were honored during an awards show that capped the nonprofit organization’s 32nd national convention. [To continue reading this article and see the complete list list of SPBGMA Bluegrass Music Awards winners, click on the headline.]
The 57th Annual Grammy Awards were presented Feb. 8 in Los Angeles, California. Prior to the televised ceremonies from the Staples Center, awards were given to winners in a number of categories -- including those that comprise the American Roots Music Field. Rosanne Cash was the big winner, capturing three of them. [To continue reading this article, click on the headline.]
Entries are now being sought for the 2015 Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Competition for Emerging Songwriters, to be held on Saturday and Sunday, May 23 and 24, 2015, during the 44th Annual Kerrville Folk Festival. The first 800 entries received via mail or online by March 8 will be accepted, and 32 finalists will be named in April. To continue reading this short article, click on the headline.
Victoria, British Columbia-based acoustic roots trio The Sweet Lowdown had both the most-played album (Chasing The Sun) and song (“River Winding Down”) on folk radio during January 2015, according to charts compiled by Richard Gillmann from radio playlists submitted to FOLKDJ-L, an electronic discussion group for DJs and others interested in all folk-based music on the radio. [January's FOLKDJ-L top albums and songs charts are posted with permission on AcousticMusicScene.com. To view them, click on the headline.]
