News Capsules for the Acoustic Community
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.]
Gene Shay, who has brought folk music to radio listeners in Philadelphia and beyond for more than 50 years, signs off as host of The Folk Show on WXPN 88.5 FM on Sunday, February 1. His last show airs live from 3-6 p.m. EST (with a rebroadcast at 8 p.m. EST) and streams online at xpn.org. Shay will be feted one month later during a March 1 gala musical celebration produced by his friends at Sing Out! and featuring performances by artists who have appeared on his show. [To continue reading this article, click on the headline.]
New York-based female Americana roots trio Red Molly had the most-played album (The Red Album) on folk radio during 2014, while Indiana-based singer-songwriter Tim Grimm had the most-played song (“King of the Folksingers”), 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. Pete Seeger, the American folk music icon who died last January at 94, was the most-played artist. [The 2014 year-end FOLKDJ-L charts, which are based on reported airplay by 184 different radio DJs, are posted on AcousticMusicScene.com with permission. To view them, click on the headline.]
Nominees in 83 categories have been named for the 57th Annual Grammy Awards. Of particular interest to readers of AcousticMusicScene.com are the nominees in the American Roots Music Field. [To continue reading this article and see the list of nominees in the American Roots Music Field, click on the headline.]
The River & the Thread, a collection of original songs that connect and re-connect Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Rosanne Cash to the American South where she was born and from which her family hails, was the most-played album on Americana radio during 2014. That’s the word from the Americana Music Association, whose year-end Top 10 and Top 100 Albums of the Year are based on the records reported to the Americana Airplay Chart during the period of December 2, 2013 through December 1, 2014. [To view a listing of the top 100 albums of the year, click on the headline.]
Peter, Paul and Mary’s music and social activism helped to shape a generation. Through the years, the seminal folk trio has touched the hearts and consciences of millions of people worldwide, won five Grammy Awards, received eight gold and five platinum records, had 13 top 40 hits, and been the subject of five PBS documentaries. A new one entitled 50 Years with Peter, Paul and Mary has begun airing on PBS television stations throughout the U.S. [To continue reading this article, click on the headline.]
American bands and ensembles comprised of three to five members are invited to apply to participate in the American Music Abroad program for the 2015-2016 touring season. An international exchange program designed to communicate America’s rich musical contributions and diverse culture to the global music scene through musical performances and educational outreach, American Music Abroad is a partnership between American Voices and the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. [To continue reading this article, click on the headline.]
The 2014 Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Winners will perform live online on Tuesday, Nov. 4, at 7:30 p.m. CST. The special Blue Rock Sessions Live broadcast will emanate from Billy and Dodee Crockett’s Blue Rock Studios near Wimberley, Texas. Tickets for the high-quality studio production and HD video webcast use the “pay what you want” model with fan tipping. [To continue reading the article and see the link for watching the live broadcast online, click on the headline.]
Entertainer of The Year, the top honor in the 25th annual International Bluegrass Music Awards – presented Oct. 2 at Raleigh, North Carolina’s Duke Energy Center for the Arts – went to the Tar Heel State’s own Balsam Range. The acoustic quintet also was named Vocal Group of the Year, while member Buddy Melton was voted Male Vocalist of the Year. [To read the full article and see a listing of 2014 International Bluegrass Music Award winners, click on the headline.]
Five songwriters and a duo have been named as winners in the 2014 Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Competition for Emerging Songwriters. [To read the full article, click on the headline.]
Singer-songwriter Jesse Winchester lost his battle with cancer on April 11, 2014, just over a month shy of his 70th birthday. He died at his home in Charlottesville, Virginia. A songwriter’s songwriter, Jesse Winchester was revered and widely covered by other artists. [To continue reading the article, click on the headline.]
Kansas City, Missouri may be better known for jazz, blues, barbecue chefs and the football Chiefs. However, more than 2,000 people are expected to converge on this midwestern U.S. metropolis Feb. 19-23, 2014, for the 26th Annual International Folk Alliance Conference and a new Winter Music Camp that will run concurrently with it. [To continue reading the article, click on the headline.]
