News Capsules for the Acoustic Community

Six 2011 Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Winners Named

Six songwriters have been named as winners in the 2011 Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Competition for Emerging Songwriters. Mai Bloomfield (Venice, CA), Megan Burtt (Denver, CO), David Moss (Austin, TX), Cassie Peterson (Nashville, TN), Grace Pettis (Harrisonburg, VA) and AJ Roach (Brooklyn, NY) were selected by a panel of judges from among 32 finalists who performed two songs each during the New Folk Concerts on May 28 and 29 as part of the Kerrville Folk Festival. [To read the full article, click on the headline.]

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Hazel Dickens, a Pioneering Woman in Bluegrass Music, 1935-2011

Hazel Dickens, a trailblazer for women in bluegrass music, who captivated audiences with her high, lonesome vocal style and was widely recognized for her contributions to music and for championing the cause of coal miners and working people, died on April 22 . She was 75. [To read the full article, click on the headline.]

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2011 Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Finalists Named

Thirty-two songwriters have been named as finalists in the 2011 Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Competition for Emerging Songwriters. Chosen from among 800 submissions from around the world, the finalists will perform their two submitted songs during the New Folk Concerts slated for Saturday and Sunday afternoons, May 28 and 29, as part of the Kerrville Folk Festival. [To read the article and see who the finalists are, click on the headline.]

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Carlton Haney, Bluegrass Festival Promoter and Booking Agent, 1928-2011

Carlton Haney, who launched the first multi-day bluegrass music festival with camping, the second prominent magazine focused on the genre, and served as a booking agent for Bill Monroe and others, died on March 16 at a hospital in Greensburg, North Carolina, following a stroke earlier in the month. He was 82. [To read the full article, click on the headline.]

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Jack Hardy, Singer-Songwriter and Fast Folk Founder, 1947-2011

Jack Hardy, a singer-songwriter who played a pivotal role in the New York folk/songwriting scene for several decades and influenced and inspired many other songwriters, died on March 11. His death at age 63 sent shockwaves through the folk community, with many posting short remembrances and tributes on Facebook -- the social networking platform. [To read the article in its entirety, click on the headline.]

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2011 International Folk Alliance Conference Gets Under Way Today

Some 2,000 performers, presenters and others engaged in contemporary and traditional folk music are converging on Memphis, Tennessee for the 23rd International Folk Alliance Conference, February 16-20. [To read the article and learn where you can hear live performances from the conference on the radio and online, click on the headline.]

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Carolina Chocolate Drops, Ray LaMontagne, Pete Seeger, Bela Fleck Are Among the Winners in the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards

The 53rd Annual Grammy Awards took place on Sunday, Feb. 13, 2011, in Los Angeles, California. Carolina Chocolate Drops, Ray LaMontagne, Pete Seeger and Bela Fleck were among the winners in more than 100 categories, most of whom were announced during ceremonies prior to the live broadcast from the Staples Center. [To see a listing of winners in select categories, click on the headline.]

Continue ReadingCarolina Chocolate Drops, Ray LaMontagne, Pete Seeger, Bela Fleck Are Among the Winners in the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards

Winners Named in 37th Annual SPBGMA Bluegrass Music Awards

Dailey & Vincent were the top winners in the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America (SPBGMA) 37th Annual Bluegrass Music Awards, taking home seven trophies, while Rhonda Vincent retained her title as Entertainer of the Year. Winners in 23 categories were announced during an awards show on February 6, 2011 at the Sheraton Music City Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee. [To read the entire article and see the complete list of winners, click on the headline.]

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Newport Folk Festival Returns to Its Nonprofit Roots

The Newport Folk Festival, which has been held in or near the coastal Rhode Island resort city since 1959, is returning to its original roots as a nonprofit event, along with its older sibling, the Newport Jazz Festival. Both will now be produced under the umbrella of he newly formed Newport Festivals Foundation, Inc. George Wein, 85, a pioneer among producers of outdoor festivals, will remain at its helm and, with his staff, continue to steer the folk festival that is set for July 29-31 at Fort Adams State Park. [To read the entire article, click on the headline.]

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Dec. 2 is Early-Bird Registration and Showcase Application Deadline For 2011 International Folk Alliance Conference in Memphis

The 24th Annual International Folk Alliance Conference is slated for February 16-20, 2011 in Memphis, Tennessee. However, financial savings are in the offing through early-bird registration that is open through Dec. 2, while forms also are available on the Folk Alliance International website (www.folk.org) for performing artists to apply for Performance Alley official showcase opportunities. [To read the entire article, click on the headline.]

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