Awards & Contests

8th Annual International Acoustic Music Awards Opens for Entries

Entries are currently being accepted for the International Acoustic Music Awards. Now in its eighth year, the competition promotes excellence in acoustic music performance and artistry. Awards will be presented in eight categories: Best Male Artist, Best Female Artist, Best Group/Duo, Folk/Americana/Roots, AAA/Alternative, Instrumental, Bluegrass/Country, and an Acoustic Open Genre category. An overall Grand Prize winner also will be named. [To view the full article, click on the headline.]

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.]

Kasey Chambers Wins 2010 International Songwriting Competition

Australian singer-songwriter Kasey Chambers was named the grand prize winner in the 2010 International Songwriting Competition (ISC). Chambers was recognized for her song “Beautiful Mess,” which was entered into the folk/singer-songwriter category. [To read the entire article, click on the headline.]

Carolann Solebello Wins 2011 SMAF Songwriter Contest

Carolann Solebello is the winner of the 2011 Susquehanna Music & Arts Festival (SMAF) Songwriter Contest. She was selected after performing two original songs -- “Papa’s Mandolin” and “Wash Me Clean” -- during the finals held on Friday afternoon, May 6, as part of the 10th Annual SMAF in downtown Havre de Grace, Maryland. [To read the entire article, click on the headline.]

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.]

Number of Grammy Award Categories Reduced for 2012

The number of categories in the American Roots Music field for the 54th Grammy Awards next year have been reduced as part of a restructuring announced today by The Recording Academy. [To read the entire article, click on the headline.}

Avalonfest Performing Songwriter Competition Open for Entries

Songwriters interested in performing during Avalonfest 2011 in West Virginia in mid-August are invited to enter the festival’s annual songwriting competition. June 11 is the deadline for submission of two original songs that have not previously been entered in the competition. [To read the full article, click on the headline.]

Neil Young, Old Man Luedecke, Le Vent du Nord Win JUNO Awards

The 40th annual JUNO Awards were presented by the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS), March 26 and 27 in Toronto. Internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter Neil Young was the big winner, while Nova Scotia-based Old Man Luedecke and Quebec-based group Le Vent du Nord captured awards for Roots & Traditional Album of the Year Solo and Group, respectively. {To read the article in its entirety, click on the headline.]

Two Songwriting Contests Have April 15 Entry Deadlines

April 15 is the entry deadline for both the Philadelphia Songwriters Project’s 2011 Songwriting Contest and the 19th Annual Rose Garden Coffeehouse Performing Songwriter Competition. [To read the article, click on the headline.]

Entries Sought for SolarFest Singer-Songwriter Showcase

SolarFest, which bills itself as New England’s renewable energy festival, is seeking songwriters to perform in its 11th annual Singer-Songwriter Showcase this July. Ten singer-songwriters, who write and perform original music and are not currently signed to a major recording label, will be selected to perform two songs each and compete to be among the three winners of cash prizes and studio time. [To read the full article, click on the headline.]

25th Annual Washington Area Music Awards Presented

The Washington Area Music Association presented its 25th Annual Washington Area Music Awards (Wammies) on Sunday, February 20. The nonprofit organization of music industry professionals committed to raising the profile of the U.S. Capital region’s diverse music community created the awards to recognize significant career achievements by area musicians. [To see a list of award winners in select categories and hall of fame inductees, click on the headline.]

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.]