Dailey & Vincent retained the title of Entertainers of the Year when the 20th Annual International Bluegrass Music Awards were presented on Thursday, October 1, at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. The duo also was named Vocal Group of the Year. [To read the entire article and learn who all the winners are, click on the headline.]
Buddy Miller was the big winner during last night’s Eighth Annual Americana Music Association Honors & Awards Show at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. The acclaimed singer-songwriter, guitarist, producer and much sought-after collaborator and sideman, was named Artist of the Year and also won Album of the Year (for Written In Chalk, with wife Julie Miller), Duo/Group of the Year (again with Julie), and Song of the Year (“Chalk,” written by Julie and performed by Buddy and Patty Griffin.) [To view the entire article and learn who the other winners were, click on the headline.]
The 2009 Just Plain Folks Music Awards will be Webcast live from the Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville, Tennessee on Saturday, August 29, from 5-11 p.m. Central Time, at www.jpfolks.com, where you can also see a complete list of nominees. Presented by Just Plain Folks -- a community of more than 51,500 songwriters, recording artists and music industry professionals that was created to provide a network of cooperation and inclusion for musicians -- the awards show will feature live performances by more than 30 nominees, while all awards categories will be announced. [To read the entire article, click on the headline.]
Dan Tyminski Band, Dailey & Vincent, Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, The Grascals and Steve Martin lead the list of nominees for the 20th Annual International Bluegrass Music Awards that takes place on Thursday, October 1, at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. The awards show is the centerpiece of the International Bluegrass Music Association’ (IBMA)’s “World of Bluegrass,” September 28 to Oct. 4, that also features a business conference and fan fest. Hosting the awards show will be Grammy Award-winning country artist Kathy Mattea and bluegrass band Hot Rize (the first recipients of the IBMA Entertainer of the Year Award in 1990). It will be broadcast live on Sirius XM Radio’s “Bluegrass Junction” channel 14 and syndicated to more than 300 U.S. markets. [To read the entire article and see the complete list of nominees, click on the headline.]
Entries are currently being accepted for the International Acoustic Music Awards. Now in its sixth 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 read the entire article, click on the headline.]
Four songwriters have been named as finalists in the Avalonfest ’09 Performing Songwriter Competition. Rhobb Elliott of North Carolina, Robyn Kay of New York, David Kleiner of Pennsylvania, and Steve Warner of West Virginia will strut their stuff on the festival’s Mountain Stage on Friday afternoon, August 7.
Sharon Goldman has mixed feelings when it comes to songwriting contests. The New York-based singer-songwriter, who recently launched a blog for songwriters called Songwriting Scene, shares her thoughts with AcousticMusicScene.com readers.
Submissions are currently being accepted in both the Great Lakes Songwriting Contest and the New York Songwriters Circle 2009 Songwriters Contest. [To read the entire article, click on the headline.]
Two major music industry business conferences of note to the acoustic music community are slated for the fall in Nashville, Tennessee. The Americana Music Association’s 10th Annual Americana Music Festival & Conference returns to the “Music City,” September 16-19, while the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA)’s World of Bluegrass is set for September 28-October 4. Early-bird registration opened this month for both events. [To read the entire article, click on the headline.]
Twenty-four artists have been selected from among more than 500 applicants to perform in the Emerging Artists Showcase during the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival on Friday afternoon, July 24. Appearing in this year’s Falcon Ridge/Grassy Hill Emerging Artist Showcase are: Nels Andrews, Mary Bragg, Bread and Bones, The Brilliant Inventions, Calaveras, K.C. Clifford, Chuck E. Costa, Coyote Grace, Driftwood Fire, Emily Elbert, John Elliott, Jenny Goodspeed, Aiden James, Colleen Katau & Some Guys, Robin Landis, Liz Longley, Kelleigh McKenzie, Angelo M, Danielle Miraglia, Alastair Moock, Claudia Nygaard, A.J. Roach & His Strange Pilgrims, Sean Rowe, and Swing Caravan. [To read the entire article, click on the headline.]
June 30 is the postmark deadline for entries in the 14th Annual USA Songwriting Competition that is open to amateur and professional songwriters. Winners in 15 categories will be selected by a judging committee comprised of music industry professionals and will receive cash, merchandise and/or services as prizes. Songs will be evaluated based on originality, lyrics, melody and composition, without consideration for quality of performance and production. [To read the entire article, click on the headline.]
The Recording Academy announced today that its trustees have voted to rename and expand the Folk Field in the Grammy Awards. Citing the increasing growth of traditional music, the Academy has split the category Best Contemporary Folk/Americana into two categories: Best Contemporary Folk Album and Best Americana Album. In addition, the Folk Field has been renamed American Roots Music. [To read the entire article, click on the headline.]
