Lara Herscovitch Named Connecticut’s State Troubadour

Lara Herscovitch, a talented contemporary singer-songwriter whose music features a nice blend of folk, pop and world styles, has been named as Connecticut’s State Troubadour for 2009 and 2010. Appointed by the Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism, based on a recommendation by a panel of music professionals that included Pierce Campbell, the previous State Troubadour, Herscovitch serves as an ambassador of music and song to encourage cultural literacy and promote the State of Connecticut. In addition to her regular touring schedule, she will perform at a number of state events in an emissary role over the next two years. [To read the entire article, click on the headline.]

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Plant and Krauss Dominate 51st Annual Grammy Awards

Robert Plant and Alison Krauss were the top winners in the 51st Annual Grammy Awards on Feb. 8. The duo’s Rounder release, Raising Sand, produced by T Bone Burnett, was named Album of the Year and Best Contemporary Folk/Americana album. Plant and Krauss also captured awards for Record of the Year (“Please Read the Letter”), Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals (“Rich Woman”) and Best Country Collaboration with Vocals (“Killing The Blues”). [To read the entire article, which includes a list of other notable winners, click on the headline.]

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Boston Bluegrass Union Presents Awards, Festival in February

A number of individuals who have made substantial contributions to furthering bluegrass music in New England will be presented with 2009 BBU Heritage Awards during the Joe Val Bluegrass Festival presented by the Boston Bluegrass Union over Presidents Day Weekend, February 13-15, at the Sheraton Framingham in Framingham, Massachusetts. [To read the entire article, including information about the award recipients and the the festival, click on the headline.]

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Winners Named in 8th Annual Independent Music Awards

Winners in the eighth annual Independent Music Awards were announced this month. Produced by Music Resource Group, publishers of The Musician’s Atlas, the Independent Music Awards feature more than 50 music and design categories and were open to any indie-label release or self-produced, self-distributed recording released between July 1, 2007 and Sept. 30, 2008. [To read the entire article, click on the headline.]

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Chris Austin Songwriting Contest Entries Due Feb. 18

Submissions are now being sought for the 17th annual Chris Austin Songwriting Contest, hosted by MerleFest. Open to aspiring songwriters, who derive no more than 50% of their income from songwriting or music publishing, the contest deadline is February 18. Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Jim Lauderdale chairs a volunteer panel of Nashville songwriters, publishers and other music industry professionals, who will judge entries based on originality, lyrics, melody and overall commercial potential. [To read the entire article, click on the headline.]

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Miss Tess, The Low Anthem Win Boston Music Awards

Miss Tess, a Boston, Massachusetts-based singer-songwriter and guitarist, whose music includes a smattering of jazz, blues and Americana, has been named “Outstanding Folk Artist of the Year” in the Boston Music Awards. The Low Anthem, a Providence, Rhode Island-based Americana-folk group, was named “Best New Act of the Year,” while Guns and Glory, a honky-tonkin’ four-piece Americana outfit, was named “Outstanding Americana Act of the Year” for the second year in a row, as well as “Local Act of the Year.” Award-winners were announced in 26 categories earlier this month. [To read the entire article, click on the headline.]

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Winners Named in 2008 USA Songwriting Competition

Winners in the 2008 USA Songwriting Competition have been announced. Brooklyn, New York-based singer-songwriter Lucy Wainwright Roche captured first place in the folk category for “Snare Drum.” Boston, Massachusetts-based contemporary Celtic fiddler and composer Hanneke Cassel came in first in the instrumental category and won overall third prize in the competition for her song “A Shadow and a Thought.” Top honors for lyrics went to San Marcos, Texas-based Americana singer-songwriter Terri Hendrix for “If I Had a Daughter.” Los Angeles, California-based pop-rocker Jordan Zevon won the overall grand prize in the 13th annual competition. [To read the entire article, click on the headline.]

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Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Competition Open for Entries

Entries are now being sought for the 2009 Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Competition for Emerging Songwriters to be held on Saturday and Sunday, May 23 and 24, during the 38th Annual Kerrville Folk Festival. The first 800 entries received prior to March 15, 2009 will be accepted and 32 finalists will be named in April. [To read the entire article, click on the headline.]

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Roots Music Association Presents Awards

Anne McCue was named Folk Artist of the Year, while Carrie Rodriguez took Folk Songwriter of the Year honors in the inaugural Roots Music Association Awards. Others recognized during an awards ceremony that took place on the closing day of the World United Music Festival and Radio Conference in San Marcos, Texas, Nov. 14-16, included Emmylou Harris (Roots/Americana Artist of the Year), Chris Knight (Roots/Americana Country Songwriter of the Year), The Dixie Bee-Liners (Bluegrass Artist of the Year), Pinetop Perkins (Blues Artist of the Year), Tom Gray (Blues Songwriter of the Year), Asleep at the Wheel (Cowboy/Western Swing Artist of the Year), and Jo-el Sonnier (Zydeco Artist of the Year). [To read the entire article, click on the headline.]

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Finalists Named for Independent Music Awards

Finalists for the eighth annual Independent Music Awards were announced on Nov. 19. Produced by Music Resource Group, publishers of The Musician’s Atlas, the Independent Music Awards feature more than 50 music and design categories and were open to any indie-label release or self-produced, self-distributed recording released between July 1, 2007 and Sept. 30, 2008. [To read the entire article, click on the headline.]

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NSAI Extends Song Contest Deadline

The submission deadline for the 9th Annual Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) Song Contest has been extended to Dec. 10. The contest, open to aspiring songwriters in all music genres, is presented by CMT. NSAI members may enter for $35 per song, while the per-song fee for others is $45. [To read the entire article, click on the headline.]

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