Twenty-four artists have been selected from among some 450 applicants to perform in the New Artist Showcase during the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival on Friday afternoon, July 27, 2007. Appearing in this year’s Showcase, slated for noon to 4:30 p.m. on the Main Stage, are: Nick Annis, Derek Aramburu, Judith Avers, Ken Bonfield, Beaucoup Blue, Edie Carey, Sandy Cash, Joe Crookston, Anthony da Costa, Five2, Ryan Fitzsimmons, Joe Jencks, Jennings & Keller, Dawn Kenney, Lindsay Mac, Stephanie Marshall, Zoe Mulford, Chris O’Brien, Siobhan Quinn& Michael Bowers, Bob Sima, Vienna Teng, Heather Waters, The Whispering Tree and Randall Williams. [To read the entire article, click on the headline].

Eric Balkey may have won the 2007 Susquehanna Music & Arts Festival (SMAF) Songwriter Contest last weekend, but the 37-year old, self-described “traveling painter and poet” doesn’t let things like that go to his head. “I’m confident with what I do and believe that there’s great value in it,” he said, noting that, while nice, he does not need such awards and honors as an affirmation or validation of his work. For Balkey, who has been a performing songwriter since buying his first guitar at age 24, while completing his last semester in college, being named as one of the eight finalists in this year’s SMAF contest provided the impetus for him to get down to Darlington, Maryland “to hang out and share music with a bunch of friends and kindred spirits.” [To read the entire article, click on the headline].

Performing songwriters in all musical genres are invited to submit entries in the sixth annual Mountain Stage NewSong Contest. The submission deadline for the general round, open to anyone from anywhere, is July 25. There is a May 18 deadline for entries into new live regional rounds for the Northeast, Southeast, New England, Southwest, Mid-Atlantic, Ohio River Valley and Canada. Eligible performing artists may submit entries in both a regional round (provided they live in the region) and the general round. All entries must be submitted online via sonicbids.com. [To read the entire article, click on the headline].

Eight finalists have been named in the 2007 SMAF Songwriter Contest and will perform Friday evening, May 11, during the Susquehanna Music & Arts Festival at the rustic Ramblewood Resort in Darlington, Maryland (near Havre de Grace). They are Erik Balkey of Pennsylvania, Karen Collins of Virginia, Stephen DiJoseph of Pennsyvania, Annie Dinerman of New York, Jennings & Keller of Florida, Glen Roethel of New York, Bob Sima of Maryland, and Victoria Vox of Maryland. The contest winner will perform on the main stage on Saturday, May 12. More than 30 other artists are slated to perform at SMAF over Mother's Day Weekend. For more information, visit www.smaf.info.

The Susquehanna Music and Arts Festival (SMAF) has extended the postmark deadline for its singer-songwriter contest to March 25. The contest is open to singer-songwriters who are not signed to a major label or publishing deal. If interested, send a CD or cassette (rewound, please) that is clearly labeled with your name and the title(s) of up to two songs that you would like the judges to listen to, along with a press kit and lyric sheet , as well as a check for $15. to Susquehanna Music and Arts Festival Songwriting Contest, P.O. Box 139, Abingdon, MD 21009. [To see the entire article, click on the title in red].

Entries are currently being sought for the 2007 USA Songwriting Competition. Now in its 12th year, this competition provides winners not only with cash and music gear, but also helps expose their music to a wider audience via airplay on the nationally syndicated radio program “Acoustic Café,” as well as on XM Satellite Radio. [To see the entire article, click on the title in red].

Fertitta and McClintock won the overall grand prize in the third annual International Acoustic Music Awards (IAMA). The Orange County, California-based duo -- whose songs have been recorded by such artists as Sammy Kershaw, Lorrie Morgan, Juice Newton and Andy Williams -- also was named best group/duo. [For a list of top winners, click on the title in red].