Festival Focus – AcousticMusicScene.com

Finalists Named in Kerrville New Folk Competition

Post published:April 16, 2026
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Awards & Contests Festival Focus

Twenty-four songwriters have been named as finalists in the 2026 Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Competition for Emerging Songwriters. Chosen from among more than 1,000 entries, the finalists will perform the two songs they submitted on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, May 23 and 24, as part of the first weekend of the 54th annual Kerrville Folk Festival. Ten finalists have also been recently selected as finalists in the Al Johnson Performing Songwriter Contest. [Click on the headline to continue reading tis article.]

Entries Sought in Two Singer-Songwriter Competitions

Post published:October 13, 2025
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Awards & Contests Festival Focus

The South Florida Folk & Acoustic Music Club is accepting online applications for both its National Singer-Songwriter Competition and South Florida Singer-Songwriter Competition through October 31, 2025. A panel of preliminary judges will assess the submissions. Finalists in the national competition will be invited to perform and be evaluated by another panel of three judges during the annual South Florida Folk & Acoustic Music Festival that is slated for January 30-February 1, 2026 at the Bergeron Rodeo Grounds in Davie. Artists in the local competition will perform prior to the festival, while three winners will be invited to showcase their talents during it. [Click on the headline to continue reading this article.]

Philadelphia Folk Festival Set for Aug. 15-17

Post published:August 11, 2025
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Festival Focus News - Northeast U.S.

Throngs of music lovers are expected to converge on the Old Pool Farm in Upper Salford Township (Montgomery County), near bucolic Schwenksville and Harleysville, Pennsylvania, August 15-17, for the annual Philadelphia Folk Festival Https://folkfest.org). This will be the 62nd edition of the family-friendly event that is produced and presented by the Philadelphia Folksong Society, a nonprofit arts organization.

Falcon Ridge Folk Festival Set for July 25-27

Post published:July 8, 2025
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Festival Focus

The Falcon Ridge Folk Festival returns to the Goshen Fairgrounds in Goshen, Connecticut, July 25-27, 2025, preceded by a Pre-Fest Day of Tastings & Farm Market and Thursday Night Music Stage on July 24. In addition to dozens of artists performing on several stages, dancing, children’s music and activities, and a wide array of of crafts, food and other vendors, AcousticMusicScene.com will join with Tribes Hill in hosting late-night song swaps and open song circles under a big white canopy tent. [Click on the headline or link to continue reading this article.]

Winners Named in 2025 Kerrville New Folk Competition

Post published:May 28, 2025
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Awards & Contests Festival Focus News - U.S. National

Six singer-songwriters have been named as winners in the 2025 Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Competition for Emerging Songwriters. They were chosen by a panel of judges from among 24 finalists who performed two songs each during the New Folk Concerts on May 24 and 25 as part of the Kerrville Folk Festival, an 18-day event at the Quiet Valley Ranch in the Texas Hill Country near Austin and San Antonio. [Click on the headline to continue reading this article and to view videos of the New Folk Concerts.]

SolarFest Songwriter Showcase Applications Due June 1

Post published:May 17, 2025
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Awards & Contests Festival Focus

SolarFest -- slated for August 8-10, 2025 in Brandon, Vermont -- hosts a Singer-Songwriter Showcase. It’s free to enter and open to all artists who write and perform original music and are not currently signed to a major recording label.

Finalists Named in 2025 Kerrville New Folk Competition

Post published:April 19, 2025
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Awards & Contests Festival Focus

Twenty-four songwriters have been named as finalists in the 2025 Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Competition for Emerging Songwriters. Chosen from among 1,118 entries from around the world, the finalists will perform the two songs they submitted on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, May 24 and 25, as part of the first weekend of the 53rd annual Kerrville Folk Festival. Ten finalists also have been recently selected as finalists in the Al Johnson Performing Songwriter Contest that is held in conjunction with the Wildflower Arts and Music Festival the previous weekend.

South Florida Folk & Acoustic Music Festival Set for Jan. 31-Feb. 2

Post published:January 21, 2025
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Festival Focus

The annual South Florida Folk & Acoustic Music Festival returns to Davie, Florida's Bergeron Rodeo Grounds, Friday-Sunday, January 31-February 2, 2025. Presented by the nonprofit South Florida Folk & Acoustic Music Club, the festival will feature performances by more than 40 artists/acts, a singer-songwriter competition, and a wide array of jam sessions and workshops. All festival activities will take place under cover. Discounted tickets are available online until 6 p.m. on January 26.

The Honey Badgers Emerge Victorious

Post published:August 14, 2024
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Awards & Contests Festival Focus

The Honey Badgers was named the winner following the Emerging Artist Showcase at the 2024 Susquehanna Folk Festival in York, Pennsylvania on Saturday, August 10. The Newark, Delaware-based folk and Americana duo of Erin Magnin and Michael Schutz Natrin was afforded the opportunity to open that evening for Hot Club of Cowtown at the Capitol Theatre and received a $1,000 cash prize.

Philadelphia Folk Festival is Back, Aug. 16-18

Post published:August 8, 2024
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Festival Focus News - Northeast U.S.

The Philadelphia Folk Festival returns to the historic Old Pool Farm in Upper Salford Township, near bucolic Schwenksville, Pennsylvania, August 16-18, following a hiatus in 2023. Thousands of music lovers are expected to converge on the farm, located some 45 minutes from Philadelphia, for the 61st edition of the family-friendly event that is produced and presented by the Philadelphia Folksong Society, a nonprofit arts organization. [Click on the headline to continue reading this article previewing the festival.]

Susquehanna Folk Festival Set for August 9-11

Post published:August 3, 2024
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Festival Focus

Natalie MacMaster & Donnell Leahy, Hot Club of Cowtown and The Klezmatics headline the annual Susquehanna Folk Festival that that takes place at downtown York, Pennsylvania’s Appell Center, August 9-11. Although the festival’s matinee and evening concerts –- as well as contra and swing dances -- are ticketed, much of its daytime programming (which includes live music, an emerging artist showcase, jams, and family-friendly activities) is free. [Click on the headline to continue reading this article previewing the festival.]

2024 Kerrville New Folk Winners include (l.-r.): Rachel Sumner, Lucy Clearwater, Lila Blue, Robin Bienemann, and Lila Talmers. Not pictured: Sean Kell. (Phot from Kerrville Folk Festival's Facebook page)

Winners Named in 2024 Kerrville New Folk Competition

Post published:May 30, 2024
Post author:Michael Kornfeld
Post category:Awards & Contests Festival Focus News - U.S. National

Six singer-songwriters have been named as winners in the 2024 Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Competition for Emerging Songwriters. They were chosen by a panel of judges from among 24 finalists who performed two songs each during the New Folk Concerts on May 25 and 26 as part of the Kerrville Folk Festival, an 18-day event at the Quiet Valley Ranch in the Texas Hill Country near Austin and San Antonio.