News – Northeast U.S.

Concerts Mark 30th Anniversary of Harry Chapin’s Death

Saturday, July 16 marks the 30th anniversary of the tragic death of singer-songwriter and social activist Harry Chapin, whose music and humanitarianism inspired many. Two concerts featuring his songs will take place on Long Island, where he resided with his family. An effort also is under way to encourage the U.S. Postal Service to issue a commemorative stamp in his honor. [To View the entire article, click the headline.]

Festivals Set in the Northeast Over Independence Day Weekend

A couple of music festivals of note in the Northeast take place during the first weekend in July -- one along the cobblestoned streets of the old whaling port city of New Bedford, Massachusetts, the other at the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts in Katonah, New York. [To read the article, click on the headline.]

24 Acts Selected for 2011 Falcon Ridge Emerging Artists Showcase

Twenty-four artists/bands have been selected from among hundreds of applicants to perform in the Falcon Ridge/Grassy Hill Emerging Artists Showcase during the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival on Friday afternoon, July 22, 2011, from noon to 4:30 p.m. They are Brooke Annibale, Blair Bodine, Brittany Ann, Ellen Bukstel, Lori Diamond and Fred Abatelli, Friction Farm, Bulat Gafarov, Sharon Goldman, Jason Myles Goss, ilyAIMY, Layah Jane, Devlin Miles, Louise Mosrie, My Brothers Banned, Occidental Gypsy, Karyn Oliver, Pesky J. Nixon, Grace Pettis, Paul Sachs, Putnam Smith, Split Tongue Crow, Suzie Vinnick, Gail Wade, and The Whispering Tree. [To view 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.]

Artists Selected to Showcase at NERFA Mini-Conference, April 30

The following artists have been selected to perform short showcases during the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance (NERFA) One-Day Mini-Conference at the First Universalist Society in Franklin, Massachusetts (home of the Circle of Friends Coffeehouse) on Saturday, April 30: Burning Bridget Cleary, Michelle Cruz, Jason Myles Goss, Brendan Hogan, Occidental Gypsy, Amy Petty, Radio Caroline, Hayley Reardon, Roy Schneider, and the Putnam Smith Trio. [To read the complete article, click on the headline.]

Singer-Songwriter Cape May Conference Set for March 25-26, 2011

Springtime may be off-season for the historic Victorian-lined seaside resort community of Cape May, New Jersey. But singer-songwriters and others engaged in the music industry will be there on Friday and Saturday, March 25-26, for the fourth annual Singer Songwriter Cape May music business conference. [To read the full article, click on the headline.]

Jack Hardy, Singer-Songwriter and Fast Folk Founder, 1947-2011

Jack Hardy, a singer-songwriter who played a pivotal role in the New York folk/songwriting scene for several decades and influenced and inspired many other songwriters, died on March 11. His death at age 63 sent shockwaves through the folk community, with many posting short remembrances and tributes on Facebook -- the social networking platform. [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.]

Two Long Island-Based Nonprofit Arts Organizations Forge a Partnership To Present and Promote Folk Music Programming

Recognizing the value of collaboration in the arts, two venerable Long Island, New York-based nonprofit arts organizations are doing just that. The Cinema Arts Centre and the Folk Music Society of Huntington are teaming up to present a monthly concert series and also are engaging in other cross-promotional efforts across their respective artistic disciplines. Note: AcousticMusicScene.com's Michael Kornfeld is president of the Folk Music Society of Huntington. [To read the entire article, click on the headline.]

NERFA Hosts a Mini-Conference in Franklin, MA on April 30, 2011

The Northeast Regional Folk Alliance (NERFA) hosts a special one-day mini-conference on Saturday, April 30, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., at the First Universalist Society in Franklin, MA (home of the Circle of Friends Coffeehouse). [To read the entire article, click on the headline.]

Chuck E. Costa Named Connecticut State Troubadour for 2011-2012

Chuck E. Costa, a talented singer-songwriter from Madison, CT, has been named as Connecticut’s State Troubadour for 2011-2012. He succeeds Lara Herscovitch, the state troubadour for 2009-2010. [To read the entire article, click on the headline.]

Newport Folk Festival Returns to Its Nonprofit Roots

The Newport Folk Festival, which has been held in or near the coastal Rhode Island resort city since 1959, is returning to its original roots as a nonprofit event, along with its older sibling, the Newport Jazz Festival. Both will now be produced under the umbrella of he newly formed Newport Festivals Foundation, Inc. George Wein, 85, a pioneer among producers of outdoor festivals, will remain at its helm and, with his staff, continue to steer the folk festival that is set for July 29-31 at Fort Adams State Park. [To read the entire article, click on the headline.]