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Nominees Named for 2021 Canadian Folk Music Awards

Nominees Named for 2021 Canadian Folk Music Awards

British Columbia-based folk duo Pharis & Jason Romero tops the list of nominees for 2021 Canadian Folk Music Awards with six nominations for their album, Bet On Love. William Prince, a storytelling country-folk singer-songwriter from Peguis First Nation, received five nods for Reliever; and The East Pointers, a spirited Celtic folk trio from Prince Edward Island, were honored with four for Yours To Break. Singer-Songwriters Basia Bulat (Are You In Love?) and Catherine MacLellan (Coyote), along with Canadian Inuk musician Riit (ataataga) each received three nominations. They are among 100 nominees vying for awards in 19 categories to be presented virtually April 9-10, 2021. [Click on the headline to continue reading this article and see the complete list of nominees.]

Grammy Nominees Named in American Roots Music Field

Nominees in 83 categories have been named for the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards to be presented by the Recording Academy on Sunday, January 31, 2021 at 8 p.m. ET/ 5 p.m. PT during a live broadcast on CBS television stations. Bonny Light Horseman (a new folk group featuring Anais Mitchell, Eric D. Johnson and Josh Kaufman), Sarah Jarosz and the late John Prine lead the nominees in the American Roots Music Field with two nods each. [Click on the headline to continue reading this article and see a listing of nominees in the American Roots Music Field and select others.]
FAI Folk Radio Charts - October 2020

FAI Folk Radio Charts – October 2020

Songs Doc Didn’t Sing by Doc and Merle Watson was the top album on folk radio in October 2020, while the late father and son were the month’s most-played artists and singer-songwriter Tim Grimm’s “ Gone,” was the month’s most-played song. So say charts compiled by Folk Alliance International based on radio playlists submitted to FOLKDJ-L, an electronic discussion group for DJs and others interested in folk-based music on the radio. [Click on the headline to continue reading this article and to view the monthly top albums, songs and artists charts that are posted on AcousticMusicScene.com with permission.]
Winners Named in 2020 Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Competition

Winners Named in 2020 Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Competition

Six singer-songwriters have been named as winners in the 2020 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 that streamed online October 10 and 11 on the Kerrville Folk Festival’s website, Facebook page and YouTube channel as part of a Virtual Celebration held in place of the annual event on the Quiet Valley Ranch in the Texas Hill Country. [To continue reading this article, including reflections from a couple of the winners, click on the headline.]

FAI Folk Radio Charts – September 2020

Old Friends by Gathering Time was the top album on folk radio in September 2020 and features seven of the month’s top 25 songs, while the folk-rock harmony trio was the month’s most-played artist. James Lee Baker’s “100 Summers” edged out Scott Cook’s “Say Can You See” for the top song. So say charts compiled by Folk Alliance International based on radio playlists submitted to FOLKDJ-L, an electronic discussion group for DJs and others interested in folk-based music on the radio. [To continue reading this article and to view the monthly top albums, songs and artists charts, click on the headline.]
2020 Kerrville New Folk Concerts Go Online

2020 Kerrville New Folk Concerts Go Online

Twenty-four songwriters who were named as finalists in the 2020 Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Competition for Emerging Songwriters will perform the two songs they submitted during Virtual New Folk Finalists Concerts slated for Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 10 and 11, beginning at 1:30 p.m. CDT. [Click on the headline to continue reading this article and learn how to view the concerts online in the comfort of your own home.]

IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards Winners Named

Sister Sadie –- a female quartet featuring Tina Adair, Dale Ann Bradley, Gena Britt and Deannie Richardson –- was the recipient of the coveted Entertainer of the Year award during the 31st annual IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards on October 1, 2020. The reigning IBMA Vocal Group of the Year also retained that distinction, while Richardson was named Fiddle Player of the Year and was also part of the Collaborative Recording of the Year (The Barber’s Fiddle). [Click on the headline to continue reading this article and view the complete list of award winners.]
FAR-West Hosts a Virtual Gathering on Oct. 8

FAR-West Hosts a Virtual Gathering on Oct. 8

Like its counterparts at the other regional affiliates of Folk Alliance International, the board of directors of Folk Alliance Region-West (FAR-West) felt compelled to cancel its annual conference this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. FAR-West will, however, host a virtual gathering on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020. Entitled “We Belong Together,” the free, one-day event will be in two parts and will take place via Zoom and YouTube. [To continue reading this article, click on the headline.]

SWRFA Hosts Virtual Conference, Sept. 25-27

Southwest Regional Folk Alliance (SWRFA) hosts a 2020 Virtual Conference online from Friday, September 25 - Sunday, September 27. It will feature a dozen official showcases, several workshops, breakout sessions and one-on-ones, open mics, and song assignments. [Click on the headline to continue reading this article.]
Michigan Irish Music Festival Hosts Virtual Celebration, Sept. 17-20

Michigan Irish Music Festival Hosts Virtual Celebration, Sept. 17-20

The COVID-19 pandemic and the social distancing guidelines associated with it prompted cancellation of the Michigan Irish Music Festival that is held annually at Heritage Park in Muskegon. Determined to help keep Irish in y(our) hearts during the “weekend that would have been,” festival organizers have arranged a virtual celebration featuring special online musical and cultural performances that you can enjoy from the comfort of your own home, Sept. 17-20, 2020. [Click on the headline to continue reading this article.]
FAI Folk Radio Charts - August 2020

FAI Folk Radio Charts – August 2020

Ghost Tattoo by Americana quartet Kristen Grainger and True North was the top album on folk radio during August 2020, while “Keep the River on Your Right,” one of its tracks, tied with Canadian prairie roots balladeer Scott Cook’s “Say Can You See" for the month’s top song. John McCutcheon, a revered folksinger-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, was August’s most-played artist -- closely followed by Cook and Granger. So say charts compiled by Folk Alliance International based on radio playlists submitted to FOLKDJ-L, an electronic discussion group for DJs and others interested in folk-based music on the radio. [Click on the headline to view the monthly charts that are posted on AcousticMusicScene.com with permission.]
TradMad Virtual Camp 2020 Airs on Folk Music Notebook, Aug. 31-Sept. 3

TradMad Virtual Camp 2020 Airs on Folk Music Notebook, Aug. 31-Sept. 3

Each summer, folks flock to Pinewoods Camp in Plymouth, Massachusetts for an annual six-day gathering of live music and dance for adults interested in Anglo-American traditional music and dance known as TradMad. Although the current COVID-19 pandemic prompted the Folk Music Society of New York (aka Pinewoods Folk Music Club) to postpone this year’s event, TradMad Virtual Camp 2020 will be presented Aug. 31 - Sept. 3 via FolkMusicNotebook.com. [Click on the headline to continue reading the article.]