Latest News

Winners Named in Fifth Annual UK Americana Awards

The fifth annual UK Americana Awards were presented in London, England on January 30. The awards show, presented by the Americana Music Association UK, capped AmericanaFest UK 2020 –- a three-day conference with two evenings of showcases featuring more than 75 artists at various venues in the London borough of Hackney. [To continue reading this article, click on the headline.]

Nominees Named for 2020 JUNO Awards

The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) has revealed the nominees for the 2020 JUNO Awards – including those for Contemporary Roots Album of the Year and Traditional Roots Album of the Year. The coveted awards will be presented on Sunday night, March 15 at SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. [To continue reading this article -- which also includes listings of nominees for Blues Album and Indigenous Artist/ Group of the Year -- click on the headline.]

Bob Shane, Co-Founder of The Kingston Trio, 1934-2020

Bob Shane, the last original member of The Kingston Trio, died on January 26 – just a few days shy of his 86h birthday. Along with his bandmates, Shane, a singer and guitarist, helped to spur the folk revival of the late 1950s -1960s. [To continue reading this article, click on the headline.]

Grammy Awards Presented in American Roots Music Field

Young singer-songwriter Billie Eilish and tributes & shout-outs to basketball great Kobe Bryant, who died in a helicopter crash earlier that day, dominated the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards telecast on Sunday, January 26. However, a number of coveted Grammy Awards also were presented by The Recording Academy in the American Roots Music Field and others during a premiere ceremony at Los Angeles’ Staples Center that streamed live on Grammy.com hours prior to the televised awards show on CBS. [To continue reading this article, click on the headline.]

Showcase Applications Sought for AMERICANAFEST

The Americana Music Association is now accepting applications from artists and bands interested in showcasing their talents during the 21st annual AMERICANAFEST -- a six-day festival and conference celebrating American roots-inspired music that takes place in Nashville, Tennessee in mid-September. The showcase submissions deadline is Friday, March 6. [To continue reading this article, click on the headline.]

International Folk Music Awards Presented

The Small Glories, Amythyst Kiah and Mavis Staples were among the recipients of International Folk Music Awards presented Wednesday, Jan. 22, on the opening night of the 32nd annual Folk Alliance International Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana that continues through Jan. 26.. [To continue reading this article, click on the headline.]

David Olney, Beloved Singer-Songwriter, 1948-2020

David Olney, a revered folk and Americana singer-songwriter, died after suffering an apparent heart attack on Saturday night, Jan. 18, while onstage at the 30A Songwriters Festival in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. During a musical career that spanned more than four decades, Olney, 71, recorded and released more than 20 albums and had his songs covered or co-written by such other notable artists as Steve Earle, Emmylou Harris, Laurie Lewis, Del McCoury, and Linda Ronstadt. [To continue reading this article and to view a few videos, click on the headline.]

Performing Songwriter Contests Open for Entries

Entries are now being sought in three performing songwriter competitions: the Al Johnson Performing Songwriter Contest, Songwriter Serenade, and Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Competition. Although these contests take place in Texas, they are not solely for songwriters based in the state. [To continue reading this article, click on the headline.]
Folk DJ Radio Airplay Charts - December 2019

Folk DJ Radio Airplay Charts – December 2019

The Longest Night of the Year, Volume 2 [Hudson Harding Music] -- a compilation featuring songs recorded by various artists -- was the top album and featured 11 of the 25 most-played songs on folk radio during December 2019. Topping the monthly songs chart was “Bringing in the Light” by Gathering Sparks, the Southern Ontario folk-roots duo of Eve Goldberg and Jane Lewis, that appears on both its album, All That’s Real, and the compilation. 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. [The monthly charts are posted here with permission. To view them, click on the headline.]...

Performing Arts Professionals to Gather in NYC

Several thousand people are expected to converge on New York City, January 10-14, 2020, for the annual conference of the Association of Performing Arts Professionals (APAP). The global performing arts gathering, marketplace and conference will feature more than 1000 artist showcases (including a number of folk and roots music artists), nearly 400 exhibitors, daily plenary sessions, a wide array of professional development sessions, and networking opportunities galore. Daily plenary sessions also will be streamed via Facebook Live, while Wavelengths: Global Music Conference at APAP and other pre-conference sessions on Jan. 9-10 are open to the public -- as are some of the ticketed showcases at venues throughout the city. [To continue reading this article, click on the headline.]

SERFA Conference Set for May 13-17, 2020 in Chattanooga, Tennessee

Registration is now open for the 13th annual Southeast Regional Folk Alliance (SERFA) Conference, with super early-bird discounts available through January 31. An extended weekend of contemporary and traditional folk music, networking and learning opportunities, the conference – slated for May 13-17 in Chattanooga, Tennessee -- will be keynoted by acclaimed singer-songwriter Mary Gauthier and will feature some two-dozen juried official showcases. [To continue reading this short article, click on the headline.]
Entries Sought in 2020 Kerrville New Folk Competition

Entries Sought in 2020 Kerrville New Folk Competition

Entries are now being accepted for the 2020 Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Competition for Emerging Songwriters, to be held on Saturday and Sunday, May 23 and 24, 2020, during the first weekend of the 49th Annual Kerrville Folk Festival in the Texas Hill Country near Austin and San Antonio. The first 800 entries postmarked or submitted online by February 29 will be judged, and 24 finalists will be named in April. To continue reading this short article, click on the headline.]