Barry Poss, co-founder and longtime owner of Sugar Hill Records –- an influential independent label whose roster included numerous notable bluegrass, Americana, old-time and roots music artists –- died on May 13, 2025. He was 79 and had been battling cancer for years.
Submissions are now being sought in the 29th annual Chris Austin Songwriting Contest. Hosted by MerleFest, the contest affords aspiring writers an opportunity to have their original songs heard and judged by a volunteer panel of Nashville music industry professionals chaired by Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Jim Lauderdale.
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.]
A number of artists will celebrate the life and legacy of American music legend Doc Watson on social media during the week of May 25-29, 2020 under the auspices of MerleFest, one of America’s premiere music festivals. [To continue reading this article, click on the headline.]
Winners were named in the 24th Annual Chris Austin Songwriting Contest, hosted by MerleFest 2016, following performances by finalists on April 29 during the popular roots-oriented music festival held at the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina. [To continue reading this article, click on the headline.]
Finalists have been named in the 22nd annual Chris Austin Songwriting Contest, hosted by MerleFest 2014, the popular roots-oriented music festival that takes place April 24-27 on the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina. [To continue reading the article, click on the headline.]
The Gibson Brothers, winners of last year’s Vocal Group of the Year and Album of the Year awards, were named Entertainer of the Year during this year’s 23rd Annual International Bluegrass Music Awards show on Thursday night, Sept. 27, at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. This ended a three year winning streak by Steve Martin & The Steep Canyon Rangers that had been preceded by another three-year streak by the popular duo Dailey & Vincent.. [To read the full article and learn of all the other winners and honorees, click on the headline].
Nearly 200 people are expected to be at the Montreat Conference Center in Montreat, North Carolina, just off the Blue Ridge Parkway, near Asheville, May 19-22, for the fourth annual Southeast Regional Folk Alliance (SERFA) Conference -- an extended weekend of contemporary and traditional folk music, networking, education and workshops. [To read the entire article, click on the headline.]
Most of the lineup for MerleFest is now set, and early-bird ticket prices for one of America’s most popular roots-oriented music festivals are available through April 6. Celebrating the music of the late instrumental virtuoso Merle Watson and his father Doc Watson, the “traditional-plus” music festival features sounds of the Appalachian region and beyond -- ranging from bluegrass and Americana to old-time, country and roots music. It takes place April 29 – May 2 on the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina. [To view the entire article, click on the headline.]
Tickets are currently on sale for the Ann Arbor Folk Festival that takes place January 29-30 at Hill Auditorium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Now in its 33rd year, the two-night event featuring traditional and contemporary artists is a fundraiser for The Ark, Ann Arbor’s nonprofit home for folk, roots and ethnic music. [To read the entire article, click on the headline.]
MerleFest, one of America’s most popular roots-oriented music festivals, will announce its artist lineup for 2010 during a one-hour radio special on North Carolina public radio station WNCW (streaming online at www.wncw.org) on Thursday, October 22, at 8 p.m. EDT. [To read the entire article, click on the headline.]
Three- and Four-day early bird tickets for MerleFest 2009, representing an average 10% discount over regular admission prices, are available until April 3. MerleFest, one of the most popular Americana music festivals, celebrates the music of the late instrumental virtuoso Eddy Merle Watson and his father Doc Watson. The “traditional plus” music festival – featuring a diverse array of roots-oriented sounds of the Appalachian region and beyond -- takes place April 23-26 on the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina. [To read the entire article, click on the headline.]
