Intersection, the new album by Grammy -winning singer-songwriter and Americana Music Association Lifetime Achievement Award winner Nanci Griffith, climbed into the #1 position on the Roots Music Report folk radio chart this week. Fellow Texan Ray Wylie Hubbard's The Grifter's Hymnal continues to top the roots country chart. [To view the latest Folk and Roots Country Top 50 albums charts, click on the headline.]
In less than two years' time, Kelleigh McKenzie has made quite a mark in acoustic music circles. A talented singer-songwriter who alternately accompanies herself on banjo, guitar and amplified stompbox, McKenzie has appeared on "Mountain Stage" and the "WoodSongs Old-Time Radio Hour," was a co-winner in the 2008 Mountain Stage NewSong Contest, secured a coveted formal showcase slot at the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance (NERFA) Conference, and was selected to participate in emerging artists showcases at both the Falcon Ridge and Grey Fox festivals. Her debut album, Chances, was on the Americana Music Chart for six months, while "Gin," one of the tracks on it, won an Independent Music Award for Best Americana Song. Kathy Sands-Boehmer recently posed a few questions to Kelleigh. [To read Kathy's Q & A with Kelleigh McKenzie, click on the headline.]
Buddy Miller was the big winner during last night’s Eighth Annual Americana Music Association Honors & Awards Show at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. The acclaimed singer-songwriter, guitarist, producer and much sought-after collaborator and sideman, was named Artist of the Year and also won Album of the Year (for Written In Chalk, with wife Julie Miller), Duo/Group of the Year (again with Julie), and Song of the Year (“Chalk,” written by Julie and performed by Buddy and Patty Griffin.) [To view the entire article and learn who the other winners were, click on the headline.]
Performing Songwriter is ceasing publication after 16 years. The magazine’s June 2009 issue, sent to subscribers and newsstands this week, will be its final edition, Lydia Hutchinson, its editor and publisher, has announced. [To read the article in its entirety, click on the headline.]
During the summer, the Santa Monica Pier in Southern California is teaming with people who flock there to leisurely stroll and soak up the laid-back beach atmosphere, partake of an array of dining and entertainment choices, bask in the sun and cool ocean breezes, and enjoy often fabulous sunsets. On the weekend of June 6 and 7 there’s even more to lure acoustic music fans to the famous pier. That’s when the inaugural LA Acoustic Music Festival takes place. [To read the entire article, click on the headline.]
