SolarFest -- slated for July 15-16, 2023 in Brandon, Vermont -- is again hosting a Singer-Songwriter Showcase following a hiatus of several years. It’s free to enter and open to all artists who write and perform original music and are not currently signed to a major recording label.
Fifteen songwriters have been invited to showcase their original songs and compete for prize money at the St. John’s Outdoor Pavilion in Schulenburg, Texas on Saturday, May 7, 2022, after being named as semifinalists in the 2022 Songwriter Serenade competition.
Several performing songwriter competitions are currently accepting entries. Although the Al Johnson Performing Songwriter Contest, Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Competition, and Songwriter Serenade take place in Texas, they are not solely for songwriters based in the Lone Star State.
Beth Snapp, a folk-pop singer-songwriter who hails from northeast Tennessee, took top honors during the 14th annual Songwriter Serenade in Schulenberg, Texas on October 2, 2021. She was chosen from among 15 semifinalists in the songwriting competition by a panel of judges who evaluated them based on lyrics (imagery, story, creativity, and originality), melody (structure, phrasing, and rhythm), and performing ability (vocals, musicianship), as well as stage presence/audience rapport.
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.
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.]
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.]
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.]
Garrett Owen, a Dallas, Texas-based singer songwriter, won the 2018 Telluride Troubadour Competition and had the opportunity to perform a short set on the main stage during the 45th Annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival, a roots-oriented music festival set amid Colorado’s rugged San Juan Mountains, June 21-24. [To continue reading this article, click on the headline.]
Six singer-songwriters have been named as winners in the 2018 Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Competition for Emerging Songwriters. They were chosen by a panel of judges from among 32 finalists who performed two songs each during the New Folk Concerts on May 26 and 27 as part of the Kerrville Folk Festival, an 18-day event at the Quiet Valley Ranch in the Texas Hill Country. [To continue reading this article and see the names of this year's winners, click on the headline.]
Category winners have been named in the 34th annual Mid-Atlantic Song Contest, presented by the Songwriters’ Association of Washington (SAW), while overall grand, second and third prize winners will be announced during an awards gala on Jan. 21, 2018 at Jammin’ Java in Vienna, Virginia. Alberta, Canada-based singer-songwriter John Wort Hannam was the top winner (Gold) in the Folk-Acoustic category for his song “Ain’t Enough,” while Herndon, Virginia’s Crys Matthews took second place (Silver) for “We Must Be Free.” [To continue reading this article, click on the headline.]
Entries are now being accepted for the 2018 Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Competition for Emerging Songwriters, to be held on Saturday and Sunday, May 26 and 27, 2018, during the first weekend of the 47th Annual Kerrville Folk Festival in the Texas Hill Country. The first 800 entries received by February 28 will be judged, and 32 finalists will be named in April. [To continue reading this article, click on the headline.]
