www.tfmf.org

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE FINALISTS.

Please join us on May 25th & 26th for the Finalist Concert and

again on June 2nd for the Winners Concert!

Regional Finalists for Ballad Tree:

We have also selected several regional performers to appear at the BALLAD TREE to sing one of their songs and be admitted free to the festival for that day only. These performers need to check in on Chapel Hill before 3:00pm to meet the host who will introduce them to the public gathered there.

THURSDAY MAY 23     Host: Jon Brooks 

Mo McMorrow (Austin TX)

Steven Bacon (Austin TX) 

Alison Lumley (Austin TX) 

Vanessa Lively (Austin TX)

Lainey Wright (San Antonio TX)

FRIDAY MAY 24     Host: Korby Lenker

Tim Miller (Dallas TX)

Charlie Camp (Austin TX) 

Wendy Colonna (Austin TX)

--------------------See Official 2013 Guidelines Below--------------------

IF USING USPS MAIL, PLEASE SEND AS FIRST CLASS "PACKAGE" (envelopes containing RIGID objects, such as CDs must be shipped as a "package". Postage is usually under $2.00 in a padded envelope)

Please make sure to carefully read and understand the guidelines listed below before entering!

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2013 GRASSY HILL KERRVILLE NEW FOLK

OFFICIAL GUIDELINES

(printable (pdf) version of 2013 official guidelines)

The 2013 GRASSY HILL KERRVILLE NEW FOLK COMPETITION will be held during the 4nd Annual Kerrville Folk Festival on Saturday and Sunday, May 25 & 26, 2013.  Out of 800 entries, thirty-two writer-performers will be invited to share their original songs.  Six NEW FOLK WINNERS will be selected from the thirty-two and will return on Sunday, June 2 to perform 20 minutes of their original songs and receive a $250 Award from the Texas Folk Music Foundation plus up to $400 additional prize money. Other prizes may be also be added at a later date.  In addition, each of the 32 finalists will be eligible for a scholarship to the 2013 Southwest Regional Folk Alliance Conference (September 2013) in Austin.  All of these concerts will be staged at the Threadgill Theater in the Quiet Valley Ranch campgrounds, 9 miles south of the city of Kerrville on TX Hwy 16.

Established at the suggestion of Peter Yarrow in 1972, these annual concerts are one of the high points of the Festival and for songwriters from all across the country.  The Judges selecting the six Award Winners for 2013 will be announced shortly.

Here are the official 2013 guidelines: 

1.           Writer-performers are invited to send the Kerrville Folk Festival ONE entry containing TWO original songs only (Separate song files - Entries containing only one song file or more than two songs will be disqualified), on either one home-burned CD (mp3 format preferred) or submitted electronically on-line through Sonicbids (no cassette tapes please).  Submission must be made under the name(s) of a solo or duo songwriter(s) only.  No Bands Please (although a band may be used in the recording of your submitted material). If chosen as a finalist, your performance may consist of one or two people only.  Pre-recorded songs must comply with requirements set forth in Guideline 2.  LIMIT ONE ENTRY PER SONGWRITER PLEASE. 

2.           ONLY SONGS WRITTEN AFTER JANUARY 1, 2011 MAY BE SUBMITTED.   It does not matter if the songs have been published and/or recorded, provided they were completed in their current form after Jan. 1, 2011  They can be a "live", studio, or garage recording.  The submitted songs may be performed by the writer(s) alone or by a group which must include the writer(s).  Both songs together should not exceed 8 minutes (due to performance time limits during New Folk concerts).   The writer(s) retain all rights to the songs.

3.           Do not send any lead sheets, lyrics, publicity, bios, etc.  Your submission package should include ONLY your CD, your entry form / contact information, and your $25 entry fee (check or money order please).  Please be sure to use sufficient padding to protect your CD in transit.

4.           If you are selected as a finalist, you will perform the two songs you submitted at one of the May 25 or May 26 concerts.

5.           New Folk Finalists may not appear with a billed performer on any Kerrville stage during the 2013 Festival prior to the announcement of the winners during the Mainstage Performance on Sunday, May 26.  Doing so will result in disqualification. 

6.           Anyone may enter except those billed as stage performers in 2013 or those who have been selected as a New Folk Finalist for both of the past two consecutive years, 2011 & 2012.

7.           Of the 32 finalists, 16 will perform at the festival each day, Saturday and Sunday, May 25 & 26 to provide the judges with an opportunity to select the six Award Winners who will perform at the New Folk Winners Concert on Sun, June 2.  PLEASE DO NOT ENTER IF YOU CANNOT FULFILL ALL THREE CONCERT OPPORTUNITIES!

8.           The CD label should be left blank!  As this is a “blind” listening, no information should be on the disc itself.  Fill out the entry form or on an accompanying, letter size sheet of paper put the songwriter’s name, address, phone number, and e-mail address so you can be notified.  Also put the titles of the songs you submitted.  Please print or type clearly!  A separate application isn’t needed if you enter on-line or through Sonicbids.

9.           All entries must be accompanied by a $25 entry fee.  Checks should be payable to the Texas Folk Music Foundation.  If sending by U.S. Mail, send to New Folk, P.O.Box 291466, Kerrville, TX  78029. If using another shipping service (UPS, FedEx, etc.), send to New Folk, 3876 Medina Hwy.,  Kerrville, TX  78028. Please use enough postage; CD's are rigid objects and require more postage than a regular letter. We will not pay postage due!  

      ***PLEASE SEND AS A FIRST CLASS RIGID PACKAGE. PLEASE DO NOT SEND AS PRIORITY, EXPRESS, OR OVERNIGHT MAIL (unless its close to March 8).***  

       Submission Deadline:  Only the first 800 entries POSTMARKED between December 1, 2012 and midnight, Eastern Time, March 15, 2013, will be accepted.  Entries received after the deadline (or after we get 800) will be refused at the post office and will be returned to you unopened.  Throughout the entry period, we will post the number of entries we have received to date above.  You may also submit on-line or by using Sonicbids.  See above for details.

10.        If you choose to have your CD returned to you, they will be mailed on or about April 15^th with the list of finalists.  Note:  If you want your CD to be returned to you, provide us with a self addressed mailer (Size “0”, padded) with proper postage. Otherwise your CD will be disposed of and you will be notified by e-mail of the finalists.

11.        In addition to the 32 finalists, up to 10 regional writers may be selected to perform one of their songs at the Ballad Tree (3-5 p.m.) May 23 or 24.  Those selected for the Ballad Tree will receive one, single-day pass to the Festival for that day only.

12.        Scholarships for $80 off the tuition to the May 27-30 Songwriters School or Ukulele Workshop are available for  up to ten of the 32 finalists on a first–come basis to those paying the balance of tuition to the Texas Folk Music Foundation prior to May 20, 2013. Contact the office for details.

13.        Each of the 32 Finalists will receive five-day passes for themselves and one guest* for May 23 - May 27; those accepting scholarships to one of the workshops will receive additional passes for May 28 - 30; the six Award Winners will receive passes through June 3; those selected for the Ballad Tree will receive a single one-day pass. 

    *Unless designated as your “guest”, any other performers appearing with you must purchase a ticket to be admitted.  Tent camping fees are included for all accessed days.  While finalists are responsible for their own transportation, shuttle service is available between the San Antonio International Airport and the Quiet Valley Ranch.  Parking in the lot is free, parking in the festival campground is $20 per day.

14.        Any rules that are misprinted or printed incomplete in other publications are not official and we take no responsibility for any disqualification resulting from not following the complete instructions listed above.

Folk Festival dates are May 23 - June 9 2013 (18 days).  If you have questions, contact us at (830) 257-3600 or email info@kerrville-music.com.  You will be notified via E-MAIL of the finalists on or around April 15^th.

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History of the New Folk Competition

Part 1 - The Birth of New Folk by Rod Kennedy

Part 2 - New folk competitions at kerrville (1977 - 1981) by rod kennedy

Kerrville New Folk Archives

courtesy of www.happenstance-music.com

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2012 GRASSY HILL KERRVILLE NEW FOLK WINNERS

Korby Lenker (Nashville TN)

Nicolette Good (San Antonio TX)

Edie Carey (Chicago IL)

Whit Hill (Nashville TN)

Alicia McGovern (Salt Lake City UT)

The Sea The Sea (Madison CT)

2012 GRASSY HILL KERRVILLE NEW FOLK FINALISTS

Congratulations to the following New Folk Finalists for 2012.  These songwriters were chosen from 800 outstanding submissions we received from around the world.  Sixteen will play the two songs they submitted on Saturday, May 26 and sixteen on Sunday, May 27 during the New Folk Concerts.  This is the 41st year for New Folk and is always one of the highlights of the Kerrville Folk Festival.  Here's the list of finalists and the date they are scheduled to play: