Dalis sez –

The 35^th Annual Kerrville Folk Festival is now booked and published!

We have many artists returning after long absences, many who we have come to anticipate being with us regularly, and as always, many new to us artists for you to discover.

I will be talking in future emails about some specifics but this is just to say to everybody, go check it out and get that Kerrville feeling!

A family event will be the Memorial/Tribute for Allen Damron at Threadgill Theater on Monday May 29 from 3:30 – 5:30PM. The 2 hour format will allow many folks to sing for and tell stories about Allen and to talk with one another about how much he is missed (at least in the flesh.) I know he will be here……

  We are participating in the Houston International Festival again this year with a Kerrville Folk Festival Stage. The dates are April 22 – 23 and 29 – 30. www.ifest.org will take you to their site and a couple of clicks will take you to our lineup. It is a great event attended by over 100,000 folks. We had a really great stage and group of volunteers last year, and a whole bunch of fun.

Please make a special note of Emily’s letter below regarding the Relay for Life walk for cancer. We take to the track for those we have lost AND for those who have survived! Join us if you can, there are many ways to be a part of our Kerrville Folk Festival team.

  The annual Folk Alliance Conference was held in Austin this year, attended by about 2000 people from the music industry. Kerrville had a booth in the exhibit Hall and showcased artists in the Fox Run suite.  I was on a panel or two, had several meetings with some great results and had a very large time. We were well represented by the staff and board of the Festival. www.folk.org

  Thanks to everyone who has already been coming out to help with the work weekends and major construction projects on the Ranch. We love your spirit!

  See you soon.

   Love,

    Dalis

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2006 FESTIVAL SCHEDULE POSTED ON THE WEBSITE

The line-up for the 2006 Kerrville Folk Festival is now posted on our website at www.kerrvillefolkfestival.com.  There are both html versions as well as printable PDF versions.  Check back often because this schedule is subject to change.  The performer bio and link pages are still pending, but should be up in a few days.

General tickets are scheduled to go on sale this Thursday, March 9.  The prices are already posted.

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NEW FOLK ENTRY DEADLINE APPROACHING – MARCH 15

Songwriters have just over a week to get their New Folk entries in to the festival.  The deadline is Wednesday, March 15.  You have two options for submitting your songs.  You may send their tape/CD directly to the festival office or you may submit electronically by using Sonicbids.  Either way, the official guidelines MUST be followed.

The official guidelines for the 2006 Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Competition for Emerging Songwriters are posted on our website at www.kerrvillefolkfestival.com/newfolk.htm.  There are a few significant changes to the guidelines so be sure to read them carefully.

There’s still room so get your entry in today.

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KERRVILLE FOLK FESTIVAL TEAMS UP FOR THE RELAY FOR LIFE

The Kerrville Folk Festival has created a relay for life team to help raise money for the American Cancer Society and we need your help. Our goal is to raise $1,000 to help the ACS fight cancer in memory of the Kerrville Family that we have lost, to support those who are battling and to celebrate the people that have survived. We need people that will donate money to the cause, or who will be willing to walk during the RELAY FOR LIFE on May 5th, at the Kerrville Tivy stadium, so if you'll be in town us know. If you want to simply donate a little money you can do it online at www.acsevents.org/relay/tx/kerrville and simply click on the Kerrville Folk Festival Team link at the right of the page… you may have to click “more” to see it.  You may also purchase a luminaria for $5 in memory or celebration of a cancer victim.  These luminaries will be on display at the May 5 relay.  You can e-mail Emily Lively (our wonderful intern and Relay for Life Team Captain) at emily@kerrville-music.com, or contact Emily through Kerrville Folk Festival “myspace” page and she will put your request in. Thanks ya'll for all of the support that you give to the festival and let me know if you have any questions, concerns or comments.

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BENEFIT CONCERT FOR BARTON HILLS ELEMENTARY ARTS PROGRAMS

The PTA and parents of Barton Hills Elementary School in Austin are hosting a benefit concert and family fair to raise funds for the Art, Music, and Physical Education programs at BHE.  Funding for these programs has been cut drastically over the last few years and class sizes have been forced to increase by 50% in grades K-4.  The ability to teach effectively while providing a safe and creative environment is being seriously threatened.  They need your help!

The fair “MUSIC IN THE PARK FOR THE ARTS” will take place on Sunday, April 9 from noon to 8 p.m. at the Barton Hills Elementary Park , 2108 Barton Hills Drive .  Five local performers will be on hand to support the cause…SARA HICKMAN, DARDEN SMITH, TRISH MURPHY, CARRIE RODREQUEZ, NATURAL CAUSES.  There will be lots of music, arts & crafts, fun and games.  Tickets are on sale at Waterloo Records and are $20 for adults, $10 ages 13-18, 12 and under are free.

Keep Arts Education Alive in Austin !

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WORK WEEKEND & PROJECT REPORT

Work weekends thus far have been busy and productive.  The oldest crafts booths have been torn down and we are well on the way rebuilding.  The poles for three new “Quads” structures have been set and construction will continue this weekend.  For information on the crafts booth remodeling project visit www.kerrvillefolkfestival.com/project_plans/crafts_booth.htm.

The Threadgill Theater project is moving along also.  The entire seating area has been torn down and reconstruction has started.  Most of the construction will be happening later this month and throughout April.  The objective here is to provide more seating in a more comfortable setting.

Work weekends are scheduled pretty much every weekend from now until the start of the festival (with the exception of the April 15 and April 22 weekends).  So come on out and join us.  For information on specific work weekend projects visit http://www.kerrstaff.com/events.asp

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FULL RV HOOK-UP SITES SOLD OUT FOR 2006!

The “Main” section of the Quiet Valley Ranch RV facilities is currently sold out for the 2006 Kerrville Folk Festival.  We still have plenty of room in the “Meadow” section however.  The Meadow sites have water and electricity only and will accommodate smaller trailers (24 ft. or less), pop-up campers, and conversion vans.  These sites are $20 per day with a three day minimum.  Call the festival office at (830) 257-3600 to make reservations.

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