Photo Susan Roads

2015 Grassy Hill Kerrville

New Folk Winners

Tom Meny (Buda, TX)

Amy Kucharik (Somerville, MA)

Wes Collins (Chapel Hill, NC)

David Berkeley (Santa Fe, NM)

Anna Tivel (Portland, OR)

Becky Warren (Nashville, TN)

GRASSY HILL KERRVILLE 2015 FINALISTS

In order of appearance

 SATURDAY May 23

 

Clint Alphin                        Nashville TN

John John Brown Winter Gardens FL

Mary Bragg Nashville TN

Tom Meny Buda TX

Susan Cattaneo Medford MA

Teresa Storch                    Longmont CO

Dan Weber                            Vancouver WA

Cherie Call                          Spanish Fork UT

 

Becky Warren                    Nashville TN                                      

Amy McCarley                    Huntsville AL

Chase Gassaway              Austin TX

Aubryn                                  Nashville TN

Andrew Delaney               Plano TX

Abby Lappen                     Claverack-Red Mills NY

David Berkeley                  Santa Fe NM

Heather Styka                   Portland ME

 

SUNDAY May 24

 

Hope Dunbar                         Utica NE

Drew Kennedy                      New Braunfels TX

Kerry Patrick Clark        Whitehouse OH

Mare Wakefield                  Nashville TN

Anna Tivel                             Portland OR                                       

Lisa Nicole Grace               Alberta CAN      

Eliot Bronson                       Atlanta GA                         

Amy Kucharik                       Somerville MA                                                 

 

 

Wes Collins                            Chapel Hill NC

Andy Roo Forrest Seattle WA

Emilie Clepper                       Austin TX

 

Mike P Ryan Clifton VA 

Brad Cunningham                 Kansas City MO

 

Angela Easterling             Green SC

Candy Lee Fayetteville AR

Jess Klein Austin TX

 

Alternates

Emily White Chicago IL  

Meg Braun New York NY

 

Ballad Tree

Thursday May 21:

Manco Austin Tx

Brian Pounds Austin TX

Eric Hunker & Happie Hoffman       Austin TX

Marcos Austin TX                            

 

Friday May 22:

Havilah Rand Austin Tx

Ian Dickson                           McKinney TX                     

Nathan Bonnes                   Houston TX

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

2015 GRASSY HILL KERRVILLE NEW FOLK

OFFICIAL GUIDELINES

(printable (pdf) version of 2015 official guidelines)

The 2015 GRASSY HILL KERRVILLE NEW FOLK SONGWRITING COMPETITION will be held during the 44th Annual Kerrville Folk Festival on Saturday and Sunday, May 23 & 24, 2015.  Out of a possible 800 entries, thirty-two writer-performers will be invited as Finalists to share their original songs. All 32 Finalists will receive a subscription to both Texas Music Magazine and M Music & Musician Magazine, as well as a Kyser Capo and a KFF souvenier wooden shaker from Swan Percussion. In addition, each of the 32 finalists will be eligible for a scholarship to the 2015 Southwest Regional Folk Alliance Conference (September 2015) in Austin. Six NEW FOLK WINNERS will be selected from the thirty-two and will return on Sunday, May 31st to perform 20 minutes of their original songs. 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. The six New Folk Award Winners receive a $250 Award from the Kerrville Folk Festival Foundation plus up to $400 additional prize money. Winners also receive an Intellitouch Tuner from OnBoard Research. Other prizes may be also be added at a later date.   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 world.

Here are the official 2015 guidelines: 

1. Writer-performers are invited to send the Kerrville Folk Festival ONE entry containing TWO original songs only.  Both songs together should not exceed 8 minutes, (due to performance time limits during New Folk Finalists concerts). Entries containing only one song file or more than two songs will be disqualified.

2. Submissions must be made under the name(s) of a solo or duo songwriter(s) only.  No Band Entries Please. Although a band may be used in the recording of your submitted material, if chosen as a finalist, your performance at the Festival may consist of one or two people only. LIMIT ONE ENTRY PER SONGWRITER PLEASE. 

3.  ONLY SONGS WRITTEN AFTER JANUARY 1, 2013 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, 2013. They can be a “live”, studio, or garage recording.  The submitted songs may be performed by the writer(s) alone or by a duo which must include the writer(s).  The writer(s) retain all rights to the songs.

4. Anyone may enter except those billed as stage performers in 2015 or those who have been selected as a New Folk Finalist for both of the past two consecutive years, 2013 & 2014. New Folk Finalists may not appear with a billed performer on any Kerrville stage during the 2015 Festival prior to the announcement of the winners during the KFF mainstage performance on Sunday, May 24th.  Doing so will result in disqualification. 

5. Entries may be submitted in one of three ways:

1. The entry may be submitted entirely on-line through Sonicbids. Sonicbids offers a free 30-day trial membership for those who are not currently a member. A separate application isn’t needed if you enter on-line through Sonicbids. More information about New Folk via Sonicbids can be found here:  http://www.sonicbids.com/find-gigs/2015-new-folk-competition/

2. The two songs may be emailed in .mp3 format to [email protected] followed by a mailed-in entry fee and application. In the email, please include your full name, phone number and names of the songs (make sure we can tell which song title belongs to which attached file.) To complete the submission, you must ALSO mail in the completed entry form and entry fee to one of the addresses listed below or on the entry form. Your submission will not be accepted to the contest if any one of the songs, entry form or entry fee are not received.

3. Two songs may be submitted on one home-burned CD (mp3 format preferred) and mailed in with the entry fee and application. Please be sure to use sufficient padding to protect your CD in transit. You may write the entry name and the titles of the songs on the CD, but please, nothing else. If you want your CD to be returned to you, just provide us with a self-addressed mailer (Size “0”, padded envelope) with proper postage. If you provide this, your CD will be mailed on or by April 15^th, after the Finalist announcement.  Note: Otherwise your CD will be destroyed and disposed of shortly after April 15^th. If you are sending a CD, please use enough postage! Rigid objects require more postage than a regular letter. We will not pay postage due!  *PLEASE SEND AS A FIRST CLASS RIGID PACKAGE*

6. THERE IS NO NEED TO SEND EXPRESS, OR OVERNIGHT MAIL!! Don’t waste your money. As long as the postmark is on or before the March 8^th deadline, (and the guidelines are met) your entry will be processed.

7. Do not send any lead sheets, lyrics, publicity, bios, etc.  Your submission package should include an entry form (or all your contact information the entry form requests, written clearly on a piece of paper), a $25 entry fee (check or money order made out to Kerrville Folk Festival) and either a CD or an email that include the two songs in .mp3 format.

8. All entries must be accompanied by a $25 entry fee.  Checks or money orders should be payable to the Kerrville Folk Festival.  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. 

9. Submission Deadline:  The first 800 entries POSTMARKED between December 1, 2014 and midnight, Eastern Time, March 15, 2015, 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. Sporadically throughout the entry period, on the New Folk webpage we will update the number of entries we have received to date. 

10. Of the 32 finalists chosen, 16 will perform at the festival each day, Saturday and Sunday, May 23 & 24 to provide the judges with an opportunity to select the six Award Winners who will perform at the New Folk Winners Concert on Sun, May 31.  PLEASE DO NOT ENTER IF YOU CANNOT FULFILL ALL THREE CONCERT OPPORTUNITIES! If you have questions about this, contact the KFF Office.

11. In addition to the 32 finalists, up to 10 regional songwriters may be selected to perform one or both of their songs at the Ballad Tree (3-5 p.m.) on May 21nd or 22rd. Those selected for the Ballad Tree will receive two, single-day passes to the Festival for that day only (which include overnight camping).

12. Scholarships for half-off the tuition to the Songwriters School (May 25th-28h) are available for  up to ten of the 32 finalists on a first-come basis, and only to those paying the balance of tuition prior to May 19, 2015. Scholarships for other workshops may be available. Contact the Festival Office for details.

13. Each of the 32 Finalists will receive 2 five-day passes for themselves and one guest* for May 21 – May 24; those accepting scholarships to one of the workshops will receive additional passes for May 25 – 28; the six Award Winners will receive passes through June 1; those selected for the Ballad Tree will receive a single one-day pass.  *Unless designated as your “guest”, any other performer appearing with you must purchase a ticket to be admitted.  

 14. While finalists are responsible for their own transportation, shuttle service is available between the San Antonio International Airport and Quiet Valley Ranch.  Campground access & parking lot fees are included for all accessed days. Parking in the lot is free, parking in the festival campground is $20 per day.

15. 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.

Kerrville Folk Festival dates are May 21 – June 7, 2015 (18 days). If you have questions, contact us at (830) 257-3600 or email [email protected]. 

You will be notified via E-MAIL of the 32 Finalists on or around April 15^th.

***Again this year!***** ALL ARTISTS who entered New Folk in 2015 may take $30 off of the tuition to one of the 2015 Kerrville Folk Fest music workshops of their choice:  Kerrville Songwriters School (May 25 – 28), Roots/Blues Guitar Workshop (May 26 – 28), Ukulele Workshop (June 1 – 3), and the Harmonica Workshop (June 1 – 3).  Scholarships may be applied to only one school. Please call the Festival Office (830)257-3600 to register over the phone. (The $4 phone-in fee will be waived.) 

 

READ HERE ABOUT THE BIRTH OF NEW FOLK COMPETITIONS AT KERRVILLE

 

(Part 1 in a series by Rod Kennedy on the History of New Folk)

 

NEW FOLK COMPETITIONS AT KERRVILLE

(Part 2 in a series by Rod Kennedy on the History of New Folk)

(1977-1981)

 

The 2014 Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Winners

Photo By Susan Roads

(From Left to Right)

FRANK MARTIN GILLIGAN (Dickinson, TX)
MATT NAKOA (Brooklyn, NY)
THE LOVEBIRDS (San Diego, CA)

C. DANIEL BOLING (Albuquerque, NM)

CAROLINE SPENCE (Nashville, TN)

CONNOR GARVEY (Portland, ME)

Thank you to everyone that submitted for New Folk this year. We had fewer entries this year due to some technical difficulties, but still received entries from almost every state and Canada. There were 35 – 40 folks listening at any given time with a wide range of tastes in songs. Below are the results for this year after their efforts.

 

Congratulations to the 2014 Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Finalists listed below, who may pick up 5-day passes (May 22 – 26) at the VIP desk, Quiet Valley Ranch, 9 miles south of Kerrville on Texas Hwy 16, any time after 1 p.m. on Thursday, May 22nd. Camp free with one guest for five nights until noon, Tuesday, May 27. More info below and lots more on the way in future emails.

 

 

***ALSO LISTED BELOW are the selected Regional Performers to appear at the Kerrville Folk Festival Ballad Tree song sharing sessions on Thursday May 22nd and Friday May 23rd to sing one of their songs and be admitted free to the festival for that day. Everyone please read to the bottom of the page so you don’t miss this part.

 

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING FINALISTS!!!

Appearing in this order.

 

Saturday May 24

Jan Krist & Jim Bizer             Franklin MI

David McMillin                      Chicago Illinois

Marc Douglas Berardo           Westerly RI

Addie Brownlee                      New York NY

Chase Gassaway                     Austin TX

Ellen Tipper                             Appleton MA

Charlotte Thistle                     Seattle WA

Matt Nakoa                              Brooklyn NY

David Berkeley                        Santa Fe NM

Katie Gosnell                          Austin TX

Dan Weber                               Vancouver WA

Daniel Boling                          Albuquerque NM

Rosie Tucker                            Los Angeles CA

Connor Garvey                        Portland ME

Savannah King                        Buffalo NY

Brittany Ann Tranbaugh       Easton PA

Sunday May 25

Frank Martin Gilligan           Dickinson TX

The Lovebirds                         San Diego CA

Jeffrey Martin                         Eugene OR

Brad Boyer                               Friendswood TX

Jenna Lindbo                           Portland ME

Aaron Howard                        Phoenix AZ

Anna Paddock                         Brooklyn NY

Justin Pecina                           Gunter TX

Ben Bochner                            Eugene OR                         

Brad Cole                                 New York NY

David White                            Franklin TN

Mariana Bell                            Los Angeles CA

Roy Schneider Duo                 Fort Myers FL

Cat Terrones                            San Pedro CA

Caroline Spence                      Nashville TN

Chris Ronald                           Vancouver BC Canada

Alternates

Adam Klein                             Athens GA

 

***IF YOU WANT TO BE LISTED DIFFERENTLY than how you are listed above, please email rachel@kerrville-music.com  IMMEDIATELY***

***All 32 Finalists will receive a subscription to TEXAS MUSIC Magazine and a scholarship to attend the Southwest Regional Folk Alliance Conference (SWRFA) in Austin, September 26 – 29. In addition, Six New Folk Award Winners will be selected by the judges to appear at the Sunday, June 2 AWARD WINNERS CONCERT where they will pick up their $500 + award money. $400 of this award comes from the Kerrville Folk Festival Foundation, and $100 from the Jim Ross Memorial Fund. Winners will also receive an Intellitouch tuner from On-Board Research, some goodies from KYSER Capo and M Magazine, and the option to participate in the New Folk Concerts Fall Tour culminating with the opening slot on the 2014 Fischer Festival stage. (previously Rice Fest)

 

***All 32 Finalists are eligible to receive a half-price scholarship to the school of their choice:  Kerrville Songwriters School (May 26 – 29), Roots/Blues Guitar Workshop (May 27 – 29), Ukulele Workshop (June 2 – 4), and the Harmonica Workshop (June 2 – 4). 

 

***Each of the 32 finalists performing in the GRASSY HILL KERRVILLE NEW FOLK CONCERTS must sing the two songs you entered to qualify. Each of you may bring one guest; additional guests must purchase tickets for admission. Schedule and ticket information can be found on our website at www.kerrvillefolkfestival.org Camping is free, parking in the lot is free, but vehicles in the campground are $20 per day. Kerrville is 65 miles west of San Antonio on IH 10 to TX Hwy 16 South. The Quiet Valley Ranch (3876 Medina Hwy.) is 9 miles south of Kerrville on Hwy 16.

 

***There is a meeting for the 32 finalists backstage at 11:30AM on the day of your performance with Producer Dalis Allen, Host Steve Gillette and the three judges. PLEASE BE ON TIME! At this meeting you will check in, hear from the judges and the Backstage crew, review the rules, etc.

 

YOU WILL SOON RECEIVE A FOLLOW UP INFORMATION REQUEST.  PLEASE BE SURE TO PROVIDE THE FESTIVAL OFFICE WITH THE INFORMATION REQUESTED ON THE “2014 NEW FOLK FINALIST INFO” DOCUMENT BY MAY 12, 2014. YOU WILL BE EMAILED THIS DOCUMENT VERY SOON.

_______________________________________________________________________________

 

NEW FOLK REGIONAL PERFORMERS

In addition, we selected 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. On your performance day, you may check in at the Festival VIP booth for your wristband (which includes camping that night and is valid until noon the following day.)  Check in on Chapel Hill before 3:00 p.m. to meet your host who will introduce you to the public gathered there.

 

Thursday May 22   Host: Joe Jencks

Kathryn Legendre     Austin, TX

Jordan Whitmore       Austin TX

Raina Leigh Krause  Austin TX

Chuck Hawthorne     Manor TX

 

 

Friday May 23 Host: Greg Greenway

Tanner Miller            Dallas TX

Libby Koch Houston TX

Keith A Rea                Houston TX

Randy Palmer            Amarillo TX

 

 

Thanks and Congratulations!

Kerrville Folk Festival Staff

2013 GRASSY HILL KERRVILLE NEW FOLK WINNERS

(in order from left to right)

Honor Finnegan (New York, NY)

Eric Bettencourt (Portland, ME)

Paul Sachs (New York, NY)

Ellis (Minneapolis, MN)

Ed Romanoff (Brooklyn, NY)

Adrianne Lenker (Andover, MN)

  

 Each of the 32 finalists performing in the Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Concerts on May  25th and 26th will sing the two songs they entered in the competition. A panel of judges – Nels Andrews (Santa Cruz, CA), Aengus Finnan (Ontario, CAN), and BettySoo (Austin, TX) – will select six (6) New Folk Award Winners to appear at the Sunday, June 2nd New Folk Award Winners Concert.