On the 3-5 PM segment of the Folk Show on August 14, I’ll be highlighting finalists and winners of the Kerrville Grassy Hill New Folk Competition for Emerging Songwriters. This annual songwriting competition, begun in 1972, is one of the oldest and best know songwriting contests in the country. A look at the past contestants reads like a Who’s Who of contemporary singer-songwriters from across the folk spectrum.
Some of the finalists and winners who’ve played in our area recently include Steve Earle and Nanci Griffith (both finalists back in 1978!); James McMurtry (winner, 1987); Anais Mitchell (winner, 2003); Antje Duvekot and Jud Caswell (both winners in 2006); and Dierdre Flint (winner, 2000). I hope you’ll especially enjoy hearing some live cuts from of this year’s New Folk concert held over Memorial Day.
