MerleFest

Jam Band Reunion at MerleFest 2017 - photo by William Sparklin Johnny Warren, Mark Schatz, Béla Fleck, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, and Bryan Sutton With a reputation as an event with a wide array of stylistic offerings, don't forget that bluegrass is

Linda Stokley performs her winning bluegrass song at MerleFest 2017 - photo by Ryan Case This past weekend at MerleFest, the winners were announced in the 2017 Chris Austin Songwriting Contest. Finalists had been announced a few weeks ago, and placement

MerleFest has announced the finalists for their 2017 Chris Austin Songwriting Contest. Each year hundreds of eager writers submit songs to be considered for this prestigious competition. First round judges then have the unenviable task of selecting three finalists in each

There’s still time for songwriters to enter two major contests that honor bluegrass compositions. January 5 is the entry deadline for the DC Bluegrass Union’s Hazel Dickens Song Contest. The contest, in its third year, is strictly for bluegrass (including bluegrass

That's right, folks. If there's a chill in the air, that means it's time to sharpen those pencils and get your submissions ready for the big songwriting contests. The two competitions that hold sway with bluegrass writers are accepting entries

We heard this morning from R. B. Powell,from Lewistown, PA, a banjo picker and promoter of scholarships for young musicians.   He shared this video he had shot of Ralph Stanley during MerleFest 2014 at the Creekside Stage as part of the

Leaders of IBMA and the city of Raleigh can breathe a little easier now that another year of MerleFest is in the books. The annual four-day roots music extravaganza in Wilkesboro, NC, was the first major music festival held in the

The winners in the 2016 Chris Austin Songwriting Contest at MerleFest have been announced. Finalists competed this afternoon by performing their songs before the judges, and the winners will get the opportunity to sing them again later today on one of the

MerleFest has today announced the finalists for the 2016 Chris Austin Songwriting Contest. Well over 700 entries were received for the annual competition this year, broken into four board categories. Austin was a native of nearby Boone, NC, an artist and songwriter

Entry deadlines are approaching for two top songwriting contests that are of interest to bluegrassers. The deadline to enter the DC Bluegrass Union’s second annual Hazel Dickens Songwriting Contest is Jan. 15. Winners will be announced March 10. The entry fee