Kerrville Folk Festival

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The Kerrville Folk Festival is a music festival held for 18 consecutive days in the late spring/early summer at Quiet Valley Ranch near Kerrville, Texas. The event has run on a yearly basis since 1972.

Each May and June, the ranch welcomes tens of thousands of people, many of whom camp on the grounds of the ranch in a veritable tent community. The festival places a strong emphasis on songwriting, though the performances encompass a variety of styles. the idea behind the festivals is to "promote emerging artists while giving our audience exposure to both new and recognized, seasoned talent", according to the festival's official website.

Almost all the staff are volunteers. They are the heart of the festival. After the main stage closes for the night all the volunteers and performers play music by the campfires, sometimes till dawn.

Contents

[edit] The Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Competition

One of the high points of the festival since 1972 has been the annual New Folk Competition. Thirty-two finalists are selected from a field of 800 entries to share two of their original songs in an afternoon appearance on the stage of the Threadgill Theater. From these 32 finalists six winners are selected by a small group of well established performing songwriters. In addition to cash and other tangible prizes the six winners are invited to the main stage to perform a 20 minute set.

A win at Kerrville carries considerable prestige in the singer-songwriter community. This is in part due to the peer-professional judging and the festival’s long history of recognizing emerging artist who have later gone on to wider success. There have also been examples of notable performers who have appeared as finalist in the competition without ever earning a win. Examples of artist who have performed in the competition include:

[edit] The 2007 New Folk Competition

The 2007 New Folk Competition will be held during the 36th Annual Kerrville Folk Festival on Saturday and Sunday, May 26 & 27, 2007. Organizers will select finalists from the first 800 entries received between December 1, 2006 and March 15, 2007.

[edit] The 2006 New Folk Competition

The 2006 New Folk Competition was held on May 27 and May 28.

Judges Winners Other finalists
  • Robert Tubb/String Gravy (Glendale AZ))[5]
  • Jan Smith (North Garden VA)[6]
  • Zane Williams (Nashville TN)[7]
  • Lisa Richards (Austin TX)[8]
  • Tom Neilson (Montague MA)[9]
  • Lisa Rogers (Austin TX) [10]
  • Jaime Michaels (Santa Fe NM)[11]
  • Dave Potts (Auburn AL)[12]
  • Lis Harvey (Davis CA)[13]
  • Dave Pahanish (California PA)[14]
  • Liz Carlisle (Cambridge MA)[15]
  • Joe Truman (Nashville TN)[16]
  • Amy Speace (New York NY)[17]
  • KC Clifford (Oklahoma City OK)[18]
  • Kendall James (Houlton ME)
  • Charlotte Kendrick (Pawling NY)[19]
  • Jason Spooner (Portland ME)[20]
  • Morgan Bracy (Antioch TN)[21]
  • Michael Tiernan (Del Mar, CA)[22]
  • Marilyn Rucker (Austin TX)[23]
  • Gretchen Witt (Brooklyn NY)[24]
  • Alastair Moock (Medford MA)[25]
  • Susan Clark / The Buckerettes (Cedar Crest NM)
  • Tom Mowrey (Sykesville PA)[26]
  • Jay Mankita (High Falls NY)
  • Sonia Lee (Nashville TN)[27]

[edit] The 2005 New Folk Competition

The 2005 New Folk Competition was held on May 28th and 29th.

Judges Winners Other finalists
  • Jack Harris, Powys Wales, United Kingdom [28]
  • Randy Browning, South Berwick ME [29]
  • Erik Balkey, Philadelphia PA
  • Andy Corwin, West Hills CA [30]
  • Beth Wood, Arlington TX [31]
  • David Stoddard, Beaver Dam WI [32]
  • Mike Morris - Strafford NH
  • Richard Ruane - Ripton VT
  • Datri Bean - Seattle WA
  • Justin Roth - Lake Elmo MN
  • Greg Klyma - Cheektowaga NY
  • Rob Hinkal - Owing Mills MD
  • Amy Martin - Missoula MT
  • David Morreale - Baltimore MD
  • Treva Blomquist - Nashville TN
  • Karen Mal - Austin TX
  • Carl Cacho - West Newbury MA
  • Kate Redgate - Newbury MA
  • Dave Murphy - Montclair NJ
  • Tony Laiolo - Nashville TN
  • Jim Keaveny - Austin TX
  • Michael Bowers - Alexandria VA
  • Claude "Butch" Morgan - Devine TX
  • Liz Carlisle - Cambridge MA
  • Gary Seber - Houston TX
  • Tim Burlingame - Sherman Oaks CA
  • Kathrin Shorr - Sherman Oaks CA
  • Meg Hutchinson - Cambridge MA
  • Doug Wintch - Salt Lake City UT
  • Corinne West - Alameda CA
  • Stan Swiniarski - Dracut MA
  • Sean Altman - New York NY

[edit] Kerrville Wine & Music Festival

The Kerrville Wine & Music Festival, called "Little Folk" is also hosted by the ranch over Labor Day Weekend, and the two share a website.

[edit] List of Past Performers

[edit] External links