Sullivan –- whose songs draw inspiration from her own life experiences — was cited for her dedication to the craft, storytelling, stage demeanor, and immersion in the folk community. She beat out finalists Allison Strong and Us! (a trio comprised of AcousticMusicScene.com co-creator Glen Roethel, Judy Kass and Amy Soucy) in a competition that drew more than four times the number of applications than it has in previous years. The number of entries and quality of them made the listening- and decision-making process both time-consuming and challenging for judges Ron Olesko (a folk DJ and creator of Folk Music Notebook), Tina Ross (a singer-songwriter who won the award in 2022), and Debby St. Charles.

“I’m just so happy and grateful,” said Sullivan of receiving the award from the predominantly volunteer organization that that provides performance opportunities for and presents concerts by emerging and nationally touring singer-songwriters, and folk and acoustic musicians in DC, Maryland and Virginia. “To get that vote of confidence from the Focus Music judges has just felt so good. It comes at a time when I’m embarking on a third album and to have that message of support from the organization is really heartening and an encouraging reminder to keep on going,” she told AcousticMusicScene.com.

Sullivan — who primarily performs in the northeast U.S. and along the eastern seaboard —  describes her music as “story-driven folk.” She notes that the kind of songs that she personally loves are those that have a really vivid story attached to them – like ones penned by singer-songwriters Lori McKenna and Patty Griffin. “If you’re someone who likes music that’s going to immerse you in other people’s perspectives and stories, then my songs might be interesting to you,” she said.

In addition to McKenna and Griffin, she cites singer-songwriters Ellis Paul and Vance Gilbert as major inspirations. Sullivan has participated in Ellis Paul’s New England Songwriter Retreats for a number of years. “Those experiences have been game changers for me in terms of inspiration and building community for songwriters,” she said. “Another inspiration for me has been Vance Gilbert,” whom she calls “a real honest and loving mentor.” Noting that he’s someone who doesn’t pull punches, she said: “He just pursues everything with honesty and joy, and I’d like to do that too.”

Music has long been a major part of Sullivan’s life. She recalls taking piano and voice lessons from her grandmother during childhood. However, she didn’t start playing guitar or writing songs until after graduating from Amherst College. While living in and teaching elementary school in New York City, she and Amy Speace, a college friend who is also a noted singer-songwriter, formed a band, Edith O. that performed at venues across the city and released an album called Tattooed Queen. Although marriage, children and her career in education (as both a teacher and an administrator) prompted her to put music on the back-burner for years, Sullivan resumed writing and performing in 2018 and released her debut album in 2021. Entitled We Can Have Each Other, it reached #10 on the monthly Folk Alliance International Folk Radio Charts, and was followed up in 2024 by Signposts and Marks, which reached #4 on the top albums chart during the month that it was released.

Sullivan was named the winner of the Al Johnson Performing Songwriter Award during the 2025 Wildflower! Arts & Music Festival in Richardson, Texas and looks forward to performing at the festival in May. She also was voted a “Most Wanted to Return” Artists by festival attendees following the Grassy Hill Emerging Artist Showcase at the 2023 Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, won the Rose Garden Coffeehouse Performing Songwriter Competition that year, and has been a finalist in a number of other songwriting competitions.

Beyond providing recognition and support, the Heyman Rising Artist Award includes $1,000, which Sullivan plans to use towards producing her third album with Doug Kwartler at Hollow Body Studios near Boston, Massachusetts.

The Heyman Rising Artist Award is named for Vic and Reba Heyman, who were widely viewed as “folk angels” for their staunch, decades-long support of artists – especially those early in their careers. Reba Heyman, who passed away in June 2021 2021 at age 84, grew up in Chevy Chase, Maryland and lived in Rockville, MD for decades. Along with her husband Vic, who died years earlier, she was an integral part of the folk music community in Maryland, South Florida and nationally for many years. The couple was known for their generous financial backing for folk festivals and artists, and also formerly ran a concert series in Rockville known as Vic’s Music Corner. They also launched and ran Heyman Mailing Service for many years (a godsend for artists in the pre-Internet days), served on the boards of several music festivals, and established a scholarship fund for performing artists. In her later years, Reba Heyman spent considerable time in Florida and co-presented the South Florida Folk Festival Singer-Songwriter Competition, whose winners received the Vic Heyman Songwriting Award – including a cash prize and the opportunity to perform at the festival.

One of the Northeast’s most popular music festivals, Falcon Ridge takes place at Dodd’s Farm on Route 7D in Hillsdale, New York, located in the foothills of the Berkshires, near the tri-state corner of New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts.

Falcon Ridge features dozens of artists performing on several stages, a dance tent, children’s music and activities, and a wide array of crafts, food and other vendors. Among the artists performing this year will be CJ Chenier & The Red Hot Louisiana Band, Mary Gauthier, Vance Gilbert, Eliza Gilkyson, The Grand Slambovians (always a highlight at the dance tent), The Kennedys, Jay Mankita, Mike Ford & Dave Matheson (formerly of Moxy Fruvous), Dan Navarro, Nerissa & Katryna Nields, Red Molly, The Jason Spooner Band, Spuyten Duyvil, The Stray Birds, Susan Werner, Dar Williams, and more.

Besides individual artist/band showcases and a Sunday morning Gospel Wake-Up Call on the Main Stage, song swaps featuring various combinations of the festival’s’ featured artists will take place on the Workshop Stage. These include “The Grace Notes: Songs of Eric Lowen (hosted by Dan Navarro) and swaps with such titles as “Advanced String Theory,” “Beatles forever,” “Hardly, Strictly the Blues,” “Our Roots Are Showing,” Rolling in the Aisles” and “Sweet Harmony.” Singer-songwriter and consummate entertainer Vance Gilbert also leads a popular Performance Skills Critique session on Friday. The Dance Stage will be going from morning to night (early morning hours, actually), with bands providing music for Cajun, contra, square, swing dancing and more. A number of the festival’s featured artists also will perform on the Family Stage over the weekend.

As previously reported, 24 artists/bands have been selected from among hundreds of applicants to perform in the Falcon Ridge/Grassy Hill Emerging Artists Showcase on Friday afternoon, Aug. 1, from noon to 4:30 p.m. Again, listed in order of appearance, they are: Carrie Ferguson, The Bones of J.R. Jones, Bethel Steele, Tall Heights, Darlingside, Martin Swinger, Annalivia, Doug Allen, Amanda Pearcy, Phil Henry Acoustic Trio, Amy Black, Reverend TJ McGlinchey, The Boxcar Lilies, Connor Garvey, Brad Yoder Duo, Roosevelt Dime, Doug Kwartler, Jonah Tolchin, Noble Hunter, Bobtown, Jacob Latham, Rachael Sage, Michael Braunfeld and Cricket Tell the Weather.

The Emerging Artists Showcase is not a contest, and artists won’t be judged per se, although the audience is surveyed as to which artists they’d like to see return next year to participate in a Most Wanted Song Swap.

This year’s Most Wanted Song Swap will feature Long Island-based folk harmony trio Gathering Time, Storrs, CT-based Americana-roots band Poor Old Shine, and the engaging and uplifting Hudson Valley, NY-based folk-pop trio The YaYas.

Late-Night Music is a Festival Highlight

AcousticMusicScene.com joined with Tribes Hill, a Hudson Valley-based collective uniting musicians and their patrons, for many years in hosting late-night music under a big white tent. For the second consecutive year, AcousticMusicScene.com is pleased to partner with Pirate Camp in hosting late-night song swaps, mini-showcases and open song circles. Pirate Camp was originally started by Jack Hardy and Stuart Kabak, both longtime Falcon Ridge attendees, who flew the Jolly Roger so that friends could more easily find their campsite. “It turned out that we had more friends than we could have ever imagined,” says Kabak. Over the years, the two friends assembled their own camp kitchen, covered lounge, fireplace, mowed lawn, and even a heated camp shower. Throughout the day, people would stop by and share a tune or just schmooze. After the festival’s main stage shut down for the night, a song circle would open up at Pirate Camp and run through the wee hours of the morning.

More than three years after Jack Hardy’s passing, Pirate Camp retains much of its initial spirit. The partnership with AcousticMusicScene.com adds a new element, designed in part to help keep Pirate Camp alive and vibrant. Musical festivities at Pirate Camp begin with an open song circle on Thursday night at 11 p.m. (following the artist showcases at The Lounge Stage), to which folks are invited to bring their instruments, voices and ears. Invitational song swaps and mini-showcases are slated for Friday and Saturday overnight, while an open song circle may extend from 2 a.m. to dawn on Sunday. These will take place under a 10’ X 30’ white tarp adorned with flags and banners, featuring a carpeted stage and stage lights, and located in the lower left/northeast section of the 10-acre field (lower meadow).

Yarr, All Ye Pirates and Chantey Singers!

AcousticMusicScene.com-Pirate Camp Music Schedule

Thursday Night

11:00 p.m Open Song Circle

Friday

4:45 p.m. Pirate Party and Chantey Sing (led by Stuart Markus)
6:00 p.m. Scott Wolfson & Other Heroes

12:15 a.m. The Boxcar Lilies, Carrie Ferguson, Amanda Pearcy
12:45 a.m. Honor Finnegan, Gathering Time, The YaYas
1:15 a.m. Mara Levine (with Gathering Time)
1:25 a.m. Bobtown
1:35 a.m. The Maine Event: Connor Garvey, Heather Pierson, Putnam Smith, Martin Swinger
2:15 a.m. Folk Bandemonium: Miles to Dayton and Pesky J. Nixon

Saturday Overnight

12:00 a.m. Susan Kane, Karyn Oliver, Kat Quinn
12:30 a.m. Michael Braunfeld, Phil Henry Acoustic Trio, Rob Lytle
1:00 a.m. Freebo, Paul Sachs, Brad Yoder Duo
1:30 a.m. Jeremiah Birnbaum, Marci Geller, Scott Wolfson & Other Heroes
2:00 a.m. Open Song Circle