Song of the Year honors went to Dan Navarro and Janiva Magness’ recording of “$20 Bill (for George Floyd) by the late singer-songwriter Tom Prasada-Rao. In accepting the award, Navarro (a singer-songwriter and voice actor perhaps best known for co-writing the hit song “We Belong”) noted that more than 100 artists recorded a version of Prasada-Rao’s song in 2020 “but because of the impact and the challenges of the pandemic, it never really had a proper release and we decided we would do something about that.“ Dedicating the award to Prasado-Rao, who died last year, Navarro said: “This is not just the song of the year; it’s the song of the century and the song of a lifetime.”

Here’s a link to view a video of Dan Navarro and Janiva Magness performing “$20 Bill (for George Floyd)”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeHdq817B7Y

Susan Werner’s Halfway to Houston was named Album of the Year. A prolific and versatile singer-songwriter who accompanies herself on both guitar and piano and is known for her sassy wit and classy Midwest charm, Werner was unable to be in Montreal to accept the award and sent a short video, while fellow singer-songwriter Dar Williams picked up the award on her behalf.

In addition to these FAI member-voted awards – which were open to recordings released between October 1, 2023 and September 30, 2024 – a number of special awards and honors were presented.

The People’s Voice Award recognizing an artist who embraces social and political commentary in his/her songs was presented to Gina Chavez, an Austin, Texas-based singer-songwriter who has helped to amplify the voices of the marginalized.

The River Roads Festival received The Clearwater Award, honoring a festival that — like its Pete Seeger-founded namesake –- exhibits sound leadership in environmental stewardship and sustainable event production. A one-day event presented by Dar Williams and held in Easthampton, Massachusetts for the past two years, the next River Roads Festival is set for July 5 at Heuser Park in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. Williams said that she was “so excited” to accept the award. She noted that, like Seeger was, she is a resident of New York’s Hudson Valley and recalled being on Conan O’Brien’s late-night TV talk show with him in 1998. Said Williams: “Music is an incredible force … The culture around the music can be a powerful vehicle for justice.”

The Rising tide Award, which is bestowed on an emerging artist/act of an age, went to OKAN, a female-led, Afro-Cuban roots and jazz duo.

Spirit of Folk Awards recognizing people and organizations actively engaged in the promotion and preservation of folk music were presented to Annie Capps, Innu Nikamu festival, Tom Power, and Alice Randall. Capps is a Michigan-based singer-songwriter and a longtime leader with Folk Alliance Region Midwest (FARM), who has served as both its board president and conference director. Innu Nikamu is a Quebec-based festival of Indigenous music and culture that has taken place for more than 30 years. Power, best known as the host of CBC Radio One’s Q program, is also a musician who performs and records with The Dardanelles, a Canadian folk band. Randall is a hit-making country music songwriter who has been a trailblazer in folk and country music. She’s also a college lecturer and the author of My Black Country, which she describes as both a memoir and a history.

“I owe my sanity to folk music,” said Randall in accepting the award. “In My Black Country, I tell the story of climbing out of the hell of being raped by holding on to the sound of John Prine singing “Angel From Montgomery.” Prine’s label, Oh Boy! Records, also released a collection of songs entitled My Black Country. Randall noted that her book “is about the Black folk, including Black folk musicians, who made country country.”

2025 Lifetime Achievement Award recipients included the folk-rock duo Indigo Girls (whose eponymous debut album won a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Recording 35 years ago), the late Black Appalachian musician Lesley Riddle, and the global roots magazine Songlines. During the awards show, singer-songwriters Rose Cousins and Mary Bragg performed “Galileo,” one of the Indigo Girls’ hit songs, in tribute to the duo, while Black indigenous Canadian singer-songwriter Julian Taylor performed “Red River Blues” in tribute to Riddle.

Accepting the Legacy Lifetime Achievement Award on behalf of Riddle, who died in 1980 at age 75, Randall referred to him as a founder of country music and a practitioner of folk who collected and taught the Carter Family a lot of songs. “Tonight, Folk Alliance corrects an almost 100 year-old wrong” by recognizing him.

“We need folk music now more than ever,” said the Indigo Girls’ Emily Saliers in a pre-recorded video. “This Folk Alliance is a group that honors diversity, equity, inclusion, and access for all. Folk music is the music of truth telling. Amy [Ray] and I are, especially in this time, particularly honored to accept this award.” Echoing her sentiments, Ray urged folks to “Please stand up with us and make your voices heard in these times … Day by day, song by song, we can make this world a better place.”

Accepting a Lifetime Achievement Award on behalf of Songlines, James Anderson-Hanney, its publisher, said: “I think we’re the last world music magazine on the planet.” The UK-based, glossy bimonthly that comes with CD is currently celebrating its 25th anniversary.Leading Quebecois folk ensemble Le Vent Du Nord, a 2023 Songlines award recipient, performed in honor of the magazine.

Five Inducted Into Folk Radio Hall of Fame

Eight years ago, Folk Alliance International established a Folk Radio Hall of Fame in order to recognize folk DJs and music directors for the vital role that they play by sharing the music with their listeners. Wanda Fischer, Longtime host of The Hudson River Sampler on WAMC Radio in Albany, New York and herself an inductee in the Hall of Fame, recognized this year’s inductees, while a video featuring visuals and information about them was also screened. The 2025 inductees include Taylor Caffery, Matthew Finch, Archie Fisher, MarySue Twohy, and Chuck Wentworth.

Taylor Caffery, a native of New Orleans, Louisiana, has been the host Hootenanny Power of WRKF Public Radio in Baton Rouge, LA since it began airing in 1981. He’s also been recognized with WRKF’s Founder’s Award (2022) and with the Kari Estrin Founding President’s Award during the 2024 Southeast Regional Folk Alliance (SERFA) Conference.

Matthew Finch, who left our world unexpectedly in July 2024, was a beloved figure in New Mexico’s music scene, who devoted more than 20 years to KUNM in Albuquerque as its music director, and as a tireless advocate for local musicians. Through the programs Ear to the Ground and Studio 55, he created platforms for regional artists to share their music, showcasing live performances and celebrating the diversity of the state’s music community.

Archie Fisher hosted BBC Radio Scotland’s award-winning Traveling Folk program for 27 years – promoting artists and musicians of the folksong revival throughout the British Isles. A talented artist in his own right, he also hosted studio sessions and interviews with such notable American and Canadian artists as Joan Baez, Judy Collins, David Francey, and James Keelaghan. Queen Elizabeth II presented him with a MBE in 2006 for his services to music.

MarySue Twohy is a program director at SiriusXM, who currently manages The Village, its folk channel, among others. She conducts artist interviews and produces a wide array of radio programs. Formerly an artist herself, she moved into broadcasting by hosting a two-hour program 20 years ago and quickly rose to PD. She also served on the FAI board of directors for seven years and continues to serve on national music committees, and to participate in conference panels and as a songwriting contest judge.

Chuck Wentworth, who passed away last year, was a revered figure on the New England music scene – best known for his long-standing contributions as both a radio show host and a festival producer. He began hosting a folk radio show on WRIU-FM, the college radio station at the University of Rhode Island, while he was a student and Traditions aired for 38 years. He also served as the station’s folk and roots music director and expanded its folk programming from one show to five nights a week. Wentworth was also the founder and producer of the Rhythm & Roots Festival, a three-day music and dance festival in Rhode Island.

[Here’s a link to view the International Folk Music Awards Show, which also was livestreamed via YouTube and was available for viewing via Folk Alley and NPR Music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVE29BZ6fBg

The International Folk Music Awards was just one part, albeit an important one, of the 37th annual Folk Alliance International Conference that extended from February 19-23 and drew nearly 2,500 attendees. In addition to more than 2,700 showcases featuring more than 700 acts (including 183 juried official showcases plus many more showcases extending into the early morning hours), the conference included a keynote conversation with Allison Russell and Ann Powers [see below], Black American Music and International Indigenous Music Summits, a one-day legal summit, 45 panel discussions and workshops, a number of affinity and peer group sessions, six film screenings and discussions, lobby jams, meetings of FAI’s regional affiliates, a town hall meeting on P2 Visas – Working Through Parity at the Canada/US Border, a popular Meet the Folk DJs session, morning yoga, an exhibit hall, agent-presenter speed networking sessions, and lots of other networking opportunities.

Artist & Activist Allison Russell Engages in Keynote Conversation with Music Journalist Anne Powers

Allison Russell — a widely acclaimed singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer and activist –- returned to her hometown to engage in an hour-long keynote conversation with Anne Powers, a critic and correspondent for NPR Music. A soulful, Nashville, Tennessee-based, Montreal-born Scottish Grenadian Canadian, Russell is the recipient of more than a dozen awards. These include a Grammy Award for Best American Roots Music Performance for Eve Was Black,” a single off of her sophomore solo recording, Returner released in September 2023), Juno Awards for Contemporary Album of the Year (for her solo debut, Outside Child – 2022) and Music Video of the Year (for “Demons,” 2024), six UK Americana Music Awards, four Canadian Folk Music Awards, and two Americana Music Honors & Awards. In 2022, Folk Alliance International members voted Russell’s solo debut as Album of the Year and her as Artist of the Year. Outside Child was also named Contemporary album of the Year in the 2022 Canadian Folk Music Awards, while she was named Songwriter of the Year and New/Emerging Artist of the Year in recognition of the emotion-laden album featuring 11 original songs “about resilience and survival, transcendence and the redemptive power of art, community, connection, and chosen family.”

Russell has previously spoken of the abuse and trauma that she faced in her youth and the major role that music has played in helping her to overcome it .In her conversation with Powers, she recalled how, at age 15, while unhoused, she slept in the pews at a church just a few blocks from Le Sheraton Centre.

Asked about her latest album, 2023’s The Returner, she noted how she had been a challenged, broken yet brave girl. “”We come from long, broken lines of survivors. We’re all miracles. We’re all returners. We are all overcoming things.”

Much of her on-stage conversation with Powers focused on her recent portrayal of Persephone in Anais Mitchell’s award-winning Broadway musical, Hadestown. Russell noted that it was her first professional acting role and that she had not acted since performing in a Shakespearean play while in high school.

Sharing her reflections on Hadestown just days after she concluded her 50-week run as Persephone and in keeping with the “Illuminate” theme of the conference, she said: Persephone is Hades’ only source of light, of illumination in the underworld. She was the light in his life.”

Playing a mythic goddess in this time took on new connotations, she acknowledged, citing “the current fear-mongering administration in Washington” and “the bigotry and bias that can really harm communities.”

Referring to herself as “a geriatric millennial,” Russell said: “When I came up 24 years ago, there weren’t too many others who looked liked me.” Acknowledging that “our [folk] community is growing more diverse,” she spoke of being a curator during the 2021 Newport Folk Festival tasked with featuring Black and Black & queer women and their allies in the center of a 90-minute set focused on roots and revolution. ”What could be more beautiful than to be conscious, to be mindful [woke],” said Russell, noting that she’s “a queer woman who somehow married a white man with a guitar.”

Prior to embarking on her solo career, Russell was a co-founder of Our Native Daughters and Birds of Chicago and was part of Po’ Girl.

[Here’s a link to view a video recording of the keynote conversation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_ne2-baY8g.]

Folk Alliance International (folk.org) is a nonprofit organization that aims to serve, strengthen, and engage the global folk music community through preservation, presentation and promotion.

A modern honky-tonk country roots harmony duo, Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms are based in the Pacific Northwest and have been touring together for years. Inspired by classic country, bluegrass, old-time, and Cajun music, the duo performs and records primarily original songs (many of which have been covered by others), along with some choice covers.

Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms performed live on WVDX Blue Plate Special in Knoxville, TN last fall. Here’s a link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9a0g-r6RIv. And here’s a link to enjoy the official video for “Gold in Your Pocket,” the title track from the month’s most-played folk album: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6tWzoItEI8.]

Tom Prasada Rao, who died last year, was a gifted Maryland-based singer-songwriter. Although perhaps best-known for “$20 Bill (for George Floyd);” a widely covered song that he wrote in the wake of protests following the murder of George Floyd in 2020, his rendition of Chris Rosser’s “Christmas in the Ashram” has also drawn much radio airplay. Here’s a link to listen to that song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1u8C5m7LKz4.

The December 2024 top albums, songs and artists charts are based on 12,269 airplays reported on 395 playlists submitted by 106 different folk DJs. The number of reported spins is shown below in parentheses.

Folk Alliance International (folk.org) is a nonprofit organization that aims to serve, strengthen, and engage the global folk music community through preservation, presentation and promotion. Its 37th annual conference takes place in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, February 19-23.

Top Albums of December 2024

1. Gold in Your Pocket by Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms (74)
2. The American Dream by Amy Speace (38)
3. Hydra by Eamon O’ Leary and Nuala Kennedy (37)
4. Last Leaf on the Tree by Willie Nelson (36)
4. Woodland by Gillian Welch and David Rawlings (36)
6. Deep Feeler by Liv Greene (34)
7. Things Done Changed by Jerron Paxton (33)
8. Highway Prayers by Billy Strings (28)
9. Ride in the Light by Cindy Kallet (26)
10. Can’t Steal My Fire: The Songs of David Olney by Various Artists (25)
10. Now, O Now by Rakish (25)
12. Pathways by Julian Taylor (24)
13. In the Real World by Eric Bibb (23)
13. A Pinecastle Christmas Celebration by Various Artists (23)
15. Golden by Genevieve Racette (22)
15. Nowhere Next by Yonder Mountain String Band (22)
15. Storm Season by Tania Elizabeth (22)
15. Brighter Days by Dwight Yoakam (22)
19. Bluegrass Sings Paxton by Various Artists (21)
19. Trail of Flowers by Sierra Ferrell (21)
19. Backbone by Kasey Chambers (21)
19. Everything Must Go by Donal Hinely (21)
23. Thirteen by Colin O’Brien (19)
23. Love Your Mind by Twisted Pine (19)
23. Christmas in the Ashram by Tom Prasada-Rao (19)
23. Love, Dan by C. Daniel Boling (19)
27. Back on Track by Pure Prairie League (18)
27. Quiet Town by Mindy Smith (18)
29. Far Away With You by Woody Platt (17)
29. Earl Jam by Tony Trischka (17)
29. Come Darkness, Come Light: Twelve Songs of Christmas by Mary
Chapin Carpenter (17)
29. Lonesome Road by Joel Mabus (17)
29. Blue by Joni Mitchell (17)
34. Yule Like This by Mark Stepakoff (16)
34. Christmas by Bruce Cockburn (16)
34. Lantern in the Dark: Songs of Comfort and Lullabies by Edie
Carey and Sarah Sample (16)
34. Wintertide by Brittany Jean (16)
38. American Noel by Dave Carter and Tracy Grammer (15)
38. This Hen’s Gonna Crow by Colleen Kattau (15)
38. With a Guitar and a Pen by Tish Hinojosa (15)
38. Postcards of the Reckoning by Sean Kiely (15)
38. Woodbird by Jenny Burtis (15)
43. Waiting for Inspiration by Socks in the Frying Pan (14)
43. Just One Angel by Various Artists (14)
43. Where the Islands Overflow by Susan Graham Pepper (14)
43. Willie Watson by Willie Watson (14)
47. Ten Good Sermons by Eugene Ruffolo (13)
47. Heart of the Swan by Carla Sciaky (13)
49. As Above Now So Below by Crow and Gazelle (12)
49. Songs of the Celtic Winter Ii by Ashley Davis (12)
49. Ordinary Elephant by Ordinary Elephant (12)
49. Midwinter by Peter Mayer (12)

Top Songs of December 2024

1. “Christmas in the Ashram” by Tom Prasada-Rao (21)
2. “First United Methodist Day Care Christmas Show” by Amy Speace (16)
3. “Gold in Your Pocket” by Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms (15)
3. “River” by Joni Mitchell (15)
5. “Christmas on the Mekong” by Scott Cook (13)
6. “He’s Gone” by Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms (11)
6. “Christmas in the Trenches” by John McCutcheon (11)
8. “At Christmas” by Sofia Talvik (10)
9. “The Rites of Christmas” by Bett Padgett (9)
9. “Empty Trainload of Sky” by Gillian Welch and David Rawlings (9)
9. “Silver Bells Ring” by Ana Egge (9)
9. “Wild Geese” by Liv Greene (9)
9. “Flowers” by Liv Greene (9)
14. “Shame Shame Shame” by Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms (8)
14. “Same Little Heart” by Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms (8)
14. “Celebration” by David Mallett (8)
14. “The American Dream” by Amy Speace (8)
14. “Must Be Santa” by Bob Dylan (8)
14. “Last of My Kind” by Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms (8)
14. “The Welcome Song” by Jan Aldridge Clark (8)
14. “Ride in the Light” by Cindy Kallet (8)
22. “Last Leaf” by Willie Nelson (7)
22. “Brown’s Ferry Blues” by Tony Trischka (7)
22. “Just Go to Bethlehem” by Chris Haddox (7)
22. “Keep Me in Your Heart” by Willie Nelson (7)
22. “The Christians and the Pagans” by Dar Williams (7)
22. “Auld Lang Syne” by Ed Sweeney (7)
22. “Lighthouse” by Sierra Ferrell (7)
22. “Alice’s Restaurant (The Massacree Revisited)” by Arlo Guthrie (7)
22. “Silent Night” by Jesse Lynn Madera (7)

Top Artists of December 2024

1. Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms (74)
2. David Mallett (61)
3. Bob Dylan (48)
4. John McCutcheon (45)
5. Amy Speace (44)
6. Willie Nelson (41)
6. Joel Mabus (41)
8. Gillian Welch and David Rawlings (37)
8. Eamon O’ Leary and Nuala Kennedy (37)
10. Billy Strings (34)
10. Liv Greene (34)
12. Jerron Paxton (33)
13. Mary Chapin Carpenter (30)
13. Tony Trischka (30)
13. Cindy Kallet (30)
13. Joni Mitchell (30)
17. Pete Seeger (29)
17. Tom Prasada-Rao (29)
19. Eric Bibb (28)
20. Mark Stepakoff (27)
20. Brittany Jean (27)
22. Rakish (26)
23. Julian Taylor (25)
23. Bruce Cockburn (25)
25. Phil Ochs (24)
25. Paul and Mary Peter (24)
27. Judy Collins (23)
27. Genevieve Racette (23)
27. Stan Rogers (23)
27. John Prine (23)
27. Dwight Yoakam (23)
27. Carrie Newcomer (23)
27. Sierra Ferrell (23)
34. Willie Watson (22)
34. Mindy Smith (22)
34. Yonder Mountain String Band (22)
34. Tish Hinojosa (22)
34. Kasey Chambers (22)
34. Tania Elizabeth (22)
34. Bett Padgett (22)

Anne Saunders, the festival’s artistic director, expressed delight that Falcon Ridge stalwarts Vance Gilbert, Nerissa & Katryna Nields, and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams are returning –along with Family Stage faves The Storycrafters — while Woodstock, NY-based husband & wife Americana duo Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams will make their Falcon Ridge debut. So too will Rock & Roll Hall of Famer and country-rock pioneer Richie Furay — who was a founding member of Buffalo Springfield, Poco and Souther, Hillman & Furay.

Among the other artists and acts slated to perform are the Adam Ezra Group, Annie & the Hedonists, The Black Feathers, The Ebony Hillbillies, Tret Fure. The Gaslight Tinkers, Craig Harris, Alice Howe & Freebo, David Jacobs-Strain & Bob Beach, Steve Postell, Sam Robbins, South For Winter, Amilia K. Spicer, and Annie Wenz.

The popular festival, which will feature four stages of music, officially kicks off on Friday afternoon, July 27, at noon. That’s when 13 artists have been invited to perform in the 2024 Grassy Hill Emerging Artist Showcase on the festival’s Mainstage. Appearing in this year’s showcase are (listed alphabetically by last name, not in order of appearance) are Carlyle, Allie Chip, Heather Anne Lomax, Louie Lou Louis, Nan MacMillan, Sean Magwire, MQ Murphy, Alex Radus, Tina Ross, Ida Mae Specker, Mark Stepakoff, Tracy Walton, and Dylan Patrick Ward. Although there is no compensation for showcasing artists, each receives full admission, on-site camping and meals during the festival plus a guest pass

The Grassy Hill Emerging Artist Showcase is not a contest, and artists won’t be judged per se during the festival, although the audience is surveyed as to which showcase artists they’d like to see return the following year to participate in a Most Wanted Song Swap. In evaluating submissions, a panel of three judges looked for high-quality performances of interesting, well-crafted, acoustic-based material. This year’s judges were Ron Olesko of Folk Music Notebook, singer-songwriter Carolann Solebello and Hannah Stritzker from Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs, NY.

Katie Dahl, Kemp Harris and The Honey Badgers –three of the four top audience-voted showcase performers from last year — will showcase their talents during this year’s Most Wanted Song Swap, as well as in other performance slots during the festival.

An Activities 4 Kids Area, Circle of Song acoustic community stage, Family and Workshop Stages, and Dance Barn also will begin on Friday afternoon, July 26, while evening Mainstage performances and nightly dancing are slated to follow the daytime programming. Mainstage performances extend until 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights, while Sunday’s musical festivities wrap up at 6 p.m. For those camping on the fairgrounds, there will be some late-night musical revelry featuring an array of informal jams, artist showcases and song circles that help foster a sense of “folk” community and a different kind of festival experience.

Tret Fure, a Virginia-based singer-songwriter also making her maiden flight at Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, shares their excitement. “I’m delighted to be part of the lineup,” she said. “It’s gonna be a very moving weekend, I feel, on the heels of the recent passing of Tom Prasada Rao [a much-adored member of the folk and singer-songwriter community]. I know that there’ll be a lot of love for him there, so I’m just delighted to be part of the weekend.”

While live music may be Falcon Ridge’s main draw, festivalgoers also can enjoy a variety of ethnic and good ole Americana cuisines with plenty of vegetarian and vegan options, while and array of international craft vendors will be plying and selling their wares.

Thursday Night Music Stage Precedes the Festival and Features Nine Talented Acts

Prior to the start of the actual festival, the aforementioned Pre-Fest Tastings & Farmers Market will take place on Thursday afternoon, while Scotten Jones (a co-founder of the Lounge Stage that hosted live music on Thursdays for many years) and Kathy Sands-Boehmer of Harbortown Music host a Thursday Night Music Stage beginning at 5 p.m.

“Being given the opportunity to present some artists on the Thursday Night Music Stage is a real labor of love,” said Sands-Boehmer, a former concert presenter who curates it. “So many folks come to the fest a day or two early so this is a great chance to experience music together before the actual festival begins on Friday.”

Artists slated to appear on the Thursday Night Music Stage include Mya Byrne, Goodnight Moonshine, Honeysuckle, Eva James, Kat and Brad, Heather Maloney, Miles and Mafale, Grace Morrison, and The Rough and Tumble.

“We are thrilled to be playing the Thursday Night Music Stage this year,” said Eben Pariser who, with his wife Molly Venter, is part of the New Haven, CT-based guitar & vocal duo Goodnight Moonshine. “Molly and I are old-school Falcon Ridge alums, having both won the emerging artist showcase with our respective bands, Red Molly and Roosevelt Dime,” He noted. “Even as everything changes, it’s nice to know that some things stay the same – like the feeling we get when we reunite with our Falcon Ridge community.”

Three-day festival tickets are $250 with camping or $175 without camping. Single -day tickets also are available for $65. All three-day tickets include Pre-Fest Thursday admission, while tickets for Pre-Fest Thursday also can be purchased for $20 at the gate. Children ages 12 and under will be admitted free, while tickets are heavily discounted for teens. The campgrounds will open by 4 p.m. on Wednesday, July 24. More information on the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival can be found at falconridgefolk.com.

Slated to showcase their talents during the concert that is set for 7 p.m. EST are Stephanie Corby, Ronny Cox, Terry Gonda and Kirsti Reeve, Lara Herscovitch, The Kennedys, Kate McDonnell, Dan Navarro, Tom Prasada-Rao, Jenny Reynolds, SONiA disappear fear, LisaBeth Weber, Annie Wenz, and Jack Williams. Also performing will be My One and Only, an Americana duo recently selected as the inaugural recipient of an annual Rising Artist Award established by Focus Music in honor of Reba and Vic Heyman. Several artists who could not be in Maryland for the tribute concert –- including Michael Bowers & Siobhan Quinn, Christine Lavin and John McCutcheon — will participate via pre-recorded videos.

Tickets for the tribute concert are $25 in advance ($25 at the door for members of the sponsoring organizations, $35 at the door for non-members and for virtual tickets) and include a video of the event that can be viewed live (for those who are not comfortable attending an in-person show) or online afterwards. “we felt the livestream was important since we know there are many outside of the DC area who felt the love Vic and Reba shared,” noted Shelley Caplan, Focus Music’s board secretary. “Also, in these times of COVID uncertainty, we wanted to provide an option for those not ready to attend an in-person show.” To order tickets and for more information on the concert and the performers, visit FocusMusic.org. Proceeds from the event will be used to fund future Rising Artist Awards.

Artists Share Their Reflections on Reba Heyman

In a Facebook post last June reflecting on Reba Heyman’s passing, Maura Kennedy of the folk-rock duo The Kennedys noted of her and Vic: “They were like parents to us and to so many, and they were always in our audience, right in the front row. Vic passed away several years ago [2009], but we still saw Reba every year when we played in Florida, often staying with her.”

Navarro told AcousticMusicScene.com that over the years, he saw the Heymans at music festivals and conferences and was struck by Reba’s easy charm, her savvy wit, and the depth of her connection with Vic. “Usually dressed alike, they were the ubiquitous folk community parent/grandparent figures, and we all loved them,” he said.

Navarro reflected on having played a memorial concert for Vic Heyman, also at the Olney Theatre, along with the late David Glaser. “”We coincidentally arrived wearing the exact same Scully “Nighthawk” western shirt, with no fallback wardrobe to keep us from looking like a Holiday Inn band in matching outfits. What to do, what to do? ‘I know,’ David said. ‘Let’s say we’re dressed as Vic and Reba!’ We did, and it worked.”

“Reba leaves a huge, heart-shaped hole in so many of our lives,” said Lara Herscovitch, a Connecticut-based singer-songwriter. “Reba and Vic believed in me before I believed in myself; they welcomed me in, showing me that I belong in this big folk music community and family. Any time spent with Reba was home-away-from-home – whether visiting her in Florida, Maryland, at Falcon Ridge, Kerrville, any of many Folk Alliance conferences, or on the phone,” she continued. “She brought such a deep interest in and care for the world, a great sense of adventure and humor, and a determined strength alongside profound warmth and care,” the former Connecticut State Troubadour noted. Expressing gratitude for “all the gifts of connection, spirit and love that she brought to the world,” Herscovitch told AcousticMusicScene.com: “She will remain an angel on my shoulder – and thousands of others – as we all carry the lessons of her and Vic’s legacy forward.”

Andy Baker (Gobles, MI), John John Brown (Pawling, NY), Abigail Lapell (Toronto, Ontario, Canada), Louise Mosrie Coombe (Williamsburg, MA), Michael Prysock (Dallas, TX), and Shanna in a Dress (Boulder, CO) will each perform short sets during a Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Winners concert as part of the second weekend of the 2020 October Virtual Celebration on Saturday afternoon, Oct. 17, beginning at 1:30 p.m. CDT/ 2:30 p.m. EDT/11:30 a.m. PDT.

Here’s a link to a video of Shanna performing “Daddy’s Little Girl,” one of her winning songs: https://youtube.com/watch?v=c4UVb9BXe4s

Shanna told AcousticMusicScene.com that being named a New Folk Winner is “very exciting and also a bit of a double-edged sword- because of the pandemic it’s kind of the worst year to win! Normally (I’ve heard)
you get really tight with your fellow New Folk class, get to play on the mainstage during the Kerrville Folk Festival, and go on a two-week tour with the other winners. I LOVE LOVE LOVE people and connecting with them in thefestival environment, and I’m definitely disappointed I don’t get to do that.”

Noting that this was her first year being part of New Folk, Abigail Lapell told AcousticMusicScene.com: “it’s been really incredible, despite being a really different experience from most years. Our hosts Lindsey and Deb [Rouse] and the whole Kerrville team, along with all the finalists, have worked really hard to make it feel like a community, despite gathering remotely. I know we all wished we could be together at Quiet Valley Ranch, but I’m so glad we were able to capture a bit of that magic over the virtual airwaves.”

Lapell said that the biggest highlight for her was “ discovering so many new-to-me musicians and getting to check out everyone’s songs. I feel truly honoured (Canadian spelling, represent!!!) to be among such a talented group. I also got to check out some of the other festival performances last weekend, which was really inspiring. Everyone involved did a great job pulling off an amazing festival under challenging circumstances.”

Here’s a link to view a video of Abigail Lapell performing “Down by the Water,” one of the two songs that she submitted to the New Folk Competition:

https://youtu.be/NUgySaZ3NeQ

Expressing thanks to all of the finalists for sharing their “works of art,” Tom Prasada-Rao, a past Kerrville New Folk Winner and one of this year’s three judges, said: “It really doesn’t matter whether you are declared a winner or not because you are all winners.” Sharing similar sentiments, Bernice Lewis, also a past Kerrville New Folk winner who served as a judge, said that just being part of the competition “inspired me to write better songs and be a better musician.”

Established in 1972 at the urging of Peter Yarrow, the Kerrville New Folk Concerts have become a highlight of the annual festival that is geared towards singer-songwriters of various musical styles and is the longest continuously running festival of its kind in North America. This year’s festival was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In its place, festival organizers hosted an online festival featuring virtual concerts and campfire song circles that were streamed online on three successive Saturdays in late May-early June. Although the festival was tentatively rescheduled for Oct. 8-18, those plans also had to be scrapped due to the ongoing health crisis. In its place, a Virtual Celebration has been taking place online via the festival’s website, Facebook page and YouTube channel over two successive weekends and continues Oct. 17-18.

For more information on the Kerrville New Folk Competition and to view a full schedule of the festival’s 2020 October Virtual Celebration — including evening concerts and virtual campfires — visit https://www.kerrvillefolkfestival.org/oct2020-virtual-lineup.

Chosen from among more than 700 submissions from around the world, the finalists were announced earlier this year. The New Folk Concerts – established in 1972 at the urging of Peter Yarrow — are usually a highlight of the annual 18-day-long singer-songwriter-focused Kerrville Folk Festival in late May-June on the Quiet Valley Ranch Campgrounds in the Texas Hill Country. However, this year’s festival was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In its place, festival organizers hosted an online festival featuring virtual concerts and campfire song circles that were streamed online on three successive Saturdays in late May-early June. Although the festival was tentatively rescheduled for Oct. 8-18, those plans also had to be scrapped due to the ongoing health crisis.

In its place, a Virtual Celebration will take place online via the festival’s website, Facebook page and YouTube channel over the weekends of Oct. 10-11 and Oct. 17-18. Hillary Adamson will serve as emcee of the 2020 New Folk Concerts that will feature videos submitted by each of the 24 finalists. Featured performing songwriters on Saturday, Oct. 10 (in order of appearance) are Eliza Edens (Williamstown, MA), T Buckley (Calgary, Alberta, Canada), Aubryn (Nashville, TN), Andy Baker (Gobles, MI), Sadie Gustafson-Zook (Boston, MA), Ryan Davenport (Taylor, TX), China Kent (Denver, CO), Nick Depuy (New Canaan, CT), Louise Mosrie Coombe (Williamsburg, MA), Chad Elliott (Lamont, IA), Justina Shandler (Roanoke, VA), and Russ Parrish (Burnsville, MN). The Oct. 11 lineup features John John Brown (Pawling, NY), Claire Kelly (Nashville, TN), Michael Prysock (Dallas, TX), Shanna in a Dress (Boulder, CO), Daniel Elixir (Brixey, MO), Nancy Beaudette (Cornwall, Ontario, Canada), Clint Alphin (Nashville, TN), Anne E. DeChant (Avon Lake, OH), Susan Cattaneo (Medford, MA), Jeremy Facknitz (Colorado Springs, CO), and Abigail Lapell (Toronto, Ontario, Canada).

Following the virtual New Folk Concerts, six songwriters will be selected as 2o020 New Folk Winners by a panel of judges comprised of Stuart Adamson, Bernice Lewis and Tom Prasada-Rao. The six, to be announced during the virtual Sunday evening concert on Oct. 11, will receive cash honorariums and other prizes, as well as the opportunity to return the following weekend to each perform 15-minute sets during a n online New Folk Winners Concert the following Saturday afternoon, Oct. 17, beginning at 1:30 p.m. CDT.

For more information of the Kerrville New Folk Competition and to view a full schedule of the festival’s 2020 October Virtual Celebration – including evening concerts and virtual campfires – visit https://www.kerrvillefolkfestival.org/oct2020-virtual-lineup.

“None of us know when it will be possible to responsibly invite you back to Quiet Valley Ranch; we are hoping with all our hearts for October,” The Kerrville Festival Foundation staff wrote in a May 14 email to friends of the festival. “In the meantime, we are doing all we can, using every option available to us to weather this storm, and we will succeed.

What gives us faith is all of you. We are so deeply touched by so many messages of encouragement, love for the festival, and love for the community. And as festival time draws closer, we asked our artists to help us with a gift to our Festival family.”

Kerrville Folk Festival Virtual Concerts are slated for Saturdays May 23, May 30 and June 6 from 7-9 p.m. CDT/8-10 p.m. EDT/5 p.m. PDT. Among the artists set to perform are Marcia Ball, Beat Root Revival, Black Pumas, The Chris Chandler Show, Mikaela Davis, John Elliott, Folk Family Revival, Rebecca Folsom, John Fullbright, Vance Gilbert, Jaimee Harris, Kyshona, Bernice Lewis, The Limeliters, James McMurtry, Tom Meny, Possessed by Paul James, Tom Prasada-Rao Trio, Bruce Robison, Shake Russell & Michael Hearne, Darrell Scott, Texicana Mamas, Verlon Thompson, Trout Fishing in America, Wood & Wire, and more.

The virtual concerts will stream online at https://kerrvillefolkfestival.orgg and on the festival’s Facebook page, where more details will be posted in coming days. Viewers will be afforded the opportunity to tip the artists and donate to the foundation. The two-hour concerts each evening will be followed by Virtual Campfires via Zoom hosted by members of the Kerrmunitty.

Named as finalists in the Grassy Hill-Kerrville New Folk Competition are: Clint Alphin (Nashville, TN), Andy Baker (Gables, MI), Nancy Beaudette (Cornwall, ON, Canada), John John Brown (Pawling, NY), T Buckley (Calgary, AB, Canada), Susan Cattaneo (Medford, MA), Ryan Davenport (Taylor, TX), Anne E. DeChant (Avon Lake, OH), Nick Dupuy (New Canaan, CT), Eliza Edens (Williamstown, MA), Daniel Elixir (Brixley, MO), Chad Elliott (Limoni, IA), Jeremy Facknitz (Colorado Springs, CO), Sadie Gustafson-Zook (Boston, MA), Claire Kelly (Nashville, TN), China Kent (Denver, Colorado), Abigail Lapell (Toronto, ON, Canada), Louise Mosrie (Williamstown, MA), Russ Parrish (Burnsville, MN), Michael Prysock (Dallas, TX), Justina Shandler(Roanoke, VA), Shanna in a Dress (Boulder, CO), Aubryn Stevens (Nashville, TN), and Alex Wong (Nashville, TN).

After performing the two songs that they submitted during New Folk Concerts slated for Oct. 9 and 10 at the Threadgill Theater during the festival, six songwriters will be selected as 2020 New Folk Winners. The six will receive cash honorariums and other prizes, as well as the opportunity to return the following weekend to each perform 20-minute sets during a Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Award Winners concert.

Established in 1972 at the urging of Peter Yarrow, the Kerrville New Folk Concerts have become a highlight of the annual festival that is geared towards singer-songwriters of various musical styles and is the longest continuously running festival of its kind in North America. In addition to receiving cash awards and additional performance opportunities, being named as a New Folk Award Winner is regarded as a very prestigious honor.

The ten finalists selected by a panel of judges, based on both their songwriting craft and the presentation of their songs, are Richard Berman (MA), Cherie Call (UT), John Carroll (TN), Brad Colerick (CA), Angela Easterling (SC), Annalise Emerick (TN), George Ensle (TX), Frank Martin Gilligan (TX), Lola Toben (MO), and Crystal Yates (TX).

After showcasing their talents on Saturday, May 16, four of the finalists will receive $500 each and will perform in a 75-minute winners’ round on Sunday afternoon, while each of the other six will each receive $100. All ten finalists will also perform hour-long sets on the Courtyard Stage, on which several Dallas Songwriters Association Spotlights also take place over the weekend.

Last year’s Wildflower! Performing Songwriter Contest winners were Marc Douglas Berardo (RI), Carolyn Currie (ME), Drew Kennedy (TX), and Ellen Tipper (ME).

Other artists slated to perform on the Singer Songwriter Stage during the festival include Phoebe Hart Trio, Bill Ward/2-Bit Palomino, and Tom Prasada-Rao on Friday. Jacob Johnson, Rj Cowdery, Danny Schmidt, Carrie Elkin, Cliff Eberhardt, Louise Mosrie, Jonathan Byrd and the Pickup Cowboys, and Trout Fishing in America perform on Saturday. Cowdery, Mosrie and Ian Dickson – – previous contest winners in 2011, 2010 and 2005, respectively – take part in a Sunday afternoon song swap, while Zane Williams closes out the stage with a set beginning at 5:30 p.m.

In addition to its Singer Songwriter and Courtyard Stages, Wildflower! will feature several other stages with an eclectic array of musical artists (ranging from rockers Pat Benatar, Kansas and 38 Special to noted Texas singer-songwriters Joe Ely and Gary P. Nunn), as well as the Wild! Marketplace, a Taste of Texas Food Garden, a Kidz Korner family area and petting zoo, strolling entertainers, and more.

Three-day festival passes may be purchased online via ClicknPrintTickets and at Tom Thumb stores around the Metroplex for $30 through 5:30 p.m. on May 15, while single-day adult tickets will be available for $20 at the gate and online. For more information, including performance schedules, visit www.wildflowerfestival.com.