Memphis, Tenn.– Now in its seventh year, the 2008 Mountain Stage NewSong Contest is one of the premier showcases for performing songwriters in North America. This year the Folk Alliance is highlighting its own 20th anniversary year by sponsoring this, and other events around North America, that foster and promote folk music. Chosen from hundreds of entries, 10 finalists have been selected to compete in each NewSong Regional Round. Come out to hear them perform - their best milieu.

Regional Rounds to be held:

August 24 Eddie’s Attic, Decatur, GA – Southeast Round (AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA, W V) w/ Caroline Herring
515 N McDonough St., 7:30 p.m., $15/$18(404) 377-4976, www.eddiesattic.com

August 28 Cactus Café, Austin, TX – Southwest Round (CO, NM, OK, TX, UT) – TBD
24th & Guadalupe Sts., 8:00 p.m., !) 512/475-6515, www.utexas.edu/txunion/ae/cactus

September 2 The Mint, Los Angeles, CA – West Round (AK, AZ, CA, HI, ID, MT, NV, OR, WA, WY) w/ TBD
6010 W. Pico Blvd., 8 p.m., (323) 954-9400 or www.themintla.com

“The Folk Alliance is pleased to be associated with one of the most respected songwriting contests on the planet, NewSong, and the legendary Mountain Stage Radio Show. I know that this contest can change the career path for its winners and we are proud to be a part of that process,” says Louis Meyers, Executive Director, The Folk Alliance

“The partnering of the Mountain Stage NewSong Contest with the Folk Alliance is a natural,” says Mountain Stage Executive Producer Andy Ridenour. “The result will be an even greater impact on the two institution’s missions of promoting the song AND the songwriter.”

The contest is open to all genres of music, reflecting the diversity of performers on “Mountain Stage with Larry Groce.” NewSong is dedicated to finding, promoting, and working with the most talented performing songwriters regardless of style. This year NewSong is introducing a new ‘Youth’ Category to artists 21 or younger.

“NewSong made everyone feel like we were there for a purpose and that we were being celebrated for what we do. Everyone was treated so well and told that NewSong would always be a resource for us … even one year later they are still in touch. It’s much more than a songwriting contest.” Rose Cousins, 2007 NewSong Contest Winner

The winner of each round will advance to the international finals held October 11, 2008 in Charleston, West Virginia. Then five co-winners winners will be chosen. They will perform in a ‘Feature Showcase’ and be registered to attend the 21st International Folk Alliance Conference in Memphis, Tenn. February 18-22, 2009. There are also cash prizes for the five co-winners, and one of them will perform on Mountain Stage.

NewSong’s partner Mountain Stage^® is a live performance music program heard worldwide on over 125 radio stations, XM Satellite Radio and the “Voice of America.” Now in its 25th year, the show has a long and storied tradition of featuring national and international acts in all styles of music and of launching emerging acts to stardom.

For full contest rules and guidelines, see www.newsong-music.com/contest. Time to still compete for the General Round until September 1!

Folk Alliance Mission: The North American Folk Music and Dance Alliance exists to foster and promote traditional, contemporary, and multicultural folk music, dance, and related performing arts in North America. The Folk Alliance seeks to strengthen organizational and individual initiatives in folk music and dance through education, networking, advocacy, and professional and field development. (www.folk.org)

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Looking for acoustic guitar king Wayne Henderson?

He can be found on “Virginia’s Crooked Road,” a tourism theme the state is promoting. In doing so, it’s also promoting Henderson, the top-notch acoustic guitars he makes (see the sidebar for a chance to win a Henderson Guitar) and his annual music festival, which will be held later this month.

Little wonder why Virginia is showcasing Henderson. He grew up in the mountains of southwest Virginia, where the sounds of traditional country music are a way of life, and a personal passion for him. His ability to transform wood into masterful acoustic guitars caught the eyes and ears of Eric Clapton. Ten years later, between jam sessions, concert dates at Carnegie Hall and delivering mail, Henderson finally finished building Clapton’s guitar - and the legend was born.

Henderson, now a master luthier, has given up life as a mail man and puts all his energy into crafting guitars, according to Virginia’s tourism bureau. Although the waiting list for “a Henderson” is measured in years, he is as humble and grounded as ever. His passion doesn’t end with building guitars.

He performs across the country and thrills serious bluegrass fans each June at the Wayne C. Henderson Music Festival at Grayson Highlands State Park.

All that fame has him listed in the Portraits of Passion on www.Virginia.org. Visitors to the Web site can watch Henderson build a guitar.

“My passion is certainly seeing a piece of wood come together and hear what I can hear come out of it,” explains Henderson. “When I play music, it’s like, I think, wonderful therapy. I can’t think of much of anything that makes you feel any better.”

Musical therapy like Henderson’s lives along The Crooked Road, Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail - one of the state’s cultural heritage destinations.

Henderson’s top-notch finger-picking is a source of great pleasure and pride to his friends, family, and neighbors in Grayson County, Va.; his guitar playing has also been enjoyed at Carnegie Hall, in three national tours of “Masters of the Steel-String Guitar,”and in seven nations in Asia.

In addition to his reputation as a guitarist,he is a recipient of a 1995 National Heritage Award presented by the National Endowment for the Arts. He produces about 20 instruments a year, mostly guitars.

He is almost as well known for the mandolins he has made. Doc Watson, a good friend who sometimes stops at Henderson’s shop in Rugby, Va., to pick a few tunes, owns a Henderson mandolin.

Some of Henderson’s instruments are intricately decorated but are most respected for their volume, tone and resonance. Blues guitarist John Cephas said Henderson “is probably the most masterful guitar maker in this whole United States.”

Above and beyond his great talents as a musician and luthier, Henderson is known as a “friend to everyone” and shares his talents and knowledge unselfishly.

The Wayne C. Henderson Music Festival and Guitar Competition was established in 1995 to express appreciation for this “living legend”. A portion of the proceeds from the Festival are placed into a scholarship fund to aid local young musicians in continuing their educations.

Sponsored by Wayne Henderson Music Festival, Inc. and the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of State Parks, the festival will be held June 21 at Grayson Highlands State Park near Mouth of Wilson, Va. The guitar competition is woven through out the concert performers.

Winner of the competition wins a new guitar — and it’s a hand-built Henderson.

Considering the $10 admission, bluegrass fans might think they’re in for a bargain.

Here’s the lineup that 10-spot buys:

• 10:30-11:30 Guitar Competition
• 11:35-12:35 Todd Hallawell & Robin Kessinger
• 12:35-1:35 No Speed Limit
• 1:35-1:40 Announcement of Finalists
• 1:40 - 2:40 The Harris Brothers
• 2:40 - 3:40 George Hamilton IV
• 3:40 - 4:10 Guitar Finals
• 4:10 - 4:25 Scholarship Presentations
• 4:25 - 5:25 The New North Carolina Ramblers
• 5:25 - 5:45 Guitar Winners Presentation
• 5:45 - 6:45 The Kruger Brothers
• 6:45 - Wayne Henderson and Friends

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650 AM WSM and Springer Mountain Farms Chicken have teamed up on a contest to find the best jingle for Springer Mountain Farms Chicken. Entries for the contest can be submitted at WSMonline.com between now and June 13th.

Judges will pick the top five jingles and the public will vote for the top prize with a winner announced on June 23rd.

The winning jingle writer will have plenty to crow about, including $1000 dollar cash prize, a years supply of Springer Mountain Farms Chicken, a season pass to “Bluegrass Nights at the Ryman presented by Springer Mountain Farms and a recording session at 650 AM WSM’s studio.

The winning composition will also be heard on 650 AM WSM as the official jingle for Springer Mountain Farms Chicken.

You can submit audio or video entries, either by postal mail or electronically.

More details can be found at: http://www.wsmonline.com/extra/extra08.shtml.

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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - The Illinois State Fair’s annual fiddle and banjo contest will be held Saturday (Aug. 11) on the Springfield fairground’s Lincoln Stage. Both contests are split into three age divisions: junior for those 16 and younger; 17 to 59 years old; and a senior division for those 60 and older.

First-place prize money ranges from $200 to $150, with cash awarded to the top three finishers in each class. No entry fee is required to enter the contest, but contestants must pay their own admission to the fairgrounds. Contestants may enter the day of the contest, starting at 9 a.m. Registration will close at 10:15 a.m.

Each contestant must play two tunes of their choice, one being a hoe down and the other a waltz. No more than three accompanists will be allowed per contestant and electric amplification is a no-no.

Fiddle players cannot perform “Black Mountain Rag,” “Orange Blossom Special” and “Listen to the Mockingbird.”

Judging will be on the following abilities: rhythm and timing, creativity, authenticity and taste, expression and execution.

The order of performance for contestants will be posted at the Lincoln Stage one hour prior to competition.

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