The 2009 GRASSY HILL KERRVILLE NEW FOLK COMPETITION will be held during the 37^th Annual Kerrville Folk Festival on Saturday and Sunday, May 23 & 24, 2009.  Out of 800 entries, thirty-two writer-performers will be invited to share their original songs.  Six NEW FOLK WINNERS will be selected from the thirty-two and will return on Sunday, May 31 to perform 20 minutes of their original songs and receive a $250 Award from the Texas Folk Music Foundation, plus $150 from Vic and Reba Heyman and $50 from the Jim Ross Memorial Fund.  They will also win a year’s subscription or renewal to Performing Songwriter Magazine.  Other prizes may be added at a later date.  All of these concerts will be staged at the Threadgill Theater in the Quiet Valley Ranch campgrounds, 9 miles south of the city of Kerrville on TX Hwy 16.

Established at the suggestion of Peter Yarrow in 1972, these annual concerts are one of the high points of the Festival and for songwriters from all across the country.  The Judges selecting the six Award Winners for 2008 will be announced shortly.

Here are the official 2009 guidelines: 

1.           Writer-performers are invited to send the Kerrville Folk Festival two original songs only, on either one home-burned CD or submitted electronically through Sonicbids (no cassette tapes please).  Submission must be made under the name(s) of a solo or duo songwriter(s) only.  No Bands Please (although a band may be used in the recording of your submitted material).  If chosen as a finalist, your performance may consist of one or two people only.  Pre-recorded songs must comply with requirements set forth in Guideline 2.  LIMIT ONE ENTRY PER SONGWRITER PLEASE. 

2.           ONLY SONGS WRITTEN AFTER JANUARY 1, 2007 MAY BE SUBMITTED.   It does not matter if the songs have been published and/or recorded, provided they were completed in their current form after Jan. 1, 2007.  They can be a "live", studio, or garage recording.  The submitted songs may be performed by the writer(s) alone or by a group which must include the writer(s).  Both songs together should not exceed 8 minutes (due to performance time limits during New Folk concerts).   The writer(s) retain all rights to the songs.

3.           Do not send any lead sheets, lyrics, publicity, bios, etc.  Your submission package should include ONLY your CD, your entry form / contact information, and your $25 entry fee (check or money order please).  Please be sure to use sufficient padding to protect your CD in transit.

4.           If you are selected as a finalist, you will perform the two songs you submitted at one of the May 23 or May 24 concerts.

5.           New Folk Finalists may not appear with a billed performer on any Kerrville stage during the 2009 Festival prior to the announcement of the winners on Sunday, May 24.  Doing so will result in disqualification. 

6.           Anyone may enter except those billed as stage performers in 2008 or those who have been selected as a New Folk Finalist for both of the past two consecutive years, 2007 & 2008.

7.           Of the 32 finalists, 16 will perform at the festival each day, Saturday and Sunday, May 23 & 24 to provide the judges with an opportunity to select the six Award Winners who will perform at the New Folk Winners Concert on Sun, May 31.  PLEASE DO NOT ENTER IF YOU CANNOT FULFILL ALL THREE CONCERT OPPORTUNITIES!

8.           The CD label should be left blank!  As this is a “blind” listening, no information should be on the disc itself.  Fill out the entry form (found on our website) or on an accompanying, letter size sheet of paper put the songwriter’s name, address, phone number, and e-mail address so you can be notified.  Also put the titles of the songs you submitted.  Please print or type clearly!  A separate application isn’t needed if you enter through Sonicbids.

9.           All entries must be accompanied by a $25 entry fee.  Checks should be payable to the Texas Folk Music Foundation.  If sending by U.S. Mail, send to New Folk, P.O.Box 291466, Kerrville, TX  78029. If using another shipping service (UPS, FedEx, etc.), send to New Folk, 3876 Medina Hwy.,  Kerrville, TX  78028. Please use enough postage; CD's are rigid objects and require more postage than a regular letter. We will not pay postage due!  Submission Deadline:  Only the first 800 entries received between December 1, 2008 and midnight, MARCH 15, 2009, will be accepted.  Entries received after the deadline (or after we get 800) will be refused at the post office and will be returned to you unopened.  Throughout the entry period, we will post the number of entries we have received to date on our website at www.kerrvillefolkfestival.com/newfolk.htm.   You may also submit on-line using Sonicbids.  Visit our website for details.

10.        If you choose to have your CD returned to you, they will be mailed on or about April 15^th with the list of finalists.  Note:  If you want your CD to be returned to you, provide us with a self addressed mailer (Size “0”, padded) with proper postage. Otherwise your CD will be disposed of and you will be notified by e-mail of the finalists.

11.        In addition to the 32 finalists, up to 10 regional writers may be selected to perform one of their songs at the Ballad Tree (3-5 p.m.) May 23 or 24.  Those selected for the Ballad Tree will receive one, single-day pass to the Festival for that day only.

12.        Scholarships for $90 off the $180 tuition to the May 26 – May 28 Songwriters School or Roots/Blues Guitar Workshop are available for  up to ten of the 32 finalists on a first–come basis to those paying the balance of $90 to the Texas Folk Music Foundation prior to May 20, 2009.

13.        Each of the 32 Finalists will receive five-day passes for themselves and one guest* for May 21 - 25; those accepting scholarships to one of the workshops will receive additional passes for May 26 – 28; the six Award Winners will receive passes through May 31; those selected for the Ballad Tree will receive a single one-day pass.  *Unless designated as your “guest”, any other performers appearing with you must purchase a ticket to be admitted.  Tent camping fees are included for all accessed days.  While finalists are responsible for their own transportation, shuttle service is available between the San Antonio International Airport and the Quiet Valley Ranch.  Parking in the festival parking lots are $3 per day.  All cars in the campground pay $20 per day.

14.        Any rules that are misprinted or printed incomplete in other publications are not official and we take no responsibility for any disqualification resulting from not following the complete instructions listed above.

Folk Festival dates are May 21 - June 7, 2009 (18 days).  If you have questions, contact us at (830) 257-3600 or email info@kerrville-music.com.  You will be notified via E-MAIL of the finalists on or around April 15^th.

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2008 GRASSY HILL KERRVILLE NEW FOLK WINNERS

Congratulations to the following  six New Folk Winners for 2008.  These songwriters were among 32 finalists who performed during the 2008 Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Concerts on May 24 & 25 (listed below).  New Folk Winners receive a cash honorarium from the Texas Folk Music Foundation, Vic & Reba Heyman, and the Jim Ross Memorial Fund.  Other prizes were provided by Performing Songwriter Magazine, Elixir Guitar Strings, Kyser Capos, and Intellitouch tuners from On-Board Research, and ClimbOn! Products

Come see these future stars at the Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Winners Concert at noon on Sunday, June 1, 2008 at the Kerrville Folk Festival.

Devon Sproule (Charlottesville VA)

RJ Cowdery (Columbus OH)

CJ Watson (Nashville TN)

Hans York (Seattle WA)

Robby Hecht (Nashville TN)

BettySoo  (Austin TX)