Thursday, April 7, 2011

Smilefest Reunion 2011 Lineup - Its Official

We just came across this awesome festival scheduled for the first weekend in June - the Smilefest Reunion 2011 at the Jomeokee Campground in Pinnacle NC. Tickets are reasonable: wWeekend Pass (Adv 1): $100 for next 749 tickets or til April 30th; weekend Pass (Adv 2):$115 for next 250 tickets or til June 1st. And take a look at these artists:

Smilefest 2011 Performers

Railroad Earth

For more than 10 years, Railroad Earth has been a prominent figure in the American roots music scene. Their sound, which is something like an amalgam of Rock, Roots, Bluegrass and Celtic, leaves them near impossible to label. With a legion of loyal fans, Railroad Earth has been an undeniable force whose superb songwriting, singing and stage performances have kept them one of the most talked about bands on the festival circuit in years.

JJ Grey and Mofro

As many of you know, we've been trying for years to get JJ and Mofro out to Smilefest and we are extremely excited to have them this year. They will be performing on Saturday. Click artist name for more.

Karl Denson's Tiny Universe

Karl Denson's Tiny Universe has been a long time favorite for Smilefest for many years. Who can forget the epic set in 2002 when he played til 3am. This years performance promises to be as special. Check out Karl on Saturday evening. Click on artist name for more.

Melvin Seals and JGB

What a blessing to have Melvin and JGB at Smilefest this year. Getting chills just writing it on the site. Going to be incredible Saturday night performance. Click on artist name for more info.

New Mastersounds

All the way from England, The New Mastersounds have become big favorites of mine and MRM's. If you have not seen them perform, they bring the old school funk. You can catch them on Friday night. Click on artist name for more info.

Larry Keel and Natural Bridge

What would Smilefest be without Larry and Jenny Keel on site. This year we'll be treated to Larry's band, Natural Bridge on Saturday AND a special sit in set with Danny Barnes on Sunday. Click on artist name for more info.

Pimps of Joytime

Back for an encore performance from last year, this was one of the most talked about bands at Smilefest Reunion 2010. Plan to get your dance shoes on with them Friday night this year.

John Browns Body

First timers at Smilefest, they promise to bring a positive, reggae vibe to the festival. Their performance is Friday. Click on artist name for more info.

Danny Barnes

Very excited to have Danny Barnes with us at Smilefest Reunion this year. His unique style is a joy to experience. Catch him Sunday with Larry Keel.

Sanders/Cardine/Pond

Sanders, Cardine and Pond was born out of Jay Sanders’ Mindtonic Music Series at the Rocket Club in Asheville. The three came together as a mutual admiration society in March of 2010 and the musical combination has blossomed into a powerful force. Equal parts Mahavishnu Orchestra and Strength In Numbers, the three musicians each bring compositions to the project that feature the strength of their individual talents.

Shane Pruitt Band

After the epic set last Sunday at Smilefest, with a special sit in from our own Benton Wharton, we had to bring these boys back. They will be performing on Saturday afternoon this year. Click artist name for more info.

Sol Driven Train

An amazing band that we are happy to have with us this year. Check them out on Saturday afternoon.

Ralph Roddenberry Band

This is Ralphs first trip to Smilefest but has been part of the extended family for years. You can catch him Saturday afternoon and for a late night picking session that night. Click on artist name for more info on Ralph.

Jackass Flats

After a great performance last year, we had to bring them back again. Come check them out on Friday. Click on artist name for more info.

Sanctum Sully

One of my new favorites, we are really looking forward to their performance this year. Check their set out on Saturday. Click on artist name for more info.

Nora Jane Struthers

Very excited to have found out about Nora Jane this and glad to have her on the line-up this year. Come check her out set Sunday morning. Click on artist name for more info.

Lizzy Ross Band

Performing on Saturday afternoon, Lizzy promises to bring a great female vibe to the stage.

Doby

Another new favorite from the Piedmont, this will be an amazing set Friday afternoon. Click on artist name for more info.

The Captain Midnight Band

Formed in New Orleans in 2002, The Captain Midnight Band stays true to the Crescent City's celebratory heritage, turning every show into a sweating, throbbing event, interspersed with humor and ear-candy jams.

Electric Soul Pandemic

Since Smilefest started in Grensboro, it felt only fitting to bring a Greensboro band to the Reunion. Their Friday set promises to please. Click on artist name for more info.

From A Seed

For about 5 years, From A Seed has been bringing the Lake Norman and
Charlotte area a great blend of original rock with covers thrown in
for flare. 8 people come together to create great rock and fill the
air with great sounds.The

Duk Tan

DUK TAN intentionally strives to make each performance different from the last, in both subject matter and musical content.

The Virginia Dare Devils

The creation of innovative and original music is an ever elusive goal in this day and age. The Virginia Dare Devils’ mission to do just that is most certainly well under way.

Big Something

The sound is BIG and clearly the work of some largely talented musicians, hence the name: BIG Something.

The Matt Nicholls Quartet

Based out of Nashiville, TN the Matt Nicholl's Quartet brings a mix of Blues, Rock & Country.

Tara Nevins & Jeb Puryear of Donna The Buffalo

Tara Nevins and Jeb Puryear, of Donna the Buffalo, have crafted a
feel-good, groove-oriented, danceable and often socially conscious music for over twenty years...

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Chris Austin Songwriting Contest Announces Finalists for 2011

Finalists have been selected for the 19h annual Chris Austin Songwriting Contest, hosted by MerleFest 2011. The festival is scheduled for April 28-May 1, on the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina.

Writers of the following twelve songs, selected from over 1,053 entries, will compete on the Austin Stage at MerleFest on Friday, April 29:

Bluegrass
Tonya Lowman - "Heartwrenching Lovesick Memories" (Lenoir, N.C.)
David Grindstaff,
Benjamin Poteat and David Snider - "The Working Man" (Marion, N.C.)
Ashleigh Caudill - "Row By Row" (Asheville, N.C.)

Country
Mickey Clark - "Bakersfield Wine" (Louiville, Ky.)
Lera Lynn - "Bobby, Baby" (Athens, Ga.)
Thom Case - "The Smart Thing" (Brentwood, Tenn.)

Gospel/Inspirational
Johnny Tanner - "Wake Up John" (Florence, S.C.)
Tony Feathers - "On The Rock Where Moses Stood" (Gray, Tenn.)
Rachel Harrington - "He Started Building My Mansion In Heaven Today" (Seattle, Wash.)

General
Joseph LeMay - "River In My Heart" (Dyersburg, Tenn.)
The Honeycutters
(Amanda Anne Platt) - "Little Bird" (Asheville, N.C.)
Driftwood Fire (Charlotte D. Formichella and Lynn Scharf) - "The Salty Sea" (Ft. Collins, Colo.)

Each of the twelve finalists will enjoy admission and lodging for four nights at MerleFest, and will receive a mentoring session with Grammy®-winning singer/songwriter Jim Lauderdale. In addition, the first place winners will receive a performance slot on the Cabin Stage on Friday of the festival.

The Chris Austin Songwriting Contest is a unique opportunity for aspiring writers to have their original songs heard and judged by a panel of Nashville music industry professionals, under the direction of this year’s volunteer contest chairperson Jim Lauderdale. Judging is based on a song’s originality, lyrics, melody and overall commercial potential. 

This year’s on-site judges are Wyatt Durrett, Corb Lund and Molly Nagel. Durrette is a respected songwriter whose credits include “Chicken Fried,” the wildly successful number one hit by Grammy Award winning Zac Brown Band. Lund, Alberta’s acclaimed alternative country star, has been named Roots Artist of the Year by the Canadian Country Music Association for the last five years running and was again nominated this year. Nagel is the newly-appointed general manager of the Asheville-based innovative marketing company Music Allies; previously she spent 12 years in publicity and artist development for venerated roots indie Sugar Hill Records.

The following were judges for the first round of competition during which the finalists were selected: Donica Christenson - Sugar Hill Records; Tim Dubois - ASCAP Nashville; Sara Johnson - creative director, Bug Music; Casey Kelly - songwriter/vice president, Songwriters Guild; Joe Limardi - program director, WSM; Shannon McCombs - producer/writer/host; Megan McNair - publicist/editor, Music City News Media; Nathan Nicholson - independent song plugger/publisher; Caine O'Rear - editor/co-publisher, American Songwriter Magazine; Victoria Shaw - singer/songwriter and producer; Joyce Symans - membership administrator, Americana Music Association; Joe West - songwriter/producer.    

Net proceeds from the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest support the Wilkes Community College Chris Austin Memorial Scholarship. Since its inception the scholarship has awarded over $35,000 to 71 deserving students. The 2010-2011 Chris Austin Memorial Scholarship recipients are Mary R. Griffith and Thomas Noah Russell. Previous winners of the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest include Gillian Welch, Tift Merritt, Michael Reno Harrell, Adrienne Young, Martha Scanlan, David Via and Johnny Williams.

About Chris Austin:
Chris Austin, from Boone, North Carolina, worked as a sideman for Ricky Skaggs for three years, singing and playing guitar, banjo, mandolin and fiddle. During that time he was discovered by executives at Warner Bros. Nashville, who offered him a recording contract. While releasing singles including “Blues Stay Away From Me,” “I Know There’s a Heart in There Somewhere” and “Out of Step,” Austin also developed his songwriting skills, as
evidenced in “Same Ol’ Love,” recorded by Skaggs in 1991. On March 16, 1991, Austin’s life was cut tragically short when the private plane carrying him and six other members of Reba McEntire’s band, as well as her tour manager, crashed in the mountains near San Diego. Pete Fisher, then of Warnersongs and currently general manager of the Grand Ole Opry, and Kari Estrin, then MerleFest consultant and Pickin’ for Merle video associate producer, initiated the songwriting contest to honor Austin’s memory.

# # #

MerleFest Media Contacts:

Judy McDonough, Publicist:  615-243-5994 or mcdonoughmedia1@yahoo.com

Amber Herman, WCC Public Information and Relations Officer: 336-838-6292 or amber.herman@wilkescc.edu

Friday, April 1, 2011

Our April MyJoog Music Calendar

Send Event to Friends    The Clarks w/Memphis 59 - The State Theatre Falls Church, VA: Saturday, April 02, 2011
Send Event to Friends    An Evening With Willy Porter - Jammin' Java Vienna, VA: Saturday, April 02, 2011
Send Event to Friends    The Seldom Scene - BlackRock Center for the Arts Germantown, MD: Saturday, April 02, 2011
Send Event to Friends    Cravin’ Dogs 25th Anniversary Celebration The Michael Clem Trio - Wolf Trap - The Barns Vienna, VA: Saturday, April 02, 2011
Send Event to Friends    The Hillbilly Gypsies / The Virginia Ramblers - Lucketts Community Center Leesburg, VA: Saturday, April 02, 2011
Send Event to Friends    William Walter - Dogfish Head Alehouse Fairfax, VA: Saturday, April 02, 2011
Send Event to Friends    David Ryan Harris - Jammin' Java Vienna, VA: Monday, April 04, 2011
Send Event to Friends    Walter Trout & Jimmy Thackery - Rams Head Onstage Annapolis, MD: Wednesday, April 06, 2011
Send Event to Friends    William Fitzsimmons - Rams Head Onstage Annapolis, MD: Thursday, April 07, 2011
Send Event to Friends    Marcia Ball - Rams Head Onstage Annapolis, MD: Friday, April 08, 2011
Send Event to Friends    Marcia Ball - Rams Head Live Baltimore, MD: Friday, April 08, 2011
Send Event to Friends    Ha Ha Tonka, The Spring Standards, Via Audio - Red Palace Washington, DC: Friday, April 08, 2011
Send Event to Friends    Veronneau CD Release - Homegrown Coffeehouse Accokeek, MD: Saturday, April 09, 2011
Send Event to Friends    Toad the Wet Sprocket - Nightclub 9:30 Washington, DC: Saturday, April 09, 2011
Send Event to Friends    Arturo Sandoval - The Music Center at Strathmore North Bethesda, MD: Saturday, April 09, 2011
Send Event to Friends    Eric Brace & Peter Cooper - NightCat Easton, MD: Saturday, April 09, 2011
Send Event to Friends    Loudon Wainwright III - Rams Head Onstage Annapolis, MD: Saturday, April 09, 2011
Send Event to Friends    William Walter - Brion's Grille Fairfax, VA: Saturday, April 09, 2011
Send Event to Friends    Fitzmaurice and Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen - Rams Head Onstage Annapolis, MD: Sunday, April 10, 2011
Send Event to Friends    Old 97's w/ Teddy Thompson - Nightclub 9:30 Washington, DC: Sunday, April 10, 2011
Send Event to Friends    Buddy Guy w/Quinn Sullivan - The Birchmere Alexandria, VA: Sunday, April 10, 2011
Send Event to Friends    Taj Mahal Solo - Rams Head Onstage Annapolis, MD: Monday, April 11, 2011
Send Event to Friends    POKEY LAFARGE LISSY ROSEMONT CHARLIE PARR - IOTA Club Arlington, VA: Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Send Event to Friends    Joe Pug - Black Cat Washington, DC: Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Send Event to Friends    Scythian - Rams Head Onstage Annapolis, MD: Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Send Event to Friends    An Evening with Chatham County Line - Jammin' Java Vienna, VA: Thursday, April 14, 2011
Send Event to Friends    Second Annual DC Bluegrass Festival - Langley High School McLean, VA: Saturday, April 16, 2011
Send Event to Friends    RemingtonRyde / Bluestone - Lucketts Community Center Leesburg, VA: Saturday, April 16, 2011  
Send Event to Friends    Carrie Newcomer & Debi Smith - The Birchmere Alexandria, VA: Saturday, April 16, 2011
Send Event to Friends    Jonathan Tyler & The Northern Lights - DC9 Washington, DC: Sunday, April 17, 2011
Send Event to Friends    The Steel Wheels - Cafe Nola Frederick, MD: Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Send Event to Friends    Coheed and Cambria - Rams Head Live Baltimore, MD: Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Send Event to Friends    Ari Hest - Jammin' Java Vienna, VA: Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Send Event to Friends    William Walter & Co. - Dogfish Head Alehouse Fairfax, VA: Thursday, April 21, 2011
Send Event to Friends    Stephen Kellogg with Special Guest Tift Merritt - The Solo and Down Low Tour - Jammin' Java Vienna, VA: Friday, April 22, 2011
Send Event to Friends    William Walter & Co. - Whitlow's On Wilson Arlington, VA: Saturday, April 23, 2011
Send Event to Friends    The Fitzmaurice Band / Joe Mullins and the Radio Ramblers - Lucketts Community Center Leesburg, VA: Saturday, April 23, 2011
Send Event to Friends    Shane Gamble CD Release - IOTA Club Arlington, VA: Saturday, April 23, 2011
Send Event to Friends    Hot Tuna - The Birchmere Alexandria, VA: Friday, April 29, 2011
Send Event to Friends    Graham Parker - Jammin' Java Vienna, VA: Friday, April 29, 2011
Send Event to Friends    Kim Richey - IOTA Club Arlington, VA: Saturday, April 30, 2011