MerleFest, Announces Finalists for 2012

In this Issue CASC Announces Finalists for 2012 Pre-Register for Instrument Contests by April 15 MerleFest 25 Still Accepting Volunteer Applications Follow MerleFest MerleFest.org Chris Austin Songwriting Contest, Hosted by MerleFest, Announces Finalists for 2012 Finalists have been selected for the 20th annual Chris Austin Songwriting Contest, hosted by MerleFest 25. The festival is scheduled for April 26-April 29, on the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina. Writers of the following twelve songs, selected from over 800 entries, will compete on the Austin Stage at MerleFest on Friday, April 27: Bluegrass Louisa Branscomb (Nashville, Tenn.) - "Stormy Night" Ashleigh Caudill (Nashville, Tenn.) and Jodi Harbin (Knoxville, Tenn.) - "Polly Andrey" Jo Ellen Doering (Los Angeles, Calif.) - "Anywhere Is Home" Country Josh Pickett (Cana, Va.) - "You Took Me There" Lauren Staley of The Whiskey Gentry (Atlanta, Ga.) - "Cost of Loving You" Shannon Slaughter (Trussville, Ala.), Dale Felts (Hickory, N.C.) and Mark Byrd (Elkin, N.C.) - "I've Hit Everything In My Life (But My Knees)" Gospel/Inspirational Richard Henry (Houston, Texas) - "Stop, Look, and Listen" Mandee Radford of Alathea (Unicoi, Tenn.) - "Halls of Heaven" Mel Smith of Milkwood Dreamers (Calgary, Alberta) - "Devil Train" General Molly Tuttle (Palo Alto, Calif.) - "Walden" Sara Petite (San Diego, Calif.) - "Circus Comes To Town" Brennen Leigh (Austin, Texas) and Noel McKay (Austin, Texas) - "Are You Still Taking Them Pills" Each of the twelve finalists will enjoy admission and lodging for three 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 Wylie Gustafson, Claire Lynch, Molly Nagel Driessen and Amanda Anne Platt. Wylie Gustafson is one of America's most recognizable and unique entertainers. As a seasoned singer/songwriter with over a dozen nationally-distributed albums under his belt, Wylie has etched his presence onto the American music scene. Claire Lynch's career is bookended by two IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year awards. In addition to her lead vocals, she has toured as backup vocalist for Dolly Parton and graced albums by Emmylou Harris, Alison Brown, Pam Tillis and Ralph Stanley. As a songwriter, her tunes have been recorded by such luminaries as Patty Loveless, The Seldom Scene and Kathy Mattea. Molly 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. Singer/songwriter Amanda Anne Platt is the singer/songwriter behind the up-and-coming Americana band The Honeycutters. Platt has been hailed as "one of the best songwriters coming out of western North Carolina these days" by WNCW programming director Martin Anderson. Her voice has been described as "perfectly adorned" and "recklessly beautiful." The following were judges for the first round of competition during which the finalists were selected: Nathan Nicholson, independent song plugger/publisher; Ashlee Jean Trott, associate producer at Music City Roots; Megan McNair, publicist at Music City Media; John Tumminello, co-founder of Music City Unsigned and executive director of Musician's Corner; John Oates, singer/songwriter; John Walker, Music City Roots, Daniel Lee, creative director at BMG Chrysalis; Taylor Lindsey, senior creative director at BMG Chrysalis; John Allen, vice president at BMG Chrysalis; Kendall Marvel, songwriter; Jerry Salley, songwriter/producer; and Neil Carpenter, songwriter. Whitney Holmes, member relations at Americana Music Association, coordinated the first round of competition. Net proceeds from the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest help support the Wilkes Community College Chris Austin Memorial Scholarship. Since its inception the scholarship has awarded over $36,000 to 73 deserving students. The 2011-2012 Chris Austin Memorial Scholarship recipients are Mary Regina Griffith and Nichole Hampton. 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. Things to Pack for MerleFest There are a few items that you may want to pack in your bag or have available in your car when you come to MerleFest. They are: a lawn chair or blanket comfortable shoes warm clothing for cool nights rain gear insect repellent sun block/sunscreen lotion flashlight If you forget some necessities, we do have convenient vending machine stocked with sunscreen, bandages, lip balm, hand sanitizers, batteries and some over-the-counter medications. There are also ATM machines located throughout campus. Come ready to have a GREAT time! Pre-Register for Instrument Contests By April 15   MerleFest 25 is excited to announce some great changes for the annual Instrument Contests. This year, both the guitar and the banjo contest will be held on Friday, April 27, 2012. The first place winners from both contests will be invited to perform on the Cabin Stage Friday evening following a performance by the winners of the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest. Another change to the Instrument Contest is a required online pre-registration. Pre-registration will begin on April 1, 2012, and conclude on April 15, 2012, at 5 p.m. The online registration form may be accessed at www.merlefest.org. Registrants will be notified by April 18, 2012, to confirm time slots in the competition. There is not a registration fee to participate in the Instrument Contests; however, participants must be paid festival ticket holders and must pre-register for the contests. Prizes for the Instrument Contests include a Deering Eagle banjo (banjo competition), a TKL banjo case from Separk Music (banjo competition), a Boucher guitar from Musiquip, Inc. (guitar competition), gift certificates to Jackson's Music and gift certificates to John Pearse Strings. MerleFest 25 Accepting Volunteer Applications Through April 17 MerleFest 25 will be accepting volunteer applications through April 17. Be a part of the MerleFest volunteer family and gain free entry for the entire day of your shift (approximately four hours). Volunteers make MerleFest possible!   You may apply online at www.merlefest.org or call 336-838-6262 to request that an application be mailed to you. First-time volunteers must send a $35 deposit check, which will be returned when you successfully complete your volunteer shifts. ALL volunteers must submit a recent photograph.   A Volunteer Training/Kick-off Party will be held on Wednesday, April 25, at 6 p.m. in the Mayes Pit-Cohn Auditorium (Thompson Hall) on the campus of Wilkes Community College. Join us for a time of fun, information and meeting your fellow volunteers. Volunteer Spotlight Shirley Wheeler MerleFest volunteers often make lifelong friends as they work to make the festival the country's premier music event. Shirley Wheeler, of Walkertown, North Carolina, is one of those volunteers. "Some of my best memories are of seeing past volunteer friends and always meeting and working with new friends." Shirley, who volunteers in the stage crew areas at MerleFest, is an aircraft mechanic whose interests include flying, photography, music and gardening. Of her MerleFest memories she says, "Every year has been special. I've loved them all." She goes on to explain her favorite festival moments. "I love to see the new performers each year. Also, I look forward to seeing the winners of the songwriting contest. Some of my favorite performers have been Old Crow Medicine Show, The Avett Brothers, Carolina Chocolate Drops, John Prine and many of the blues and bluegrass groups. I also enjoy the Hillside Album Hour."   Blue Ridge Opportunity Commission (BROC) Jo Phipps and her mother Betty White head up the team from the Blue Ridge Opportunity Commission (BROC) who help feed the hungry throngs who come to MerleFest each year. BROC is one of the nonprofit food vendors in the large food tent at the festival. "With the time and effort of all who help us during MerleFest, we are able to give to the community much needed dollars to assist in the crises at hand. These range from health and nutrition for a Head Start child to home-delivered meals to elderly shut-ins to urgent repairs for the home and many other programs. We have brochures available at our booth with information about these programs in order to get the word out to the community as to who we are and how we might help. Quite frankly, without volunteer opportunities like MerleFest, nonprofit organizations like BROC would be in dire need, and the people of Wilkes County would be hurting more." The group also enjoys the opportunity to give back to Wilkes Community College. "We see the results of our efforts in all the new programs, buildings, technology, etc. that the college can provide the students of Wilkes." BROC volunteers led by Jo, Betty, and Jo's father, Warren, will be back at MerleFest 25 serving burritos, tacos, vegetarian beans, taco salads, rice, cheese quesadillas, chips, salsa and churros. After MerleFest they will be busy serving the people of Wilkes County who are in crisis by providing food, shelter, fuel, electricity, prescription assistance and much more. IMPORTANT DATES 04/15/12 - Pre-Registration Deadline for Instrument Contests April 26-29, 2012 - MerleFest 25   MerleFest was founded in 1988 in memory of Eddy Merle Watson as a fundraiser for Wilkes Community College Endowment Corporation and a celebration of "traditional plus" music. Scheduled for April 26-29, 2012, the event is held on the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina. Thank you for your support, From all of us here at MerleFest and Wilkes Community College Thank you for reading our newsletter. Please tell others about our monthly MerleFest newsletter. 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