PRESS RELEASE
Wednesday, March 4. Asheville, NC. LEAF Festival and NewSong Music are proud to announce the first annual NewSong Presents: LEAF Singer-Songwriter Competition! With a mission to empower singer-songwriters locally, regionally and nationally, LEAF and NewSong have joined forces to find the very best talent.
The contest begins accepting online mp3 submissions today (March 4), and the final deadline to enter is Monday, April 7. Judges will select 7 finalists from the online submissions, who will then be invited to perform in the live performance finals that the Spring LEAF Festival on Saturday, May 10, 2014.
Additionally, Asheville Music Hall’s local Brown Bag Singer-Songwriter competition winner will join LEAF as the eighth finalist! The overall winner of the competition will be selected by a panel of judges at the finals, and awarded a performing artist position in Fall LEAF Festival Oct 16-19!
All eight finalists will each receive two complimentary LEAF Festival day passes for Saturday, May 10 to perform in the live performance finals.
The LEAF Singer-Songwriter contest was created as a platform for Artists who have a wealth of talent, but limited access to the big stage. The goal is to provide a springboard for Singer-Songwriters everywhere – to share art, shine on stage, and become household names within the LEAF, NewSong, and greater music community.
The cost to enter is $20 for one song, $35 for two songs, and $45 for three songs. Enter safely and securely online at www.newsong-music.com/LEAF. A portion of the contest proceeds will support the LEAF Schools and Streets program.
“One of the greatest gifts we have to offer is our music and our story. The NewSong Presents: LEAF Singer Songwriter Competition gives musicians everywhere an opportunity to share their journey within an amazing setting, surrounded by an incredibly supportive community, for an opportunity to elevate their craft to the Big Stage!” ~ Ehren Cruz, LEAF Performing Arts Director
“It’s a great honor to partner with LEAF to co-produce their first singer-songwriter competition. The LEAF experience is so special and unique among music and arts festivals, and an ideal environment to introduce deserving emerging artists to an appreciative and supportive audience.” ~ Gar Ragland, NewSong Director & Co-founder
About LEAF
LEAF Community Arts is a non-profit organization in which all donations and festival profit goes towards music and arts education programming locally and globally. Since 2004 we have served over 41,000 youth with programs in over 15 community locations and in 10 countries worldwide. Attendance at LEAF Festival not only provides an amazing weekend experience for your friends and family, but supports those without opportunity to live their dreams through music and arts.
About NewSong Music
NewSong Music is an independent artist development company headquartered at Asheville, NC’s Echo Mountain Recording Studios.
NewSong’s mission is to build and support a community of performers and songwriters across all genres and levels of skill, and to identify the truly exceptional artists to introduce their music to a broader, international audience.
Its programs include a record label (NewSong Recordings), management services, concert curation and the annual NewSong performance and songwriting competition. Its presenting partners include Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York, NPR’s Mountain Stage and the ASCAP Music Café at the Sundance Film Festival.
Important Contest Dates
Tuesday, March 4 – Contest opens for entries online at www.newsong-music.com/LEAF
Monday, April 7 – Final deadline to submit online
Monday, April 21 – Finalists announced
Saturday, May 10 – Live performance finals at the LEAF Festival (May 8-11)*
