New York, NY. Tuesday, November 24. Among a talented field of singer-songwriters from across North America who showcased at last Saturday’s 13th annual Mountain Stage / NewSong Showcase and Competition, it was the jazz and bossa nova influenced duo Max Hatt / Edda Glass whom the judges chose as this year’s grand prize winner.

“Once again the caliber of artists who performed at this year’s NewSong showcase and competition exceeded what were already high expectations,” says Gar Ragland, NewSong’s director and co-founder. “Among this year’s talent, the songs and performance sensibilities of Max Hatt / Edda Glass often defied categorization, making them arguably the most distinctive finalist act – let alone winner – we’ve ever had in the program’s thirteen year history. We’re excited to introduce their music to a broader audience, and along with producer and musician Pat Sansone, to create a recorded body of work that’s as unique, artful and engaging as their performances were at Lincoln Center last weekend.”

Based in Santa Fe, NM and previously from Helena, MT, the winning duo’s influences range from “Girl from Ipanema” to Neil Young. At Lincoln center they played songs about high plains, pioneer women, and gunslingers. They also played songs featuring jazz guitar improvisation, including their original Bossa, ‘Occasional Summer.’ ”Longing across distance,” says Glass, “be it prairie or time or an unresolved chord— that’s what ties it together for me.”

The jazz influence comes as no surprise to Max Hatt / Edda Glass’s New Mexico and Montana fans, who know them first as Rio, featuring Hatt’s improvisation, Glass’s knack for Brazilian Portuguese, and the works of great composers like Cole Porter and Antonio Carlos Jobim. “The songs we play with Rio— Stardust or Girl from Ipanema — those songs were massively popular in their day. People would lose themselves in the sheer melody of it,” says Glass. “With our original music we want to draw more people into that listening experience again, both through the lyric and the composition. We want it to be immediately accessible and beautiful, but with the musical depth and richness of jazz— so the more you listen the more you get.”

“Pop music is on a well-documented trend toward simpler and simpler music that doesn’t push its melodic and harmonic envelope,” adds Hatt. “As a songwriter I’m trying to tell the musical stories that aren’t being told. Edda does the same thing with the lyric and the delivery. The trick is that it has to resonate, even as it surprises.”

As grand-prize winners, Max Hatt / Edda Glass will perform on NPR’s Mountain Stage, at the Sundance Film Festival’s ASCAP Music Café, and in their own Lincoln Center concert. They will also make an EP with producer Pat Sansone of Wilco and Autumn Defense, recorded at Asheville, North Carolina’s Echo Mountain Recording Studios. “The excitement of that creative collaboration is only just dawning on us now,” says Glass. “Doing our work— living in the creative zone— that’s the whole point.“

“It was an honor and a pleasure to be a part of last weekends NewSong Showcase,” says producer and musician Sansone, who served as a judge. “I was completely overwhelmed by the amount of talent on the stage that day, and I truly enjoyed meeting and listening to all of the artists in attendance.  It was a fantastic experience and I can’t wait to get to work on the EP with the winners Max Hatt and Edda Glass early next year.  NewSong celebrates great undiscovered songwriting, and this past weekend definitely felt like that…a celebration.”

This year’s panel of judges included Sansone, NewSong’s Gar Ragland, Lincoln Center’s Claudia Norman and ASCAP’s Loretta Muñoz.

“For more than 10 years, the Mountain Stage NewSong Contest has provided a platform for some of today’s most talented singer-songwriters to be discovered and take their music career to the next level,” says Muñoz. “As part of our mission to foster the next generation of great songwriters, ASCAP is proud to partner with NewSong in providing this opportunity. We congratulate all of this year’s semi-finalists, it was a very difficult decision…. the talent was exceptional. We’re thrilled to be able to showcase this year’s winners, the sublime Max Hatt / Edda Glass, at our Sundance ASCAP Music Café in January.”

Now in its 13th year, the NewSong Contest is one of the premier showcases of emerging performers and songwriters in North America, produced in association with NPR’s Mountain Stage. Its mission is to build a supportive community of performers and songwriters across all genres of music and levels of skill, and to identify the truly exceptional artists within this community and then work closely with these artists to develop their careers and introduce their music to a broader, international audience.

“There are so many of us listeners and musicians who want more from music, but we’re all getting lost in the noise— we can’t even find each other,” says winner Glass. “NewSong is narrowing the gap. Even before we went to New York, I was already really intrigued by some of our fellow finalists whom I only discovered through NewSong. Then to meet them and see them live— really cool. To create an atmosphere of mutual support and camaraderie, have the excitement of a contest, and do it all in NYC in two days time—  that is really quite a feat.”

For more information on NewSong, visit newsong-music.com

For more information on Max Hatt / Edda Glass, visit maxhatteddaglass.com

Come join us on Saturday, November 15 at New York’s Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts for the 13th Annual NewSong Showcase and Competition, featuring some of North America’s most talented emerging artists.

The show is free, and seating is on a first come, first serve basis.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE EVENT INFO.

Special thanks to oursupportive partners and sponsors Red Jacket Orchards, Mountain Stage, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, ASCAP, & Echo Mountain Recording Studios.

GENERAL ROUND WINNER	GENERAL ROUND WINNER	GENERAL ROUND WINNER
Daniel Shearin Fletcher, NC	Allie Farris Nashville, TN	Korby Lenker Nashville, TN
INTERNATIONAL ROUND WINNER	NORTHEAST ROUND WINNER	SOUTHEAST ROUND WINNER
Kim Harris Halifax, Nova Scotia (CAN)	Ryan Hobler Montclair, NJ	Laney Jones Mount Dora, FL
MIDWEST ROUND WINNER	SOUTHWEST ROUND WINNER	WEST ROUND WINNER
Corey Hart Barneveld, WI	Max Hatt/Edda Glass Santa Fe, NM	The Banner Days Snohomish, WA
EARLY BIRD WINNER	EARLY BIRD WINNER	PEOPLE’S CHOICE WINNER
Dennis Ellsworth Charlottetown, PEI CANADA	Queen Esther New York, NY	Phoebe Elliot Nashville, TN

THANKS again to all of you who participated in this year’s program. We applaud the hard work and inspiration all the artists who submitted put into writing and recording original music.

Daniel Shearin Fletcher, NC

Allie Farris Nashville, TN

Korby Lenker Nashville, TN

They’ll be joining the following previously selected finalists from our ‘Early Bird’ and Regional Rounds at New York’s Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday, November 15.

INTERNATIONAL ROUND WINNER	NORTHEAST ROUND WINNER	SOUTHEAST ROUND WINNER
Kim Harris Halifax, Nova Scotia (CAN)	Ryan Hobler Montclair, NJ	Laney Jones Mount Dora, FL
MIDWEST ROUND WINNER	SOUTHWEST ROUND WINNER	WEST ROUND WINNER
Corey Hart Barneveld, WI	Max Hatt/Edda Glass Santa Fe, NM	The Banner Days Snohomish, WA
EARLY BIRD WINNER	EARLY BIRD WINNER	PEOPLE’S CHOICE WINNER
Dennis Ellsworth Charlottetown, PEI CANADA	Queen Esther New York, NY	Phoebe Elliot Nashville, TN

THANK YOU VERY MUCH to all of you who entered songs. We applaud the hard work and inspiration you put into writing and recording original music.

AND SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS AND SPONSORS Red Jacket Orchards, NPR’s Mountain Stage, Echo Mountain Recording, ASCAP, Lincoln Center and WFUV Public Radio!

INTERNATIONAL	NORTHEAST	SOUTHEAST
Kim Harris Halifax, Nova Scotia (CAN)	Ryan Hobler Montclair, NJ	Laney Jones Mount Dora, FL
MIDWEST	SOUTHWEST	WEST
Corey Hart Barneveld, WI	Max Hatt/Edda Glass Santa Fe, NM	The Banner Days Snohomish, WA

These fine artists will be joining us in New York on November 15 at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts to showcase and compete for the grand prize. 

THIS YEAR’S NEWSONG CONTEST GRAND PRIZE WINNER WILL RECEIVE:

– An EP recorded and mixed by producer, musician and songwriter Pat Sansone (WIlco, The Autumn Defense) at Asheville, NC’sEcho Mountain Recording Studios

– An appearance on NPR Music’s highly acclaimed Mountain Stage show 

– A performance showcase at the 2015 Sundance ASCAP Music Café in Park City, UT

– His/Her own featured performance at Lincoln Center’s David Rubenstein Atrium in New York City

CLICK HERE TO ENTER BY OCT 1!

Press Release | For the Sake of a Song: A Tribute to Townes Van Zandt

June 9,  New York
Download

For Immediate Release                                 

For information and photos contact:

Patrick Kowalczyk, patrick@pkpr.com

Kait Smith, kait@pkpr.com

PKPR, 212.627.8098

What:  For the Sake of a Song: A Tribute to Townes Van Zandt

When:    July 9, 10, 17, 23, 24, 31

12:30pm

Where:  Grace Plaza, 1114 Avenue of the Americas

One New York Plaza at Water and Broad Streets

Phone:   (212) 417-2414

Link:  www.ArtsBrookfield.com/Townes-Van-Zandt

Cost:  Admission is free, no RSVP required.

Download photos at: http://imgur.com/a/EYToU

FREE (JULY 9-31): LEGENDARY TROUBADOUR TOWNES VAN ZANDT

TO BE CELEBRATED IN FREE OUTDOOR CONCERT SERIES

AT THE GRACE BUILDING & ONE NEW YORK PLAZA  

Six lunchtime concerts to mark 70th birthday of the late singer-songwriter

New York, NY (June 9, 2014) –  Legendary Texas troubadour Townes Van Zandt, who would have turned 70 this year, will be honored with a three-week series of free outdoor concerts at the Grace Building in midtown and One New York Plaza in Lower Manhattan next month.

On six afternoons from Wednesday, July 9th through Thursday, July 31st, “For the Sake of a Song” will showcase rising singer-songwriters as they pay tribute to the influential musician, performing covers of their favorite songs from his catalog as well as original material that reflects his influence. The lunchtime series, which derives its name from Van Zandt’s 1968 debut album, is presented by Arts Brookfield with support from NewSong Music, Red Jacket Orchards, and radio station WFUV.

Townes Van Zandt, who died in 1997 at the age of 52, has been championed as one of the most brilliant songwriters in the country and folk pantheon by critics and fellow musicians alike. Steve Earle, his former protégé, ranked him as a greater songwriting talent than Bob Dylan, while The New York Times declared his best work better even than that of country-music icon Hank Williams. Renowned for marrying dark humor to transcendent beauty, Van Zandt’s songs have been covered by admirers as diverse as Robert Plant, Mudhoney, Norah Jones, Lyle Lovett, and Bob Dylan, and he maintains a cult following among fans of all ages.

Van Zandt songs confirmed to be performed during the series include: “I’ll Be Here in the Morning” performed by Amber Rubarth (July 10); “Tonight I Think I’m Gonna Go Downtown” and “Lover’s Lullaby” performed by Milton (July 31); “If I Needed You” performed by David Berkeley (July 9); and “If I Needed You” performed by The Sea The Sea (July 17th).

“Townes Van Zandt continues to leave his imprint on one generation of singer-songwriters after another,” said Debra Simon, Vice President and Artistic Director of Arts Brookfield. “He’s the ultimate musician’s musician, and we’re excited to partner with NewSong Music to honor him with a celebration showcasing the latest crop of talent to draw inspiration from his sharp wit and raw honesty.”

The six performers in “For the Sake of a Song: A Tribute to Townes Van Zandt” include:

• David Berkeley (July 9) – David Berkeley’s gift as a songwriter and storyteller is that he sees both the tragedy and comedy in life, managing to both reveal the sorrow at the heart of the human condition and the blazing joy and beauty in the same. Berkeley’s songs are at once hard and hopeful.

• Amber Rubarth (July 10) – A subtle and insightful songwriter, Amber Rubarth has toured extensively throughout the US, Europe, and Japan, sharing stages with the likes of Emmylou Harris, Kenny Loggins, Jason Mraz, and Loudon Wainwright III. A grand prize winner in NPR’s Mountain Stage NewSong Contest, she has earned enthusiastic praise from The Huffington Post, BBC Radio, and Acoustic Guitar Magazine. Jacquire King (Tom Waits, Norah Jones) produced her fifth album, “A Common Case of Disappearing,” (NewSong Recordings) which debuted at No. 13 on the iTunes songwriter charts and features a duet with Jason Mraz.

• The Sea The Sea (July 17) – If life is measured by leaps of faith, then singer-songwriter duo Chuck E. Costa and Mira Stanley have found a way to catch up midair as they jump headlong into the infinite abyss. Their debut album Love We Are We Love finds the duo in suspended animation, exploring moments of the unfolding future through storyline lyrics, intimate harmonies, and emotive sonic landscapes.

• Keith Everett & the Orange Morris (July 23) – The music of Keith Everett & the Orange Morris draws on jazz, country, blues, rock, and pop, culminating in solid Americana. Notable accomplishments include: finalist in Starbucks Music Makers Competition; songs licensed to television and film productions; and selection by the John Lennon Songwriting Contest to play NAMM in Austin, TX.

• Jason Myles Goss (July 24) – A native of Hopedale, MA, Jason Myles Goss released his first album, Long Way Down, in 2003, and was selected as a finalist in the Newport Folk Festival Songwriters’ Contest that same year. Since then, he has spent his time touring the country and recording subsequent albums, including his fourth and latest effort, Radio Dial. Over the years he has built a steady following, and is now one of the most buzzed-about artists in both the New York City and Boston music scenes.

• Milton (July 31) – Milton is a New York-based singer/songwriter and the leader of a lively, rootsy six-piece ensemble that plays up and down the East Coast and throughout the U.S. His songs are intimate and honest, trying to catch a good groove and tell you the story with all he’s got. He has written and recorded a lot of songs, played on TV and on radio stations around the country, and composed the score for an HBO movie.

ABOUT ARTS BROOKFIELD:

Arts Brookfield presents exciting, world-class cultural experiences to hundreds of thousands of people for free each year in both indoor and outdoor public spaces at Brookfield’s premier office properties in New York, Los Angeles, Denver, Houston, Toronto, Perth and Sydney. From concerts, theater and dance to film screenings and art exhibitions, Arts Brookfield brings public spaces to life through art.

Through December 2014, Arts Brookfield celebrates its 25th Anniversary through an interactive initiative, Art Set Free. The public is invited to submit original artworks of all kinds for digital display at Brookfield’s office properties around the globe and onwww.ArtsBrookfield25.com.

Americans for the Arts has named Brookfield and Arts Brookfield a BCA 10 2014 honoree, Best Businesses Partnering with the Arts in America.

About NewSong Music

NewSong Music is an independent music organization with the following two-fold mission: to build a supportive community of performers and songwriters across all genres of music and levels of skill, and to identify the truly exceptional artists within this community and to work closely with them to develop their careers and introduce their music to a broader, international audience. You can find out more about NewSong Music at www.newsong-music.com.

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