Now in its tenth year, the Mountain Stage NewSong Contest is one of North America’s premier showcases of emerging performers and songwriters, and spans an array of genres.

The 2011 contest winner will be presented with the opportunity to record an EP with hit songwriter and producer Mikal Blue who has worked with the likes of Colbie Caillat, Jason Mraz, Five for Fighting, One Republic, Augustana, Jason Reeves, and current indie fave Lady Danville. The EP will be released on Brooklyn’s NewSong Recordings label.  In addition, the winner will perform on an internationally broadcast Mountain Stage (NPR) show, and will receive 1,000 copies of the completed disc.

The prize-winning EP will be released on the Brooklyn-based NewSong Recordings label.

“This feels like a dream. The first album that moved me in a way I couldn’t shake was Tom Waits’ Mule Variations – not only his songwriting but the sound of the piano and the fullness of the recording, which I later found out Jacquire King engineered and mixed. People tour non-stop for years and years and never get the opportunity to work with such a master, so I feel extremely fortunate that NewSong created this and that I am lucky enough to be a part of it.

I loved that the day felt more like a group gathering than a cut-throat competition. Everyone was great and NewSong really created a wonderful weekend out of it so everyone got a lot out of it. I’m keeping my touring plans light for the next few months so I can write, write, write.”

– Amber Rubarth

“The NewSong Contest is such an amazing opportunity to unearth and showcase deserving talent. I thought this year was especially great to be involved in because I was so impressed with all of the twelve finalists.

The contest winner Amber Rubarth is an artist of real depth and character. She possesses a wonderful creative intelligence and the joy Amber finds in her own music is totally evident when she performs. I’m looking forward to the recording process with her.”

– Jacquire King

GENERAL ROUND FINALIST	GRAND PRIZE WINNER	GENERAL ROUND FINALIST	CANADIAN REGIONAL WINNER
Ben Lubeck Orono, MN	Amber Rubarth Brooklyn, NY	Roger Gupton Raleigh, NC	Rob Szabo Toronto, ON
WEST REGIONAL WINNER	NORTHEAST REGIONAL WINNER	SOUTHEAST REGIONAL WINNER	MIDWEST REGIONAL WINNER
Lauren O’Connell Rohnert Park, CA	Emily Elbert Boston, MA	Lauren Lucas Nashville, TN	Ian Link Detroit, MI
SOUTHWEST REGIONAL WINNER	EARLY BIRD WINNER	EARLY BIRD WINNER	PEOPLE’S CHOICE WINNER
Tori Vasquez Shallowater, TX	David Berkeley San Francisco, CA	Rebecca Jordan Brooklyn, NY	Malia Keller, TX

To all the artists who participated in this year’s contest, thank you once again on behalf of everyone at NewSong Music, Mountain Stage, GPS, Saint Claire Recording Company and Arts World Financial Center.