Happy New Year everyone!
After a somewhat relaxing holiday break, we’re rested up and super excited to help keep you up-to-date on all the great shows, releases and collaborations that are in store this year for the ever-growing and talented community of NewSong artists.
These performing songwriters live and perform across the continent and beyond, and their work spans multiple genres. To keep track of it all, we’ve put together a list of shows, album releases and other happenings that we think you should be paying attention to this week.
1. 2018 NewSong grand prize winner mel bryant to perform at Sundance ASCAP Music Cafe
Big congrats to Mel Bryant for her grand prize win this past December at the NewSong Music Competition finals. As part of her prize, Mel will travel to Park City, Utah to showcase in the Sundance Film Festival’s esteemed Sundance ASCAP Music Café on Thursday, January 31 and Friday, February 1. Other performers at the ASCAP Music Cafe this year will include Patty Griffin, Lee Ann Womack, and others in an incredible lineup of both accomplished and up-and-coming songwriters.
We’ll be doing a ‘Facebook Live’ webcast of her two performances from our Facebook page. Both shows begin at 2 PM MST / 4 PM EST.
RSVP for the Facebook Live webcast here.
See the full lineup and schedule of the ASCAP Music Café.
2. Blue Yonder’s ‘Rough and Ready Heart’ places in No Depression‘s year-end Critic’s Poll
Blue Yonder’s 2018 album Rough and Ready Heart (NewSong Recordings) has received many accolades since its early June release, and was recently counted among the No Depression critics’ ‘favorite roots music albums of the 2018.’ Recorded at Echo Mountain Recording Studios in Asheville, NC, Rough and Ready Heart introduces listeners to characters dealing with life and death, love and loss, memories and aspirations – with stories set to a pleasing arc of Americana styles ranging from barn-burning rockers to gentle waltzes to mournful ballads to inspirational anthems.
The Charleston, West Virginia-based band was in great company among the other artists included in the year-end poll. We encourage you to check out the full list and catch up on some great listening!
Read full list of ND critics’ picks here
Purchase album on 180g vinyl, CD or download
3. Critics call Rachael Kilgour “Folk Music’s Next Big Thing” // vinyl pre-order for “game changer” available Feb. 1
Rachael Kilgour’s latest album Game Changer will be released on February 1 on NewSong Recordings, and is now available for pre-order on 180g vinyl, CD and digital download.
Leading up to the release, the Duluth, MN songwriter is garnering praise from critics across the country, including a recent feature in Rolling Stone for the EP’s first single, “Holy Are We.”
“Kilgour’s unapologetic lyrics are a real treat.” – Rolling Stone
“Master crafted indie-folk.” – Billboard
For more information on the pre-order, join the album release event on Facebook and visit the Rachael’s website.
4.OUR FIRST ‘NEWSONG IN NASHVILLE’ SHOWCASE SCHEDULED FOR MARCH 7, featuring finalists from the 2018 NewSong Present: LEAF Festival Singer-Songwriter competition.
Mark your calendars, Nashville music fans! Join us at the first ever ‘NewSong in Nashville’ performance showcase with recent NewSong alums My One and Only; Carly Taich; Alexa Rose; and Beth Snapp at the Listening Room in Nashville on Thursday, March 7, for a night of stellar songwriting and performances.
In the meantime, check out the artists’ music by clicking their names above.
