Tag Archive for "Rose Cousins"

Posts Tagged ‘Rose Cousins’

NewSong Artist Roundup: Crys Matthews, Alex Wong, & more

Thursday, June 13th, 2019

There are so many talented artists who are part of the NewSong family — it can sometimes be difficult to keep up! That’s why each week, we compile a list of new releases, shows, and videos from past NewSong artists who we think deserve your attention.

Crys Matthews — Singing OUT Tour 2019

2017 Grand Prize Winner, Crys Matthews, may be coming to a city near you this month for the The Singing OUT Tour 2.0 — a social justice-centered LGBTQ-supergroup composed of me, Heather Mae, Joe Stevens (formerly of Coyote Grace) and JJ Jones (formerly of Girlyman).

Mae, a powerhouse performer and earthshaking vocalist, has turned her personal struggle with mental health and body image into an empowering message of self-love, a universal light force that shines for every audience member. Matthews is a powerful lyricist whose songs of compassionate dissent reflect her lived experience as what she lightheartedly calls “the poster-child for intersectionality.” This group of immensely talented artists is on the road to celebrate Pride month, so show them some love!

Alex Wong — “Landfall” premieres on The Bluegrass Situation

We got to know Alex Wong as a finalist in the 2018 NewSong competition, and we are thrilled to see his work recognized on The Bluegrass Situation this week.

In The Artist’s Words: “When we set out to tell this story, we wanted people who listened to the album from beginning to end to feel like they were watching a movie… and we wanted ‘Landfall’ to feel like our establishing shot… As a song, it’s a birds eye view of our own introduction to the story of the village of Kivalina and how climate change was affecting so many in their situation. The chorus came out of our own ignorance of the scope of the issue… who would believe such a crazy thing could be happening right now?” — Alex Wong

Anais Mitchell — Hadestown takes home eight Tony Awards

You may already know about the record-breaking Broadway musical Hadestown taking home eight Tonys, including Best Musical. But did you know that the show’s playwright, Anais Mitchell, was one of the earliest performers in the NewSong competition? So exciting to see this artist get the attention and feedback she deserves. If you can’t make it to Broadway, we suggest checking out the Hadestown playlist on Spotify. Read more about Hadestown and how its eight Tonys represented unprecedented victories for woman via Slate.

Rose Cousins — Indian River Festival 6/28

We’re big Rose Cousins fans, and we think you should be too. Rose will perform June 28 at the Indian River Festival on Prince Edward Island. For those who haven’t yet heard of Rose and her powerful music, we suggest giving her 2017 album, Natural Conclusion, a listen. Learn more about the artist on her website.

Submissions now open for the 2019 NewSong Competition

This year’s grand prize winner will receive an all-expense paid six-song EP, recorded and mixed at Asheville, NC’s Echo Mountain Recording Studios and released on the NewSong Recordings label.

The grand prize winner will also receive a performance showcase at the esteemed 2019 ASCAP Music Café at the Sundance Film Festival (January 23 – February 3, 2020) in Park City, Utah, and a be booked for a paid, featured main stage performance at this summer’s Arts Brookfield Summer Plaza Series in New York City.

Submit your music here.

Tags: Alex Wong, Anais Mitchell, Bluegrass Situation, crys matthews, Hadestown, newsong, Rose Cousins
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Weekly roundup: NewSong artist news 9/24-9/30

Monday, September 24th, 2018

We love to keep up with our past NewSong Music Contest finalists and winners, and, over the years, we have amassed a busy and hardworking group of musicians we admire.

NewSong songwriters live and perform across the continent and beyond, their work spans multiple genres, and these artists are always putting out new material. To keep track of all their news and upcoming shows, we will be highlighting NewSong artists in our weekly roundup.

We’ve put together a list of five shows, publications and recordings we think you should be paying attention to this week.

1. ROSE COUSINS – on tour in Alberta

Halifax, Nova Scotia-based artist Rose Cousins is on tour this week in Alberta, and will continue play shows into the fall. Performances this week include the Theatre Junction Grand on Sept. 27th in Calgary; Arden Theatre in St. Albert on Sept. 28th; The Empress Theatre in Fort Macleod on Sep 29th; and The Communitea Cafe in Canmore Sept. 30th. For American fans, the songwriter will stop in Massachusetts and Connecticut in October. Visit her website for a full list of tour dates.

Cousins’ 2012 album We Have Made A Spark won a JUNO Award, 3 East Coast Music Awards, a Canadian Folk Music Award, was nominated for the Polaris Music Prize, and made picks/best of lists in USA Today, NPR Music and Oprah Magazine. Her music has found its way into several TV shows including Grey’s Anatomy.

Listen to Rose Cousins’ latest on Spotify.

2. Brie Capone – Asheville Masonic Temple Show Sept. 29

Brie Capone was a finalist in our 2017 NewSong Songwriting Competition and the winner of the 2017 LEAF Singer Songwriter Contest. This soulful and accomplished songwriter has been playing shows around the US after the release of her 2018 album, If I Let You In.

Catch her next show at the Masonic Temple in Asheville, NC on Saturday Sept. 29 at 6:30 pm. For full event information, visit the event page on Facebook.

Listen to Brie Capone’s latest on Spotify.

3. Rachael Kilgour – “Game Changer” PRE-Order EXCEEDS goal on Kickstarter

The pre-order campaign for Kilgour’s forthcoming album, Game Changer, met its goal on Kickstarter last week. Two hundred and twenty-one backers pre-ordered $8,281 to help bring the project to life. The 2015 NewSong Music Contest winner, Kilgour has performed at Lincoln Center in New York, The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. and the prestigious ASCAP Music Café at the Sundance Film Festival.

Rachael’s new EP, Game Changer, is produced and mixed by NewSong co-founder and director Gar Ragland and recorded at Echo Mountain Recording Studios in Asheville, NC. “I believe in what I do as a songwriter and as a human being committed to connecting with others and building emotional literacy and resiliency through stories and songs,” says Kilgour of her work.

Listen to Rachael’s music on Spotify.

4. Wilder Adkins – “Side by side” featured on “Starbucks folk” spotify playlist

Wilder Adkins’ song “Side by Side” is featured on the “Starbucks Folk” playlist on Spotify. “Side by Side” is a tribute to the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, and a reflection on the 16th Street Baptist Church Bombing. According to Adkins, it’s “an anthem for peace and a call to keep hoping and never give up fighting darkness with the power of light.”

Wilder finds himself in good company on the popular playlist, among an eclectic mix of artists including John Prine, Shakey Graves and Laura Veirs.

Listen to the playlist on Spotify. Listen to “Side by Side” on Spotify.

Tags: Blue Yonder, Brie Capone, Game Changer, newsong, NPR, NPR Mountain Stage, Rachael Kilgour, Rose Cousins, roundup, Side by Side, Spotify, Starbucks Folk Playlist, Wilder Adkins
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Meet ‘Sanctuary Sessions’ performer Maya de Vitry

Friday, June 15th, 2018

Maya de Vitry will perform Saturday June 16 as part of the ‘Sanctuary Sessions’ series, a benefit for Blue Ridge Public Radio.

NewSong welcomes Maya de Vitry to the ‘Sanctuary Sessions’ stage. She has spent the last six years touring the United States, Canada, and Europe with her Americana band The Stray Birds. In her solo work, her lone, dynamic voice, as well as her muses and meditations, explore a striking new landscape.

The Nashville, TN based songwriter will perform as part of the Sanctuary Sessions series Saturday, June 16th at the Central United Methodist Church in downtown Asheville. Doors at 7 pm. Acclaimed Canadian songwriter Rose Cousins headlines the show. All proceeds from the event benefit Blue Ridge Public Radio.

“It’s so cool to be coming to Asheville,” says de Vitry. “I’ve actually lived in Asheville twice before. The traditional fiddle music scene was like a magnet to me when I first came to the Swannanoa Gathering in 2008.”

de Vitry eventually left Asheville in 2011 and moved to Boston to study music. “Rather than finish unpacking in my new apartment [in Boston] I remember rushing off to the legendary Club Passim in Harvard Square to catch the end of a songwriter show, and Rose Cousins was performing when I arrived,” says de Vitry of her fellow ‘Sanctuary Sessions’ performer. “Her voice and her songs and her delivery — it was all very stunning to me. She was a catalyst, and now she is also a friend. I’m honored to support her in Asheville.”

de Vitry says the transition to playing solo has been an exciting one. “I have been writing and touring exclusively with The Stray Birds since 2012, so to be out here right now playing these new songs just feels like a celebration and a release to me,” she says. “It’s not an album release tour yet, but it’s a release of something else. It feels like such a celebration to grow and explore new directions as a human, and to find a more and more focused voice as an artist. Sometimes the process itself is a highlight!”

Stay up-to-date with Maya de Vitry’s news and show calendar on her website, mayadevitry.com.

WHAT: Sanctuary Sessions: Rose Cousins / Maya de Vitry

WHERE: Central United Methodist Church, 27 Church Street, downtown Asheville

WHEN: Saturday, June 16. Doors @ 7. Music @ 7:30.

TICKETS: $15 advance / $20 day of show; advance tickets available theorangepeel.net

Tags: Asheville, benefit, Blue Ridge Public Radio, Central United Methodist Church, Maya de Vitry, newsong, Rose Cousins, Sanctuary Sessions, songwriting, The Stray Birds
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Meet ‘Sanctuary Sessions’ performer Rose Cousins

Thursday, June 14th, 2018

Rose Cousins will perform Saturday June 16 as part of the ‘Sanctuary Sessions’ series, a benefit for Blue Ridge Public Radio.

This week, NewSong welcomes Canadian songwriter Rose Cousins to the ‘Sanctuary Sessions’ stage. Rooted in authenticity and conviction of voice, Cousins forges a personal connection with her listeners through song. Cousins’ album We Have Made a Spark took home a Canadian Juno Award along with many other awards, including a spot on NPR’s Top 10 Americana & Folk Albums list. Her latest album, Natural Conclusion, was called “easily one of the most distinguished Americana releases of 2017” by the Los Angeles Times.

Cousins will perform as part of the Sanctuary Sessions series Saturday, June 16th at the Central United Methodist Church in downtown Asheville. Doors at 7 pm. Songwriter Maya de Vitry shares the bill.

All proceeds from the ‘Sanctuary Sessions’ concert series benefit Blue Ridge Public Radio, a cause that resonates with Cousins. “Public radio is how my career started in Canada by being supported by the CBC,” she says. “Listener supported radio has committed community members who care about what’s happening in the world but also what people are making. I have a deep gratitude for public radio and feel lucky be supported by it.”

Cousins shares the stage with her friend and fellow songwriter Maya de Vitry, who has spent the last six years touring with celebrated Americana band, The Stray Birds. “I’m excited to play the Sanctuary Sessions in the beautiful church with my good friend Maya who is an amazing writer and an incredible new batch of songs,” says Cousins. “Looking forward to playing in the church as well.”

Cousins has a busy summer ahead of her, full of festival slots and even some shows performing with acclaimed folk artist Patty Griffin. “I’m hoping to have a very creative year with writing and looking forward to sharing the stage with one of my heroes, Patty Griffin, for a few shows this summer!” says Cousins. You can stay up-to-date with her concert calendar on her website, rosecousins.com.