The Kerrville Folk Festival is a super cool music event that happens every year in Texas! It lasts for 18 days in late spring or early summer at a place called Quiet Valley Ranch near Kerrville, Texas. This festival has been going on since 1972, which means it's been around for a long time! In 2008, a group called the Texas Folk Music Foundation took over running the festival.
About 30,000 people come to the festival each year. You need a ticket to get in, and many people even camp out right on the festival grounds. It's like a big, long music camp!
The festival really focuses on songwriting. It's a place where new artists can show off their songs, and you can also hear from famous musicians. The goal is to help new artists get noticed and let everyone enjoy different kinds of music. Famous artists like Peter, Paul and Mary, Lyle Lovett, Willie Nelson, and Emmylou Harris have all performed here!
Quick facts for kids Kerrville Folk Festival |
 |
| Genre |
folk, bluegrass, country, singer-songwriter, blues, jazz, Americana |
| Dates |
late spring/early summer |
| Location(s) |
Quiet Valley Ranch, Kerrville, Texas, United States |
| Years active |
1972–present |
| Founded by |
Rod Kennedy |
| Website |
www.kerrville-music.com |
The Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Competition
One of the most exciting parts of the festival is the New Folk Competition. This is a yearly contest to find amazing new singer-songwriters! Out of about 800 people who enter, only 32 are chosen as finalists. These finalists get to perform two of their own songs on stage.
Then, a small group of experienced songwriters picks six winners. These winners get prizes, and they also get to perform a special 20-minute show on the main stage! Winning at Kerrville is a big deal for new artists. It helps them become well-known in the music world. Many artists who have won or been finalists here have gone on to become very successful.
Some famous artists who have performed in this competition include:
- Steve Earle (1978)
- John Gorka (1984)
- Nanci Griffith (1978)
- Tish Hinojosa (1979)
- Robert Earl Keen (1983)
- Mark Elliott (1993)
- Lyle Lovett (1980, 1982)
- Ellis Paul (1994)
- Slaid Cleaves (1992)
- Cosy Sheridan (1992)
- Johnsmith (1990)
- Anne Feeney (1989)
- James McMurtry (1987)
- Pierce Pettis (1987)
- Buddy Mondlock (1987)
- Hal Ketchum (1986)
- David Wilcox (1988).
2013 Winners and Finalists
In 2013, six new folk winners were chosen. They were picked from 31 finalists who performed their songs. These finalists were chosen from about 800 entries!
| Judges |
Winners |
Other finalists |
- Nels Andrews
- Aengus Finnan
- Betty Soo
|
- Adrianne Lenker (Andover, MN)
- Ed Romanoff (Brooklyn, NY)
- Ellis (Minneapolis, MN)
- Honor Finnegan (New York, NY)
- Eric Bettencourt (Portland, ME)
- Paul Sachs (Manhattan, NY)
|
- Ben Bochner (Eugene, OR)
- Daniel Makins (San Angelo,) TX
- Marina (League City, TX)
- Mark Philpot (Fort Worth, TX)
- Allie Farris (Nashville, TN)
- Andrew Delaney (Dallas, TX)
|
- Arlon Bennett (Northvale, NJ)
- B. Sterling (Austin, TX)
- Bethel Steele (Boston, MA)
- Tommy Byrd (Austin, TX)
- Davey O. (Buffalo, NY)
- Hope Schneir (Camarillo, CA)
|
- Doug Kent – Houston TX
- The Potter's Field (Canton, MI)
- Julie Jean White (Dallas, TX)
- Karen Dahlstrom (Brooklyn, NY)
- Lizzy Ross (Chapel Hill, NC)
- Mary McAdams (Des Moines, IA)
|
- Terry Holder (Olympia, WA)
- Steve Chizmadia (Peekskill, NY)
- The Sparrowmakers (Austin, TX)
- Twangtown Paramours (Nashville, TN)
- Wes Collins (Chapel Hill, NC)
- Zack Kibodeaux (Kyle, TX)
- Bill Valenti (Bend, OR)
|
2012 Winners and Finalists
In 2012, six new folk winners were chosen from 32 finalists. These finalists were picked from 800 song submissions.
| Judges |
Winners |
Other finalists |
- Nathan Hamilton
- Cary Cooper
- Seth Glier
|
- Korby Lenker (Nashville TN)
- Nicolette Good (San Antonio TX)
- Edie Carey (Chicago IL)
- Whit Hill (Nashville TN)
- Alicia McGovern (Salt Lake City UT)
- The Sea The Sea (Madison CT)
|
- Terry Penney (Newfoundland Canada)
- Paula Held (Austin TX)
- Alison Lumley (Austin TX)
- Jon Troast (Nashville TN)
- Andra Suchy (Minneapolis MN)
- Burke Ingraffia (Point Clear AL)[1]
|
- Miranda Dawn (Austin TX)
- The Hems (Austin TX)
- Daniel Makins (San Angelo TX)
- Larry Murante (Seattle WA)
- Robin Macy & Kentucky White (Belle Plaine KS)
- Lindsay May (Vancouver BC)
|
- Lizzy Ross (Pittsboro NC)
- J.A. Carter III (San Antonio TX)
- Michael Jerome Browne (Montreal Canada)
- Mikaela Kahn (Denton TX)
- Eric Colville of The Selkies (Ipswich MA)
- Paul Sachs (New York NY)
|
- Scot Phegley (Nolensville TN)
- Dan Weber (Vancouver WA)
- Annie & Rod Capps (Chelsea MI)
- J Wagner (Austin TX)
- Anna Dagmar (New York NY)
- The YaYa's (Mohegan Lake NY)
- Michaela Anne (Brooklyn NY)
|
2011 Winners and Finalists
The 2011 competition also had six winners. They were chosen from 32 finalists, who were selected from 800 submissions.
| Judges |
Winners |
Other finalists |
- Michael Camp
- Johnsmith
- Patrice Pike
|
- Grace Pettis (Harrisonburg VA)
- Megan Burtt (Colorado)
- A. J. Roach (Brooklyn NY)
- Mai Bloomfield (Venice CA)
- David Moss (Austin TX)
- Cassie Peterson (Nashville TN)
|
- Karyn Oliver (Boring MD)
- Bobby Sweet (Becket MA)
- Philip Gibbs (Austin TX)
- Eliot Bronson (Atlanta GA)
- Rob Lytle (Apex NC)
- Terry Holder (Olympia WA)
- Jen Cass (Bay City MI)
|
- Tom Corbett (Woodland Hills CA)
- Chet O'Keefe (Nashville TN)
- Owen Temple (Austin TX)
- Steve Chizmadia (Peekskill NY)
- Arlon Bennett (Northvale NJ)
- Roy Schneider (Ft Myers FL)
|
- Friction Farm (Greenville SC)
- B. Sterling Archer (Austin TX)
- Aaron Nathans (Wilmington DE)
- Tommy Byrd (Austin TX)
- The YaYas (Mohegan Lake NY)
|
- Wyatt Easterling (Nashville TN)
- David Stukenberg (Austin TX)
- Randy Palmer (Amarillo TX)
- Twangtown Paramours (Nashville TN)
- Phil Henry (Rutland VT)
- Jane Eamon (Hastings Ont CAN)
- Ben Suchy (Bismarck ND)
|
2010 Winners and Finalists
In 2010, six new folk winners were chosen from 32 finalists. These winners received a cash prize and performed a special concert.
| Judges |
Winners |
Other finalists |
- Tom Prasada-Rao
- Ronny Cox
- Susan Gibson
|
- Daniel Colehour (Nashville, TN)
- Michael Troy (Fall River, MA)
- Kate Klim (Boston, MA)
- Andy Gullahorn (Nashville, TN)
- Jon Brooks (King City, ONT, CA)
- Kim Richardson (Mountain Home, AR)
|
- Cassie Peterson (Nashville TN)
- Daniel Makins (San Angelo TX)
- Terry Holder (Olympia WA)
- John Batdorf (West Hills CA)
- Chris O'Brien (Somerville MA)
- Annie & Rod Capps (Chelsea MI)
- Leanne Atherton (Austin TX)
- Angela Easterling (Taylors SC)
|
- Alex Woodard (San Diego CA)
- Neal Katz (Tyler TX)
- Blair Bodine (Ambler PA)
- Wyatt Easterling (Nashville TN)
- Andrew Delaney (Dallas TX)
- Ellen Tipper (Appleton ME)
- Terry Penney (Lewisport NF, Canada)
|
- Chet O'Keefe (Nashville TN)
- Jen Cass (Bay City MI)
- Claire Small (Austin TX)
- Bobbie Lancaster (Bloomington IN)
- Gretchen Witt (Brooklyn NY)
- Brad Boyer (Friendswood TX)
|
- Joe Scutella (Nashville TN)
- Jennifer Morrison (Sarasota FL)
- Mai Bloomfield (Venice CA)
- Sam Doores (New Orleans LA)
- Lucas Ohio Pattie (Pleasanton CA)
|
2009 Winners and Finalists
The 2009 competition also had six winners. They were chosen from 32 finalists. These winners also received a cash prize and performed a special concert.
| Judges |
Winners |
|
Other finalists |
- Amilia k Spicer
- TR Ritchie
- Jon Vezner
|
- Louise Mosrie (Nashville TN)
- Rebecca Loebe (Atlanta GA)
- Carrie Catherine (Saskatoon, SK, Canada)
- Ernest Troost (Los Angeles CA)
- Tom Neilson (Greenfield MA)
- Lucy Wainwright Roche (Brooklyn NY)
|
|
- Lynne Hanson (Ottawa, ON, Canada)
- Kim Miller (Wimberley TX)
- Sarah Donner (Princeton NJ)
- Ben Mallott (Austin TX)
- Marc Black (Katonah NY)
- Angela Easterling (Taylors SC)
- Larry Murante (Seattle WA)
- Donna Beckham (West TX)
|
- Tommy Byrd (Austin TX)
- Matthew Fockler (South Padre Island TX)
- Valorie Miller (Asheville NC)
- Colin McGrath (Brooklyn NY)
- Liz Longley (Downington PA)
- Bob Sima (Woodbine MD)
|
- Sarah Sample (Seattle WA)
- Greg Alexander (New York NY)
- Jason David Hiatt (Austin TX)
- Gretchen Witt (Brooklyn NY)
- Laura Zucker (Lafayette CA)
- Larry Zarella (Massachusetts AK)
|
- Joe Crookston (Ithaca NY)
- Shannon Wurst (Alma AR)
- Roy Schneider (Fort Myers FL)
- Jeff Martin (Portland OR)
- Kate Mann (Portland OR)
|
2008 Winners and Finalists
In 2008, six new folk winners were chosen from 32 finalists. They also received a cash prize and performed a special concert.
| Judges |
Winners |
Other finalists |
- Jud Caswell
- Amy Speace
- Jon Vezner
|
- Devon Sproule (Charlottesville VA)
- RJ Cowdery (Columbus OH)
- C. J. Watson (Nashville TN)
- Hans York (Seattle WA)
- Robby Hecht (Nashville TN)
- BettySoo (Austin TX)
|
- Susan Levine (Newburyport MA)
- Kristen Grainger (Salem OR)
- Joe Jencks (Cincinnati OH)
- Molly Venter (Austin TX)
- Annaliese Schiersch (Kingston WA)
- Chris O'Brien (Somerville MA)
- Rachael Sage (New York NY)
|
- Bob Sima (Woodbine MD)
- Linda Sharar (Andover MA)
- Charlotte Kendrick (Pawling NY)
- Phil Henry (Rutland VT)
- Rebecca Loebe (Atlanta GA)
|
- Shelley King (Austin TX)
- Claude "Butch" Morgan (Devine TX)
- Kirsten Jones (Toronto, ONT Canada)
- Martin Gibson (Glen Cove ME)
- Sonia Lee (Nashville TN)
- Datri Bean (Austin TX)
- Lojo Russo (Davenport IA)
- Zoe Mulford (Manchester, United Kingdom)
|
- Emily Elbert (Boston MA)
- Brad Colerick (S. Pasadena CA)
- Laura Bullock (Somerville MA)
- Chad Elliott (Spencer IA)
- Terry Holder (Olympia WA)
- T. Nile (Vancouver BC, Canada)
|
2007 Winners and Finalists
The 2007 New Folk Competition took place on May 26 and 27.
| Judges |
Winners |
Other finalists |
- Jonathan Byrd
- Johnsmith
- Cosy Sheridan
|
- Danny Schmidt (Austin TX)
- Storyhill (Bozeman MT)
- Carla Gover (Richmond KY)
- David Llewellyn (Nashville TN)
- John Wort Hannam (Fort Macleod, Alberta Canada)
- Anthony da Costa (Pleasantville NY)
|
- Datri Bean (Austin TX)
- Kate Klim (Somerville MA)
- porterdavis (Austin TX)
- Noah Earle (Hallsville MO)
- Scott & Michelle Dalziel (Maquoketa IA)
- Raina Rose (Portland OR)
- Michael McGarrah (Phoenix AZ)
|
- Chuck E Costa (New Haven CT)
- Donal Hinely (Springfield TN)
- Dave Potts (Auburn AL)
- Jessica Heine (Edmonton Alb, Canada)
- Jan Smith (Afton VA)
- Owen Temple (Madison WI)
|
- KC Clifford (Oklahoma City OK)
- Ray Younkin (Houston TX)
- Wil Maring (Cobden IL)
- Siobhan Quinn & Michael Bowers
- Kevin McGee (Lexington SC)
- Laura Zucker (Lafayette CA)
|
- Pat Wictor (Brooklyn NY)
- Emily Kurn (Anchorage AK)
- Eric Hansen (Tucson AZ)
- Edie Carey (Boston MA)
- Derek Aramburu (Cypress TX)
- Elana Arian (New York NY)
- Lindsay Mac (Cambridge MA)
|
2006 Winners and Finalists
The 2006 New Folk Competition was held on May 27 and 28.
| Judges |
Winners |
Other finalists |
|
|
- Antje Duvekot (Somerville MA)
- Jud Caswell (Brunswick ME)[2]
- Gordy Quist (Austin TX)[3]
- KJ Denhert (Ossining NY)[4]
- Diana Jones (Nashville TN)
- Andrew Smith (Kelowna BC Canada)[5]
|
- Robert Tubb/String Gravy (Glendale AZ))[6]
- Jan Smith (North Garden VA)[7]
- Zane Williams (Nashville TN)[8]
- Lisa Richards (Austin TX)[9]
- Tom Neilson (Montague MA)[10]
- Lisa Rogers (Austin TX) [11]
- Jaime Michaels (Santa Fe NM)[12]
|
- Dave Potts (Auburn AL)[13]
- Lis Harvey (Davis CA)[14]
- Dave Pahanish (California PA)[15]
- Liz Carlisle (Cambridge MA)[16]
- Joe Truman (Nashville TN)[17]
- Amy Speace (New York NY)[18]
- KC Clifford (Oklahoma City OK)[19]
|
- Kendall James (Houlton ME)
- Charlotte Kendrick (Pawling NY)[20]
- Jason Spooner (Portland ME)[21]
- Morgan Bracy (Antioch TN)[22]
- Michael Tiernan (Del Mar, CA)[23]
- Marilyn Rucker (Austin TX)[24]
|
- Gretchen Witt (Brooklyn NY)[25]
- Alastair Moock (Medford MA)[26]
- Susan Clark / The Buckerettes (Cedar Crest NM)
- Tom Mowrey (Sykesville PA)[27]
- Jay Mankita (High Falls NY)
- Sonia Lee (Nashville TN)[28]
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Kerrville Wine and Music Festival
The Kerrville Wine & Music Festival is another event held at the same ranch. It's sometimes called "Little Folk" and happens over Labor Day Weekend. Both festivals share the same website.
List of Past Performers
Many talented artists have performed at the Kerrville Folk Festival over the years. Here are some of them:
- Tim York and Michael Hawthorne as T & M Express
