MerleFest 2006 - Chris Austin Songwriting Contest

Have your songs heard by a panel of professional songwriters and other music industry professionals from the Nashville Music Community as well as earn the chance to perform at MerleFest, the Americana music celebration, by entering the 14th annual Chris Austin Songwriting Contest. MerleFest now involves more than 80,000 participants including some 100 artists and bands that perform on one or more of the festival's thirteen stages. All 2006 songwriting competition finalists will receive lodging for 4 nights at MerleFest, with first place winners receiving a performance at the Cabin Stage at MerleFest, as well as an Epiphone Guitar from Gibson. All finalists will receive cash and other prizes for their winning entries (see prizes below). The Chair of the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest is Jim Lauderdale.



Entrants must submit songs in one of four categories – country, bluegrass, gospel, and general. We received 1154 entries for 2005. The Chris Austin Songwriting Contest invites three finalists in each category – based on judging by panels of Nashville music industry professionals, to come to MerleFest for the finals on April 28, 2006.



The Chris Austin Songwriting Contest is open to those whose primary source of income is not derived from songwriting or publishing. First place winners during the past five years may not re-enter in the specific category in which they won. Co-writers are subject to the same eligibility requirements as the entrant.



ALL FINALISTS WILL RECEIVE:

Lodging for 4 Nights at MerleFest

All Access MerleFest credentials for three

One box of D’Addario Strings

One-year subscription to Acoustic Guitar magazine



1st PLACE WINNERS WILL RECEIVE:

A performance on the Cabin Stage at MerleFest

An Epiphone Guitar from Gibson

A check for $300

An additional box of D’Addario Strings



2nd PLACE WINNERS WILL RECEIVE:

A check for $250



3rd PLACE WINNERS WILL RECEIVE:

A check for $50



A then unknown Gillian Welch was one of the winners of the initial Chris Austin Songwriting Contest at MerleFest in 1993. Recent winners have included Tift Merritt, Michael Reno Harrell, Adrienne Young, Martha Scanlan, David Via, and Johnny Williams. Steve Fishell, Caroline Herring, Hayes Carll, and Darrell Scott judged the finals of the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest. First round judging from submitted recordings produced twelve finalists who competed with the following results. General Category: 1st: “Living in the Good Ol’ Days” by Zane Williams, Nashville, TN; Bluegrass Category: 1st: “T.V.A.” by Sam Quinn, Johnson City, TN; Country Category: 1st: “Hurry Home” by Zane Williams, Nashville, TN; Gospel Category: 1st: “That First Stone” by Mike Finders, Iowa City, IA.



Chris Austin Songwriting Contest sponsors are: Morgan Keegan, Durham, NC. Thomas Fisher, First Vice-President; Fishman; Acoustic Guitar; Epiphone by Gibson; D'Addario and Sonicbids. Chris Austin Stage at MerleFest sponsored by ASCAP and No Depression.



Net proceeds from the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest go toward Wilkes Community College projects including the Next Step campaign and construction and improvements to the Chris Austin Stage.