The winners of the 6th Annual IAMA have been announced. Liz Longley wins the overall grand prize. See details below:
Liz Longley, Top Winner of the 6th Annual International Acoustic Music Awards
OVERALL GRAND PRIZE WINNER:
When You’ve Got Trouble – Liz Longley
http://www.lizlongley.com
BEST GROUP/DUO
1st Prize: Hurricane – Alathea
Runner-up: Cold – Hey Negrita
BEST MALE ARTIST
1st Prize: Falling Up – Michael Brandmeier
Runner-up: She Breaks – Vienne
BEST FEMALE ARTIST
1st Prize: Waterfalls – Meghan Trainor
Runner-up: Nurse Me Back to Health – Angela Saini
COUNTRY/BLUEGRASS
1st Prize: Simplify – Henhouse Prowlers
Runner-up: Yellow Butter Moon – Doug Spears
AAA/ALTERNATIVE
1st Prize: Sing Your Heart Out – The Trews
Runner-up: Heartbreaker – Jenn Grant
OPEN/AOG
1st Prize: I Will Bleed For You – IVO
Runner-up: 21 Days – Gary Procyshyn
INSTRUMENTAL
1st Prize: Le Mans – El McMeen
Runner-up: Vorizo – The Marc Atkinson Trio
FOLK
1st Prize: When You’ve Got Trouble – Liz Longley
Runner-up: Glenrio – Melissa McClelland
Enter now and November 30th and receive a written critique by 6th Annual IAMA (International Acoustic Music Awards).
IAMA (International Acoustic Music Awards) is judged based on songwriting, performance & artistry. Win prizes in 8 different categories: Best Male Artist, Best Female Artist, Best Group/Duo, Folk/Americana/Roots, AAA/Alternative, Instrumental, Open, Bluegrass/Country. There will also be an Overall Grand Prize winner awarded to the top winner worth US$11,000, which includes radio promotion to over 250 radio stations in US and Canada!
DEADLINE APPROACHING: All entries must be entered by Nov 30, Hurry! Enter online via Sonicbids:
http://www.sonicbids.com/iama2009
D’Addario Folk Nylon Strings
Are steel strings making your fingers sore? Your choice of a nylon or steel string guitar will be based on your musical preference.
However, nylon strings tend to be less tender and sore than steel strings. A good example of Folk Nylon Strings are:
Folk Guitar Nylon String Set by D’Addario with ball ends. Clear Trebles, These strings offer 80/20 Bronze on nylon with clear trebles. Folk Nylon strings are high quality nylon strings with ball ends on each string to facilitate easy installation on classical guitars, as well as steel string acoustic guitars if desired. Information:
http://store.daddario.com/category/146063/Folk_Nylon
Top 10 Best Venues and Clubs For Acoustic Music In USA by Jessica Brandon
10. The Grey Eagle (Asheville, NC)
A good listening room-style club in United States. They attract a lot of touring national and regional artists in all styles of Acoustic music: Bluegrass, Zydeco, Folk, etc. It is a centerpiece in Asheville’s folk music community.
9. Tin Angel (Philadelphia, PA)
This is an intimate acoustic venue. Right from the opening night, Tin Angel has presented an wonderful array of stars from the world of blues, rock, folk and country. This has long been a perennial favorite among Folk acts in the country.
8. White Eagle (Portland, OR)
It is good to see a venue supporting local musicians where many established venues do not. The interesting tibit is that the club is also a small inn run by the McMenamins Brewing Company.
7. The Bitter End (New York, NY)
They host songwriters night along with national touring acts. The venue has lived through generations of folk singer-songwriters.
6. Cactus Cafe (Austin, TX)
This has been a main stay for the venerable SXSW Music Conference, which takes over Austin, TX every March. It’s schedule indicate the who’s who in the singer-songwriter world.
5. Douglas Corner Cafe (Nashville, TN)
This venue was created for showcasing new singers and songwriters in Nashville. It soon grew to become a well known “Home Away From Home” for Nashville’s top songwriters and future music stars. It host open night for songwriters. It has been a showcase venue for such big stars as Alan Jackson, Trisha Yearwood, The Kentucky Headhunters, Billy Dean, John Berry, Blake Shelton and many others.
4. The Living Room (New York, NY)
This venue is great for acoustic musicians in an intimate stetting. This space generally imposes a one-drink minimum per set and the standard passed bucket of tips. Touring acts will tell you that this venue is a best kept secret for great selection of live music and reasonably priced drinks.
3. Club Passim (Cambridge, MA)
This is a non-profit, smoke-free, all-ages venue has become the centerpiece for one of America’s most lively and talented communities of traditional and contemporary acoustic acts. They host regular open mic night, and always attracts great touring acts. They also host campfire series for Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day weekend. Club Passim has served as a launching pad for several legendary folk musicians such as Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, and Joni Mitchell.
2. Eddie’s Attic (Decatur, GA)
Eddie’s Attic is located just on the outskirts of town of Atlanta. They host open mic nights as well as national touring acts. Shawn Mullins got his start here before hitting the big time. Touring acoustic acts will tell you that this is a “must play” for their gigs.
1. Bluebird Café ( Nashville, TN)
The legendary Bluebird Café takes the top spot of the best venue for a reason. There’s nothing particularly aesthetically special about the place which is located in an ordinary strip mall in Nashville. However, A&R representatives from record labels can tell you that it is one of the best places to check out talent. Songwriters from all over can tell you that they want to perform in the cool venue so bad. The famous ‘Songwriters-In-The Round” was invented here by Amy Kurland, founder of the Bluebird Café. They host regular writers night where you can hear the orginal songwriters performing on their hit songs, what a better place to listen to your favorite songs right from the source!
Early entrants for the 6th Annual IAMA (International Acoustic Music Awards) will each receive a free IAMA Compilation CD. However, only the first 1,000 entrants entered by September 30 or earlier will each receive a IAMA Compilation CD, which features the current winners such as The Refugees, Larry Pattis, Wayne Southards, Katy Kinard, Wendy Colonna, Jeanette Williams Band, Kate Lush, Victoria Vox, and more. Please obtain the entry form at:
http://www.inacoustic.com/entryform.html
Or enter online via Broadjam:
http://www.broadjam.com/contests/details/contest/index.php?contest_id=1493
Or enter online via Sonicbids:
http://www.sonicbids.com/iama2009
IAMA (International Acoustic Music Awards) promotes excellence in Acoustic Music Performance and Artistry. Acoustic artists in various genres can gain exciting radio and web exposure through this competition. 
