Judy Collins, singer-songwriter

Q. What did you learn about yourself from writing this memoir?

A. That I could, that I could see it through. It’s much easier to write the book than
to have it published. I’ll tell you a secret: I wanted to call the book “Sweet Judy
Blue Eyes: Sex, Drugs, Rock ’n’ Roll, and the Music that Changed a Generation.’’ It
got shot down, and I couldn’t fight it. They wanted “Sweet Judy Blue Eyes: My Life in
Music.’’ When I finally directly asked my editor about it, he said, “I didn’t tell you
this, but when we proposed to the salespeople what this book was going to be, they did
not like that title.’’ And I said, “Why?’’ And he said, “They don’t see you that way.’’
Well, I guess I blew their illusions! (Laughs.) That was my point.

Q. Do you think people have the wrong idea about you?

A. I said it in one of the opening scenes where Janis Joplin and I were sitting together. People expected her to
crash and burn; they expected something totally different from me. So I think [my editor] is probably right. I
do want to get it in that my vote was for “Sex, Drugs, Rock ’n’ Roll, and the Music That Changed a Generation.’’

Q. Did you ever struggle with not romanticizing the ’60s?

A. No, because the specifics were so interesting, but the harrowing life I led as an active alcoholic kept that
in perspective. Although the title may be misleading to some people, the facts are that that was a very rough
time for me. I don’t think there’s any way to romanticize it, nor do I think there’s any way to separate it
from the social upheaval that was going on around us. Whether or not we remember well enough - and we obviously
don’t - what the Vietnam War was about, I remember it and so does everybody that lived through it.

 Q. Do you see the spirit of the ’60s in the Occupy Wall Street protests?

A. You bet. And if I wasn’t on the road all the time, I’d be down there with them. Everywhere I go there are these
wonderful protests going on. I think it’s just phenomenal. It’s exactly what was intended. I thought people had
forgotten what kind of power they have. And I see now that we have that power.

 Q. At more than 300 pages, it has a nice heft, but what did you leave out of the book?

A. I think it came down to about 95,000 words, but it went out at 120,000. (Laughs) There were a lot of things
I didn’t get to keep in that book. I did not talk much about anything post-1978.

 Q. For a Boston readership, you have some great passages about New England. Do you have a lingering relationship with this part of the country?

A. Oh, absolutely. You’ve been one of the foundations of my fan base. The East Coast, I could
probably spend my life touring here and never have to go to Paris and London, which I did last week.

(source: Boston Globe)

For more information on the 8th Annual IAMA (International Acoustic Music Awards), go to:
http://www.inacoustic.com

Music featured in this podcast by:

Kate Voegele – Only Fooling Myself

Ari Gold – Where The Music Takes You

Alannah Myles – Give Me Love

Rosie Casey & Hillary Podell – Is That So Bad
Writers: Ken Hirsch, Rosie Casey, Peter Roberts & Hillary Podell

Amelia Curran – The Mistress

ASON - Be Inspired

Ian Holmes – More
Writers: Raleigh Hall & Gordon Chambers

Pepper MaShay – Does Yo Mamma Know

Christopher Tin – Baba Yetu

Liz Longley, 6th Annual IAMA Winner

The 7th Annual IAMA (International Acoustic Music Awards) is currently accepting entries. IAMA promotes excellence in acoustic music performance and artistry. Acoustic artists in various genres can gain exciting radio and web exposure through this competition. Participating sponsors include Fingerstyle Guitar magazine, D’Addario Strings, New Music Weekly, Loggins Promotion, AirplayAccess.com, Sonicbids, roadjam.com, Kari Estrin Management, Acoustic Cafe Radio Show and Sirius XM Satellite Radio. More sponsors will be announced shortly.

Unlike American Idol, IAMA is open to all independent artists and labels, there is no age limit and people from all countries can enter and best off all entrants do not have to stand in line for hours or days in order to audition. Entrants need to mail in an entry form along with a CD recording or enter online on IAMA’s website.

Win prizes in 8 different categories: Folk/Americana/Roots, AAA/Alternative, Instrumental, Open, Bluegrass/Country, Best Male Artist, Best Female Artist, Best Group/Duo. 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. Therefore, winning songs will be heard on radio. Winners and runner-ups will also be featured on IAMA’s compilation CD.

Last year’s winner went to folk singer-songwriter Liz Longley, a college student attending Berklee College of Music. After her win, she was confirmed to be performing in the prestigious Newport Folk Festival.

Judging is based on excellence in music performance, songwriting/composition and originality. Winners are selected by a panel of established artists and industry professionals. Other past winners include: The Refugees (2009 Winner), UK singer-songwriter Charlie Dore (2008 winner). Charlie Dore is most famous in the United States for her 1980 pop single, “Pilot of the Airwaves,” which hit Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts and shot to international worldwide fame. Fertitta and McClintock (USA), Jen Foster USA), Mistin’ (Australia), David Francey (Juno award winner from Canada), April Verch (Canada) and Millish USA).

Winners and finalists of the Awards will be featured in the IAMA website and e-newsletters, read by music press, talent buyers, promoters and other industry insiders. All songs submitted must be submitted must be original and submitted on CD, the artist may perform original material not yet released and written by other songwriters or composers.

Early Entry Bonus: first 1,000 entrants entered by August 31, 2010 will each receive a free gift. Check out:
http://www.inacoustic.com

“I had to play the songwriters’ circle this afternoon and now we’re here. Things haven’t stopped, and it’s all very confusing,” she said Sunday while walking the red carpet into the 2010 Juno Awards TV broadcast.

She is heading out on tour – to Western Canada and then the United States – for the next six weeks.

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

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

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!

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

Unlike American Idol, IAMA is open to all independent artists and labels, there is no age limit and people from all countries can enter. Also, entrants do not have to stand in line for hours or days in order to audition. Entrants need to mail in an entry form along with a CD recording or enter online on IAMA’s website.

Win prizes in 8 different categories: Folk/Americana/Roots, AAA/Alternative, Instrumental, Open, Bluegrass/Country, Best Male Artist, Best Female Artist, Best Group/Duo. 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. Therefore, winning songs will be heard on radio. Winners and runner-ups will also be featured on IAMA’s compilation CD.

Last year’s winner went to acoustic folk group “The Refugees”, fronted by hit singer-songwriter Wendy Waldman, who wrote Vanessa Williams’s #1 hit song “Save the Best for Last’.

Judging is based on excellence in music performance,songwriting/composition and originality. Winners are selected by a panel of established artists and industry professionals. Other past winners include: UK singer-songwriter Charlie Dore (2008 winner). Charlie Dore is most famous in the United States for her 1980 pop single, “Pilot of the Airwaves,” which hit Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts and shot to international worldwide fame. Fertitta and McClintock (USA), Jen Foster (USA), Mistin’ (Australia), David Francey (Juno award winner from Canada), April Verch (Canada) and Millish (USA).

Winners and finalists of the Awards will be featured in the IAMA website and e-newsletters, read by music press, talent buyers, promoters and other industry insiders. All songs submitted must be submitted must be original and submitted on CD, the artist may perform original material not yet released and written by other songwriters or composers. Deadline to enter is November 9 ’09.
http://www.inacoustic.com