David Francey, winner of the 7th Annual IAMA (International Acoustic Music Awards)
The 8th 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 D’Addario Strings, New Music Weekly, Loggins Promotion, AirplayAccess.com, Sonicbids.com, Reverbnation.com, Kari Estrin Management, SongU.com, 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 Canadian folk singer-songwriter David Francey who won the overall grand prize as well as the Best Folk Artist. David Francey is also a Juno awards winner (Grammy equivalent) and is a prolific singer-songwriter touring all over North America.
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: Liz Longley (2010 Winner), 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), 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 online or via CD, the artist may also perform original material not yet released and written by other songwriters or composers. Cover songs are permitted.
Early Entry Bonus: first 1,000 entrants entered by September 9, 2011 will each receive a free gift. Check out:
http://www.inacoustic.com
David Francey, Top Winner of 7th Annual IAMA
Scottish-born Canadian, David Francey won top honors at the 7th Annual IAMA (International Acoustic Music Awards) by winning the overall grand prize as well as the first prize in the Folk category. David also won three Juno awards up to date. Francey also had the honour of receiving the prestigious SOCAN Folk Music Award.
David Francey was born in 1954 in Ayrshire, Scotland, where as a paper boy he got his first taste of the working life. He learned to read at an early age, and by age eleven was devouring the newspapers he delivered. This helped establish his interest in politics and world events while developing the social conscience that forms the backdrop of his songs.
He was twelve when his family immigrated to Toronto. He says he can trace his love of the land, the history, and the people of his adopted country to weekend family drives exploring southern Ontario. Music played a large part in these family outings. They sang traditional Scottish tunes as they drove through the Canadian countryside. Dad and sister Muriel sang melody, while mother and David sang harmonies. His website can be viewed at:
http://www.davidfrancey.com
Other notable winners inclue: Justin Rutledge (Canada), Joachim Nordensson & Brooke Wandler (USA), Roland Albertson (South Africa), Luke Doucet & The White Falcon (Canada) and virtuoso guitarist Tim Farrell (USA)
Here is the list of winners of 7th Annual IAMA:
OVERALL GRAND PRIZE WINNER:
The Waking Hour – David Francey
FOLK
1st Prize: The Waking Hour – David Francey
Runner-up: Be A Man – Justin Rutledge
BEST GROUP/DUO
1st Prize: I Was With You – Joachim Nordensson & Brooke Wandler
Runner-up: Come Home To Me – Alathea
BEST MALE ARTIST
1st Prize: Broken – Roland Albertson
Runner-up: Last Love – Shane Cooley
BEST FEMALE ARTIST
1st Prize: Firecracker – Kelly Zullo
Runner-up: Faking Your Best – Suzy Connolly
COUNTRY/BLUEGRASS
1st Prize: We Don’t Smell the Home Fires Anymore – Horseshoe Road
Runner-up: What Life’s Like (Without You) – Stewart Burrows
AAA/ALTERNATIVE
1st Prize: Thinking People – Luke Doucet & The White Falcon
Runner-up: The Beast Within – Reed Waddle
OPEN/AOG
1st Prize: The Most Beautiful Fear – Laura Hoover
Runner-up: Joe’s Bayou – Boomslang Swampsinger
INSTRUMENTAL
1st Prize: Rosewood Alley – Tim Farrell
Runner-up: Once Upon A Western Sky – John Standefer
Artists are judged based on music performance, music production, artistry and songwriting. For more information, visit:
http://www.inacoustic.com
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!
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. 
