WILKESBORO, NC: The Chris Austin Songwriting Contest at MerleFest® 2004, presented in Wilkesboro by Wilkes Community College, has announced the finalists for the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest, according to Art Menius, MerleFest Partnership & National Marketing Coordinator. A panel of Nashville music industry professionals, assembled by Chris Austin Songwriting Contest chairperson Jim Lauderdale, evaluated 889 recorded entries to pick the dozen finalists. The Finals will take place at MerleFest 2004 on Friday, April 30, from 2:00 until 3:30 PM Eastern on the Austin Stage. The finalists are:
 

General Category Finalists (325 entries): “Talk Radio” by Michael Troy, Somerset, MA; “Granddaddy” by A.J. Roach, Oakland, CA; “Show Them” by Kristin Cifelli, Boston, MA

 Country Category Finalists (271): “Forgiveness” by Sarah Hawker, Jersey City, NJ; “No Need to Say it Again” by Justin Lute, Columbus, OH; “Me and My Poodle” by Stayton Bonner, Austin, TX


Bluegrass Category Finalists (188): “Adeline” by Mike Finders, Iowa City, IA; “Dark Clouds” by Dave Wilson, Raleigh, NC; “Rockabye Dixie” by Abigail Washburn & Beau Stapleton, Nashville, TN

Gospel Category Finalists (105): “Always Room in His Heart” by Rita Case, Galena, OH; “Come By Here,” by Laurelyn Dossett, Greensboro, NC; “A Christmas Tear” by Tommy Austin, Fall Branch, TN

 Carol Elizabeth Jones, Kelly Willis, Martha Scanlan, and Adrienne Young are scheduled to judge the finals. Each first place winner earns an appearance on the Cabin Stage Friday evening, a Epiphone® Guitar from Gibson®, a check for $125, and two boxes of D’Addario strings. Second place winners receive a check for $250 and one box of D’Addario strings. Third place winners receive one box of D’Addario strings. Each finalist also receives admission for three to MerleFest with motel accommodations and one-year subscription to Acoustic Guitar and Performing Songwriter magazines. Thomas Fisher, First Vice-President at Morgan Keegan, Durham, NC sponsored the cash prizes.

 Net Proceeds from the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest go towards the Chris Austin Scholarship Fund. This scholarship is presented annually to a deserving music student at Wilkes Community College, which presents MerleFest. Additional proceeds have supported the construction of and improvements at the Chris Austin Stage, sponsored by ASCAP and No Depression magazine.

Darrell Scott, Sally Jones, Carla Gover, and Jim Lauderdale judged the finals of the 2003 Chris Austin Songwriting Contest, which attracted 794 entries. From the twelve finalists emerged the following four first place contestants. General: “River” by Scott Carter, Nashville, TN; Country: “Rock Me Like A Lullaby” by Connie Townsend & Dave Parker, Elkins, WV; Gospel: First: “By The River” by Ruth Bloomquist, Muskegon, MI; Bluegrass: “Sadie’s Song” by Adrienne Young, Nashville, TN.

 The deadline to entry the next Chris Austin Songwriting Contest will be March 18, 2005. For entry information, please visit www.merlefest.org or call 1-800-799-3838. Those on the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest mailing should receive entry forms during the autumn. Entry forms will also be available on the web at that time. The Chris Austin Songwriting Contest is open to anyone whose primarily source of income is not as a songwriter. An official entry form and entry fee must accompany each entry on tape or CD.

 Pete Fisher, then of WarnerSongs and currently general manager of the Grand Ole Opry, and then MerleFest consultant and “Pickin’ for Merle” video associate producer Kari Estrin initiated the contest to honor the memory of Chris Austin, a northwestern North Carolina native. On March 16, 1991, only a few hours after Skaggs recorded his song, “Same Ol’ Love,” Austin, 27, was killed in a tragic plane accident near San Diego along with other members of Reba McEntire’s band. A solo record, Firm Believer, collected from his several singles, appeared posthumously on Warner Brothers.

 The Songwriter Showcase Coffeehouse, sponsored by AccuCopy, became a very happening scene when it moved to The Lounge in the Student Center in 1998. There the Coffeehouse consistently draws a standing room only audience. The Coffeehouse returns on Friday evening, 8:00 PM to Midnight. Jerry Castor serves as coordinator and emcee. Be sure to get there early.

 Songwriters! Register Friday between 6:45 and 7:15 PM to participate. At 7:15 we shall draw from among all registrants for performance times. Those selected will be placed in twenty minute slots with two other songwriters. Those pulled from the hat will get four minutes each to perform an original song. Ten alternates will also be drawn and worked in as is possible. You must be present and ready when called upon or forfeit your slot. Registrants slots will alternate with fifteen minute sets by the stars: Adrienne Young (8:20-8:35), Ron Thomason (8:55-9:10), The Waifs (9:30-9:45), Mindy Smith (10:05-10:20), Jim Lauderdale (10:40-10:55), Bruce Robison & Kelly Willis (11:15-11:30), and Tara Nevins (11:50-12:05). All of these times and performers are subject to change since publication deadline Check the Pocket Schedule for the most up to date information.

 Wilkes Community College will present MerleFest 2004, the 17^th annual festival in celebration of the music of the late Merle Watson and his father Doc Watson, on its campus in Wilkesboro, NC on April 29 – May 2, 2004. Those joining Doc Watson and Merle’s son Richard Watson for MerleFest 2004 will include the Sam Bush Band, Rosanne Cash, John Cowan Band, the Derailers, Donna the Buffalo, Dry Branch Fire Squad, Béla Fleck & Edgar Meyer, Vince Gill, the Gourds, David Grisman Quintet, Hot Tuna, Indigo Girls, Jeannie Kendall, the Kruger Brothers, Patty Loveless, Natalie MacMaster, Nickel Creek, Tim O’Brien, Mark O’Connor’s Hot Swing Trio, Old Crow Medicine Show, Reeltime Travelers, Tony Rice Unit, Savoy Doucet Cajun Band, Earl Scruggs with Family & Friends, the WAiFS, Gillian Welch, and Kelly Willis & Bruce Robison. Those with Internet access may acquire their tickets easily by visiting www.merlefest.org. Those without Internet access may purchase tickets by calling 1-800-343-7857 (US only) or 336-838-6267 (non-US) from 10 AM through 4 PM, EST, weekdays. Tickets may also be ordered by fax (336-838-6277) and mail (MerleFest; P.O. Box 120; Wilkesboro, NC 28697).

 Major MerleFest 2004 sponsors include Charter Communications, Tyson Foods, Gibson Musical Instruments, Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouses, Curtis Media, the Winston-Salem Journal, Pepsi, Burger King, Hardees/Dermox, iBluegrass & the Acoustic Network, G&B Energy/C&J LP Gas, JBL, REDGUM Audio, J D’Addario, Fishman Transducers, Sugar Hill Records, AC Phelps Mandolin & Guitar Co., WNCW Public Radio, John Pearse Strings, The Musik Room, Stelling Banjo Works, Taylor Guitars, Collings Guitars, Huss & Dalton Musical Instruments, Western Beat Entertainment, Fender Musical Instruments, Sprint, Cedar Creek Custom Case Shoppe, WUNC Public Radio, Chetola Resort at Blowing Rock, Deering Banjo Company, and Homespun Tapes.

 March 31, 2004

 Chris Austin Songwriting Contest Information: 800-799-3838 or www.merlefest.org
MerleFest Information: 800-343-7857 or www.merlefest.org
For more media information: Print: Traci Thomas, Grassroots Media (traci@grassrootsmedia.com; 615-473-6687);
Non-print: Art Menius (artmenius@mindspring.com;  919-542-3997, Fax: 240-250-7229).