Exploring Kerrville Folk Festival’s New Folk Winners
Since 1973, the Grassy Hill New Folk Competition for Emerging Songwriters has boosted the careers of some of our most beloved North American songwriters, including Steve Earle, Nanci Griffith, Lyle Lovett, Robert Earl Keen, John Gorka, David Wilcox, James McMurtry, Tish Hinojosa, Hal Ketchum, Cosy Sheridan, Slaid Cleaves, Anaïs Mitchell and more.
Recently, two homegrown winners appeared—Sav Buist (of the Accidentals) won in 2021, and then Kyle Rasche brought the prize home to Alto, Michigan in 2022. Likewise, a number of winners have had connections to Crosshatch Center for Art and Ecology’s former Hill House residency program, including 2022 winner Jean Rohe and Canadian songwriter Abigail Lapell (2020).
The Alluvion is proud to host five New Folk winners on Friday, August 18th. Still, it might be that you haven’t heard much from these fine folx yet—so let’s dive in.