Dear Festivarians!

The joy I receive from the Kerrville Grassy Hill New Folk Songwriters Competition is expressed right there in the title… New Folk Songwriters.

I’m a lover of music.  I play music, I write songs, but most of all I listen to music. I’ve found what moves me in the singer songwriter genre… physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I know if I can pull on strings and work the fretboard of my guitar, I can play tunes that please me.  However, without other music to relate to, draw from, bask in… my own music would grow old, fast. Listening to new, good music is as important to me as breathing fresh air.

I remember hearing Tim O’Brien once say, “nothing is original”, jokingly referring to his latest batch of “new“ tunes. I got the joke but also understood the truth in his statement. From the old grows the new, an endless cycle of creativity.

In our inaugural creation of this celebration of New Folk ~ Old Folk, we have surrounded the 2022 New Folk Winners with their peers.  Some are well-established musicians while some are relatively fresh to the scene.  We hope you enjoy the common thread.

I can’t imagine a day without listening to my favorite singer songwriters, and fortunately, they keep coming. 

Here’s what’s in store this year!

New Folk ~ Old Folk 2023

Friday March 24th

* 4:00 – Gates open for overnight camping/Picking and Grinning

* 7:00 – Billy Bright, Dom Fisher and Trevor Smith/ Campground Tent

* 9:00 – Open Song Circle / Campground Tent

Saturday March 25th

* Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner – Food Vendor

* 1:00 Music Underwriter Check In

* 1:30 – Fischer Hall open to attendees/Silent Auction Barn opens

* 2:00 – Welcome/Announcements/Meet the Cabin

* 2:15 – 3:15 Special Guest Set- Ali Holder (band)

* 3:30 – 5:00 Club 7 in the round. Drew Kennedy, Raina Rose, and Chet O’Keefe

* 30 minute break

* 5:30 – 7:30 New Folk in the round.

     Javier Jara, Kyle Rasche, Jean Rohe, Sadie Gustafson-Zook, Calista Garcia, R.O. Shapiro

* 7:45 – 9:00 Jon Brooks

* 9:00 – Food Vendor closed/ Silent Auction closed/Last Call

* 9:15 – 10:30 Danny Schmidt and Carrie Elkin

* 11:00 – Hall Closes – Picking and Grinning in the Campground

Sunday March 26th

* Hall and Campground/Parking Lot clean-up

* Campground Closes @ 4:00 pm

 It has always been Cabin 10’s policy from the very 1st Rice Festival to the last Fischer
Fest that, although we love dogs, no dogs are allowed within Fischer Hall. We prefer
that no dogs are brought to the festival at all, but if you must bring your dogs, we ask
that they are kept on a leash no more than 6’, at all times. Pets are allowed in the
campground but must be confined or on a leash (6′ maximum). Pets should not be left
unattended in the campground or your car. Please prevent excessive barking and
properly dispose of pet waste. If anyone brings a dog and does not abide by these
rules, you will be asked to leave without a refund of your ticket. It is especially
important in the campgrounds that no dogs run free due to the owner having a corral
of donkeys.

Arroz!

Jeff Gavin