Folk festival announces songwriting finalists

Five finalists will vie for a $700 cash prize at the Sisters Folk Festival's annual songwriting contest.

The contest is an integral part of the Sisters Folk Festival set for September 10-12.

This year, the five finalists will perform at Bronco Billy's Ranch Grill & Saloon starting at noon on Saturday, September 11. The winner will receive the cash prize and performance slot on the Village Green Main Stage on Saturday night.

The finalists are: Jim Faddis of Nine Mile Falls, Washington; Elisa Korenne of Brooklyn, New York; Alastair Moock of Iowa City, Iowa; Claudia Russell of Berkeley, California; and Johnny Smorgasbord from Bend.

The songwriting contest is a showcase for outstanding but under-recognized performing songwriters.

Past winners such as Darryl Purpose, Bob Hillman, Chuck McCabe and Christopher Smith have gone on to make their marks on the contemporary folk music scene.

The late Dave Carter was the winner of the first Sisters Folk Festival Songwriting Contest in 1995.

The Sisters Folk Festival features performances by Celtic fiddle legend Natalie MacMasters, Americana singer-songwriter Tom Russell, songwriter Willy Porter, Eliza Gilkyson and many other performers.

For more information visit http://www.sistersfolkfestival.com or call 549-4979.