A Call to Rising North Carolina-Based Musicians
What images and sounds come to mind when you hear the term “folk music?” At the NC Folk Festival, we think of fiddles, songwriters, and banjos – but also Gospel, Hip-Hop, Salsa, polka, Country, Blues…AND SO MUCH MORE! We are accepting applications NOW from the diverse tapestry of talented NC musicians who are influenced, informed, and inspired by their particular brand of “folk music.”
The Not Your Average Folk Contest, presented by Cone Health, is an opportunity for North Carolina-based musicians to compete for prizes – including a chance to perform at the 2021 North Carolina Folk Festival and 8 hours of FREE recording time at Black Rabbit Audio!
We are welcoming electronic applications from a diverse array of musical groups from across North Carolina who will be adjudicated in two phases – the first phase by a panel of music experts from the Greensboro community who will select four finalists, and the second phase of online voting by the public to select a winner from the four finalists. Contest applicants must submit (1) a newly recorded performance video & (2) a short written response describing the folk and community roots that influence and inspire their music.
The Not Your Average Folk Contest will accept online applications through the NC Folk Festival website until 11:59 pm (EST) on Sunday, June 13, 2021. Contest guidelines, eligibility, and application requirements, along with more information on how and where to submit an application can be found at www.ncfolkfestival.com.
About the North Carolina Folk Festival: The NC Folk Festival is a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to the presentation of music, dance, crafts, and other arts representing cultural traditions from across America and the world through its flagship annual event each September in downtown Greensboro, NC. The North Carolina Folk Festival, co-produced by the City of Greensboro, is one of the fastest-growing destination events in the Southeast, attracting over 156,000 people from across the U.S. to downtown Greensboro. The festival is a FREE admission, three-day event that continues the legacy of the National Folk Festival, which was held in Greensboro from 2015–2017. In the tradition of “The National,” the North Carolina Folk Festival features performing groups representing a diverse array of cultural traditions from around the world on multiple stages, including continuous music and dance performances, a North Carolina Folklife Area featuring ongoing demonstrations, an interactive Family Area, a makers marketplace, regional and ethnic foods, festival merchandise and more. The 2021 North Carolina Folk Festival will take place in downtown Greensboro September 10 through 12. Additional information is available at www.ncfolkfestival.com.
