Nancy Beaudette met Louisa Branscomb at a festival a few years back, and they’ve been friends and co-writers ever since. We are thrilled to tell you their song “End Of The Line” is included on Louisa’s new CD release, “Gonna Love Anyway”.
Bluegrass fans will surely know the song, “Steel Rails”, recorded by Alison Krauss in 1990 which was a billboard success and went on to earn her a grammy. That song was written by Louisa and helped to propel her songwriting career to what it is today – she has either won or has been nominated for the industries most prestigious bluegrass awards.
This album features a new version of “Steel Rails” and a phenomenal group of singers and instrumentalists, like Tina Adair, Dale Ann Bradley, Alison Brown, and many more, all performing their versions of Branscomb’s songs. Two-time Grammy winner Becky Buller takes the lead vocals on “End of the Line”.
Co-producer Missy Raines helped select the songs for the album and explains, “We took a designer approach to thinking of who we felt best matched each song.”
There is a wonderful theme of ‘trains’ that rolls through this project. In Louisa’s own words, “Trains know where they are going. They are going to take every bend, it’s just the way it is. They go through it all– the mountains, deserts, seaboard cities, deserted farms, hobo camps. They carry people to their dreams, their homes, and their deaths. They are courageous in their power and in their giving in. Even with all that iron and steel and fire, they accept. They surrender to the track, to what lies ahead.They are hope, wisdom, and courage.”
We sincerely hope you’ll get yourself a copy of “Gonna Love Anyway”, and especially have a listen to “End of the Line”, appropriately placed as the last cut on the album, but certainly not the least among this superb song collection.
Louisa Branscomb, Becky Buller, Missy Raines & Russell Moore.
From the moment I set foot on Quiet Valley Ranch, I knew I was in for a truly rare and exceptional weekend. At the Kerrville Folk Festival registration building, I was given a special button that said, “Performer”, and among festival goers, the prestige of being a “NEW FOLK ARTIST” was the equivalent of rock star status.
Me and thirty-one other New Folk Finalists were invited to make Rouse House our home base for the duration of the festival. Deb and Lindsey, our hosts, went above and beyond to make sure we felt at home, and their camp was the perfect place to get to know one another and build community throughout our stay. I can’t thank them enough for all they do to support artists. Deb and Lindsey are extraordinary people.
The songwriting competition itself was less competitive than one would think. We learned from the judges, previous finalists or winners, and the festival director Dalis Allen, the real impetus for New Folk is to create a place where great songwriters from around the world can connect and collaborate with one another. It really is a beautiful mandate and one I certainly took to heart.
I was among the first eight performers to play on Saturday, May 26th, on the ThreadgillStage. Thankfully I was able to switch out nervousness for excitement and was pleased with how I presented my two songs. (By the way, we had to play the two songs we used to enter the contest which for me were “Reeds on the River” and “Six Pack”)
Out of thirty-two performers, only six can win. Everyone else places seventh, and over the years this has become known as Club Seven; I’m proud to be a full-fledged member. I will be eternally grateful for the opportunity to showcase alongside so many fabulous songwriters at such a prestigious venue. Thank you.
This book is focused on the ‘craft’ of songwriting and the care and nurturing of your ‘creative being’. Intended for both novice and experienced songwriters, “SongC.R.A.F.T.– Writing In Your Authentic Voice” is an invitation to dig deep into your personal memories and experiences and write in your most vulnerable, courageous voice.
Nurture your creative process
Learn to find ideas from personal experiences
Write fabulous and meaningful songs
Find out why having a special creative room is important
Recognize and avoid common mistakes
How to find an audience to perform your song to
Leave the critic behind and write your best work
Award-winning songwriters and authors, Nancy BeaudetteandLaura Zucker, will guide you through a series of exercises and reflections which will help you write a song lyric by the end of the book. Nancy and Laura have been using the “SongC.R.A.F.T.” method throughout their professional careers, and teach this process to writers across the country.
Forward by Berklee College of Music Songwriting Professor – Susan Cattaneo.
The Kerrville Folk Festival is held at the Quiet Valley Ranch in the beautiful Texas Hill Country and is celebrated by a community who considers itself family, returning year after year since 1972. During the 18-day Festival, as many as 30,000 guests come from all over the world to experience the magic we simply call “Kerrville”. Even so, each evening’s performances are attended by 800 to 3,000 guests, making everyone’s experience feel intimate.
The highlight for performing songwriters is their annual Grassy Hill New Folk Competition and this year Nancy Beaudette is among the thirty-two finalists. Sixteen of the finalists will perform at the New Folk Concert on Saturday, May 25, and the other sixteen on Sunday, May 26. This is the 48th year for New Folk and these concerts are always one of the highlights of the Kerrville Folk Festival.
Best of luck to all the finalists! You are all already winners!
It’s a nice feeling to be near the top of the heap, especially when it concerns our artist’s songwriting and the effort it takes to create and produce the work. The 35th Mid-Atlantic Song Competition just released its results, and “Reeds On The River” is a FINALIST in the Folk Acoustic Category.
Nancy Beaudette wrote “Reeds On The River” while on a holiday in Ireland. She rented a narrow boat and slowly chugged along the Barrow Line section of the Grand Canal – not too far from Dublin. The boat was 6′ wide and 50′ long, and very heavy, with living quarters below deck. As she floated along the canal, the cattails and lily pads were sucked under the water towards the boat, and danced back above the water line as the boat passed. It was like a beautiful bow of reverence, a consensus that there are things we certainly share, and yet so much more that only time and wisdom can reveal.
The Kelly Girls included this song on their CD, “May You Always”, released a year ago.
Click here to watch the video.
The Showcase puts the selected writers in front of dozens of artists, producers, and labels who attend looking for new material. The participants are chosen in a competitive process with only ten making the final cut.
This year’s list contains a good many names that will be familiar to anyone who follows bluegrass songwriting. Many have showcased during World Of Bluegrass previously, and each earned their showcase by submitting a demo for a new, typically un-recorded song for consideration. And like in years past, you can expect to hear several of the showcased songs on albums next year.
The 2018 Songwriter Showcase for 2018 will include:
Bobby Powell and Tim Jones – Rusty Rails
Brittany Bailey – Friend Of Mine
David Morris and Dawn Kenney – Ain’t No Place Like Home
Lynna Woolsey, Nancy Beaudette, James Woolsey – Last Train Out
Aaron Bibelhauser – Changing Times
Ashley Caudill and Jon Weisberger – Walking Into Gloryland
Alan Barnosky – I Heart Mountains
Cathy Fink – Only One Chance
Evan Murphy – Jericho
Justin Hiltner – Dark Side
The Showcase will be held on Thursday, September 27 in the Raleigh Convention Center, where each writer will perform his or her song on stage for the assembled industry folks.
The Convention runs from September 25-27. Full details about registration for World Of Bluegrass 2018 can be found online.
“Peace is not the product of a victory or a command. It has no finishing line, no final deadline, no fixed definition of achievement. Peace is a never ending process, the work of many decisions.” — Oscar Hammerstein II
Happy to announce that “Peace Date” has earned a 5th place title in the Songs for Peace Songwriting Competition. Co-writers Nur Felix and Nancy Beaudette were awarded a $500 prize for the honour. Thank you to the Judges for selecting our song among all the impressive entries.
When enough people focus on peace instead of war, on harmony instead of discord, love instead of hate, a sea of change for peace can take place that will sweep the world. Just as mob violence is created by a critical mass of angry people with angry thoughts, so peace can be created by a critical mass of people focusing on peaceful thoughts.
Music is a powerful medium that has been used to foster patriotism, prepare for battle, sell products, promote religion and to inspire love. Why not use the universal language of music to permeate our culture with aspirations for peace and brotherhood?
Music has the power to speak directly to the heart. It can inspire enlightened awareness and lovingly empower us to see and treat each other as brother and sister. When our souls know such liberation, war as we know it will end and peace on earth will prevail.
The Global Peace Song Awards serves as a search for our world’s most enlightened musicians and songs that can guide the way to peace on earth.
Moonlit Pond Records is pleased to announce that “Peace Date”, co-written by Nancy Beaudette & Nur Felix, is a Finalist in this year’s competition.
The OFFICIAL WINNERs will be announced on SEPTEMBER 21, 2017 – UN International Day of Peace.
“Company of Stones” was inspired by Nancy’s familial roots, both French and Irish. “My ancestors have given me such a great gift and I feel honoured to carry on their legacy. I recently had my DNA tested and it’s pretty much spot on with my assumption that I’m a happy mix of UK/Ireland and Western Europe – presumably France. Their struggles and successes are part of me for better or for worse.” Company of Stones was recognized in the 2016 Mid-Atlantic Song Contest along with other songs from her collection “South Branch Road”. Buy the CD on Nancy’s website or download on iTunes today.
