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Audrey Auld Mazera and Megan Laurie capture top spots in MerleFest Songwriting Contest
Audrey Auld Mezera and Megan Laurie
 
VOTE FOR AUDREY!
The North Bay Bohemian Newspaper is holding its 2nd Annual North Bay Music Awards.
Go to www.bohemian.com  and choose NORBAY Awards : vote here
Audrey is nominated in the Folk/Acoustic category.
Voting closes on May 5th.
 
Today at MerleFest, one of the most prestigious Americana (acoustic, folk, bluegrass, etc.) music festivals in the US, Audrey Auld Mazera won first place in the Country Music category of the 14th annual Chris Austin Songwriting Contest. Megan Laurie, now living in Lubbock, Texas, came in second.

Over 1,100 entries were received across the four categories that also include Gospel, Bluegrass and a General category. Three finalists in each category were selected by a panel of Nashville music industry professionals in March. The winners were selected by another panel after live performances today at MerleFest. Audrey sang “Losing Faith” and Megan sang “Light at the End of the Bottle.”

As one of her prizes, Audrey was invited back this evening to sing again on the Cabin Stage adjacent to the main venue in front of the large audience that had just heard performances by Emmy Lou Harris, Gillian Welch and Bob Weir – founding member of the Grateful Dead. Following the contest winners' portion of the program were sets by Sam Bush and Robert Earl Keen.

The contest was named after a young Nashville singer-songwriter from North Carolina who perished in the tragic plane accident involving Reba McIntyre’s band. Pete Fisher, now general manager of the Grand Ole Opry, was instrumental in founding this contest to promote songwriting and to keep Chris’ memory alive. You can read more about the contest at http://www.merlefest.org/SongwritingContest.htm#2 

To view full set of contest photos from today go to http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=7am70t5.acygjk2h&x=0&y=h1komb 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Main Watson Stage
 
As one of her prizes, Audrey was invited back to sing again at a winners' showcase on the Cabin Stage
(below) which is adjacent to the main Watson Stage (above) where a large audience
had just heard performances by Emmy Lou Harris, Gillian Welch and Bob Weir –
 founding member of the Grateful Dead.   Following the contest winners' portion of the
program were sets by Sam Bush and Robert Earl Keen.
 

  Audrey on the Cabin Stage
 
Jim Lauderdale
 
 
 
 
Audrey Auld Mezera won the Chris Austin Song Contest at Merlefest in the Country category with "Losing Faith", taken from her 2003 album of the same name.

Sarah Lee Guthrie, Jason Harrod, Dave Wilson (Chatham County Line), and Holly Lowman (Sugarhill Records) judged the finals of the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest, which attracted a record 1172 entries, 18 more than 2005.

The judges say they liked Mezera's use of imagery in her lyrics and her energy.
Prizes included an acoustic Gibson Epiphone guitar, cash, D'Addario guitar strings and the opportunity to sing the song on the Cabin Stage (beside the main stage) on Friday night after Bob Weir's show.

Rich Brotherton (Robert Earl Keen band) accompanied Audrey on guitar.
Merlefest in North Carolina, attracts over 80,000 people and offers a stellar line-up of Americana, Bluegrass, Country, Folk and Acoustic music.
 
Print out and have the memories