CHRIS AUSTIN SONGWRITING CONTEST 2014 WINNER JOSEPH TERRELL.

Joseph Terrell, lead singer of the band MIPSO, was the 2014 winner in the general category of the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest. Terrell is from High Point, North Carolina, where his grandmother taught him his first song on guitar, Doc Watson’s “Tom Dooley”. (MerleFest is named for Eddy Merle Watson, Doc’s late son who passed away.) MIPSO is doing their part to take three-part harmonies and Appalachian influences into new territory. Formed in Chapel Hill in 2010, these four North Carolinians are touring the country to support their 2013 release, Dark Holler Pop.

MerleFest 2014 Congratulates CASC Winners

MerleFest 2014 congratulates the winners of the 22nd Annual Chris Austin Songwriting Contest. Writers of the winning twelve songs were selected from 567 entries and competed on the Austin Stage at MerleFest in April 2014. Keller Williams was emcee, Jim Lauderdale was the host, Darrell Scott, Chris Humphrey (Steep Canyon Rangers) and Irish songwriter Niall Toner were this year’s onsite judges.

2014 winners by category:
Bluegrass: Paul Harrigill and Amber Nugent, Chelsea McBee, Josh Crews. Gospel/Inspirational: Frank Hurd, Gary Alan Ferguson, Allen Smith and Corey Smith. Country: Becky Warren, Kelsi Robertson-Harrigill, Dan Buehner and Ben Childs. General Category: Joseph Terrell, Sarah Potenza and Ian Crossman, and Clint Alphin.

To enter the 2015 Contest, go to: MerleFest.org/CASC. Entries before November 30 are $25. Entries Dec 1 – Feb 1 are $30.