{"id":1364,"date":"2017-05-02T20:35:34","date_gmt":"2017-05-02T20:35:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/skyemediaonline.com\/wordpress\/?p=1364"},"modified":"2017-05-23T20:36:37","modified_gmt":"2017-05-23T20:36:37","slug":"americana-artist-mary-bragg-wins-merlefest-chris-austin-songwriting-contest-in-country-category","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/skyemediaonline.com\/wordpress\/americana-artist-mary-bragg-wins-merlefest-chris-austin-songwriting-contest-in-country-category\/","title":{"rendered":"Americana artist Mary Bragg wins MerleFest Chris Austin Songwriting Contest in country category"},"content":{"rendered":"

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<\/strong><\/p>\n

May 2, 2017<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Americana artist Mary Bragg wins MerleFest<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chris Austin Songwriting Contest in country category<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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New album,\u00a0Lucky Strike<\/em>, out on May 5th<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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Nashville-based Americana singer-songwriter Mary Bragg has won the MerleFest Chris Austin Songwriter Contest in the country category for her song \u201cLucky Strike\u201d (co-written with Liz Poston). As winner in her category, she performed her song at MerleFest in Wilkesboro, NC on the Cabin Stage on Friday night. Other artists who performed at this year\u2019s MerleFest included Zac Brown Band, The Avett Brothers, B\u00e9la Fleck, Steep Canyon Rangers, Sarah Jarosz, Jim Lauderdale, and many others.<\/p>\n

\u201cLucky Strike\u201d is rooted in the big dose of humility Bragg got when she moved from her hometown of Swainsboro, GA to New York City to pursue music. \u201cThere\u2019s this feeling\u2014no matter the dream\u2014this desire to be seen, acknowledged; like you\u2019re just waiting on that one thing that will get you to where you want to be,\u201d Bragg explains. \u201cThe song \u2018Lucky Strike\u2019 is bit of a sarcastic poke at hopefulness, because it might feel like there\u2019s just one thing holding you back. But it\u2019s never that simple is it? And\u2014it might even be your own subconscious hang-ups standing in the way.\u201d<\/p>\n

The song is the title track from Bragg\u2019s forthcoming album,\u00a0Lucky Strike<\/i>, which will be released on May 5, 2017. Bragg and co-producer Jim Reilley (of indie stalwarts The New Dylans) recorded the album \u201cin a backyard barn studio,\u201d says Bragg, \u201cwhere the microphones are old, not expensive-vintage-old, just old. Where the pop filters have holes in them. Where the vocal booth is unfinished because real walls never got built. It’s where \u2018recorded live\u2019 is for real recorded live, and everything is exposed.\u201d<\/p>\n

The result is a stunning collection of songs that speak to our common humanity with uncommon honesty. With candor and subtlety, Bragg\u2019s songs probe this common journey to discover our truest selves, outside of our families and communities in which we are raised. That\u2019s how she approaches the craft of songwriting as well. \u201cI truly believe that a good song will make people feel something\u2014even prompt people to ask themselves questions that I ask myself when writing the song. I can tell stories most effectively when I shake off that resistance to honesty, because that\u2019s when the songs best resonate with my audience.\u201d<\/p>\n

She has been honored in the past in such prestigious songwriting contests as Kerrville New Folk, Telluride Troubadour, Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, Wildflower! Festival, and the International Songwriting Competition. She has been named a finalist in the 2017 Kerrville New Folk Contest with a track from\u00a0Lucky Strike\u00a0<\/em>called \u201cComet,\u201d as well as another song not on\u00a0Lucky Strike\u00a0<\/em>called \u201cThe Highest Tower.\u201d Lauded by press from\u00a0USA Today<\/em>\u00a0to\u00a0Nashville Scene<\/em>, CBS New York praised Bragg for \u201cwinning over audiences for years,\u201d while\u00a0Blurt Magazine<\/em>\u00a0called her music \u201cassured yet vulnerable.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bragg is touring in support of the new album\u2014confirmed dates are listed below with more dates to be confirmed very soon.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

Mary Bragg Tour Schedule:<\/b><\/p>\n

4\/30\/2017\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Nashville, TN – The Bluebird Cafe<\/p>\n

5\/5\/2017\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Nashville, TN – The Family Wash<\/p>\n

5\/8\/2017\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Knoxville, TN – Blue Plate Special<\/p>\n

5\/9\/2017\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Nashville, TN – The Bluebird Cafe<\/p>\n

5\/12\/2017\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 New York, NY – Rockwood Music Hall Stage 3<\/p>\n

5\/13\/2017\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Newtown Square, PA – Burlap & Bean<\/p>\n

5\/18\/2017\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Nashville, TN – The Family Wash<\/p>\n

5\/23\/2017\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Harlingen, TX – The Prelude Songwriters Club<\/p>\n

5\/28\/2017\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Kerrville, TX – Kerrville Folk Festival – New Folk Competition<\/p>\n

6\/1\/2017\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Elgin, TX – The Liberty Tree<\/p>\n

6\/13\/2017\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cambridge, MA – Club Passim<\/p>\n

6\/14\/2017\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Westerly, RI – Perks & Corks<\/p>\n

6\/16\/2017\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Middletown, CT – The Buttonwood Tree<\/p>\n

7\/21\/2017\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Minneapolis, MN – The Warming House<\/p>\n

7\/23\/2017\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Seward, NE – Red Path Gallery<\/p>\n

7\/28\/2017\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Swainsboro, GA – The Wrens Nest<\/p>\n

7\/30\/2017\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Decatur, GA – Eddie’s Attic<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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www.marybragg.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 2, 2017 Americana artist Mary Bragg wins MerleFest Chris Austin Songwriting Contest in country category   New album,\u00a0Lucky Strike, out on May 5th   Nashville-based Americana singer-songwriter Mary Bragg has won the MerleFest Chris Austin Songwriter Contest in the country category for her song \u201cLucky Strike\u201d (co-written with Liz Poston). As … <\/p>\n

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