WEST REGIONAL ROUND

The following information is from the 2008 Mountain Stage NewSong Contest. Regional round results will be posted here once the finalists have been determined. Thank you.

Tuesday, September 2; Los Angeles
Sarah Sample of Seattle Wins the Sixth and Final Round at the West Regional at The Mint
www.sarahsample.com

"This has been such a wonderful event to be part of . . . I love the idea of gathering great people and their music from all over the country and coming together to celebrate the art of songwriting. The NewSong family is wonderful to be a member of, and I am completely honored to represent the Western Region in the finals coming up. Thank you Mountain Stage and NewSong for this opportunity!" - Sarah Sample

INFORMATION

Date: Tuesday, September 2 Venue: The Mint Location: Los Angeles, CA Time: 8:00 PM Tickets: $10 Adv/$12 Door Youth Showcase: Paden West
		Sponsored in part by FAR-West, the Folk Alliance West Coast Region. FAR-West Conference October 23-26 – Mesa, AZ www.far-west.org

FINALISTS

	Acoustic Minds Portland, Oregon Formed in 2002 by identical twins Amanda & Jenni Price. This eclectic group has been blessed to play with many skilled musicians in the North West and across the United States. The current lineup has been together for 1.5 years. With 140 shows complete and another 80 booked - 2008 is proving to be the busiest year yet for this soulful twin fronted group. www.myspace.com/acousticminds
	Stephanie Bettman Los Angeles, California Stephanie Bettman has the goods. A triple threat with diverse songwriting, soulful vocals, and dynamite fiddling – all featured on her debut CD “GET CLOSE TO ME”. She and her band are the grand prize winners of the 2008 Southern California Live Acoustic Music Band Competition, proclaiming them the “best live acoustic band in Southern California”. Last year were they among the winners in the Topanga Banjo / Fiddle contest, and at the 2007 Sedona Bluegrass Festival, buzz on the street labeled her “the next Alison Krauss”. www.stephaniebettman.com
	John Cruz Honolulu, Hawaii From the time he was a young boy growing up in Palolo Valley on Oahu, John Cruz knew was destined to play music. Whether inside or outside the home, his earliest memories were filled with song. Although John grew up in Hawaii, it wasn't until he moved to the East Coast that he developed his own style as a singer songwriter. During his 12 years in the Northeast, John cut his musical teeth in subways, coffeehouses and bars in New York's Greenwich Village. www.johncruz.com
	The Invasion Nampa, Idaho The Invasion plays piano and vocal driven indie rock sprinkled with classical, jazz, and classic rock influences... but it's all about the songwriting. The Invasion's debut album... co-produced by Art Hodge (who shared in the 2001 Best Album Grammy for his work on Santana's Supernatural)... covers a vast musical landscape, and is all tied together by singer / songwriter Aaron Brown's voice and melody. www.the-invasion.com
	Jeremy Lev Encino, California In 2006, after living in France for a year and being inspired by a variety of music, love and travel experiences, Jeremy came back to the US reinvigorated with a passion for music. So following graduation from UNC-Chapel Hill in May 2006, Jeremy decided to put his degree on standby and pursue a music career instead. www.myspace.com/jeremylev
	NIAYH Portland, Oregon NIAYH is a collective of musicians who have come together to express an appreciation for the present. An acronym for Now Is All You Have, the term NIAYH has also come to signify the divinity of the moment. Drawing from a variety of old school and cultural influences with a contemporary vibe, NIAYH describes their sound as hip-hop infused, psychedelic soul, rock, rhythm & blues. Above all, their music is deeply physical: hypnotic grooves and rhythms support eclectic compositions, classic lead guitar, and folk-soul vocals. www.myspace.com/niayhband
	Matt Owens Santa Monica, California Matt Owens & Jason Hiller met in 2003 or 2004 (who can remember) and slowly began writing songs together. In the summer of 2007, they set out to record what would become 'Til The Wheels Fall Off', a ten song collection of country infused rock 'n roll songs that explore life, love, dirty bars, six-shooters, trains and other such things. The record was recorded at Walden Recordings in Beverly Hills, California and produced by Jason Hiller himself. Marc Ford (formerly of The Black Crowes), and other friends came by to play on the album. www.myspace.com/mattowensla
	Sarah Sample Seattle, Washington The last thing Sarah Sample wanted to make was just another folkie -girl-with-acoustic-guitar album. Sure, the songs were born as just an acoustic guitar and a voice. And, in the folk tradition she loves and respects so much, would likely be taken across America that way. But she didn’t want to document them that way. At least not this time. www.sarahsample.com
	Sudden Anthem Portland, Oregon Sudden Anthem emerged out of a friendship between two established songwriters, Hunter Paye, and Joshua Rivera. Their ecstatic late-night combinations of songwriting and harmonies soon layed visions of promise in their head. The band has only been gigging since march (2008) but their commitment to long practices and fine-tuning of the songs slowly created a project that has mesmerized attendees at the small handful of shows they've played. www.myspace.com/suddenanthem
	True Margrit San Francisco, California True Margrit's signature piano-pop is whip smart, expertly crafted, and has more hooks than a pirate ship. On SEAWORTHY, the trio's 4th and most ambitious album to date, True Margrit navigates the waters of interpersonal politics, vanity, history, time-travel, and mortality, and arrives wth a group of songs that is both emotionally raw and musically evolved. www.truemargrit.com