June 2024

Congratulations to our Round 1 winners! Their songs will be shared with radio stations as part of an annual CD compilation, and they will also receive a $100 gift card to Elderly Instruments. Thank you to our judges, Ellis Paul and Marilyn Rea Beyer, who thoughtfully listened to songs from nearly A THIRD of our current conference registrants.  All registrants for NERFA 2024 (both in-person and virtual) can submit once every quarter! The next chance starts July 1.https://youtu.be/PsyihOQyfic Chasing the Light – Ash & Eric Emotional truth is expressed with deft economy in an extended metaphor borne by a tender, airy melody in “Chasing the Light” by Ash & Eric. Marilyn Rea Beyer Host of the Midnight Special WFMT 98.7FM …solid lyric and song, beautiful arrangement…. Believability is the thing that consistently pulls me in. I want to know the singer is embedded in the song, and you have that in spades. Ellis Paul Songwriter Reckoning – Sean Kiely “Reckoning” by Sean Kiely balances poetry and lifeblood like a warm hand in yours on a cool night or iced lavender lemonade on a devil-hot day.  Marilyn Rea Beyer Host of the Midnight Special WFMT 98.7FM You truly stuck out from the crowd for me— beautiful melody, chord colorings that were fresh sounding, a well written lyric. And it felt like I was listening to someone rooted in folk music who was doing something with forward thinking. Ellis Paul Songwriter Trapeze – Kate McDonnell Kate McDonnell wallops you with a vivid image that puts an essential life lesson on the Jumbotron in “Trapeze.”  Marilyn Rea Beyer Host of the Midnight Special WFMT 98.7FM Congrats Kate on a great song with beautiful delivery. You have a way with melody and lyric. Hope to see you sing again in person soon! Ellis Paul Songwriter Thank you to Elderly instruments for sponsoring this year’s Songwriting Competition!

Get ready, because Melissa Ferrick is coming to NERFA! Known for being one of the most prolific, generous, and hardworking artists in the business, Ferrick  is nothing short of legendary. After opening for Morrissey in both the U.S. and UK, Ferrick landed a deal with Atlantic Records at just 21 years old, dropping her debut and sophomore albums under their banner. From 1996 to 1999, she cranked out three more albums with the indie label W.A.R. Records. Then, in 2000, Ferrick launched her own independent label, Right On Records, taking the reins of her musical destiny. Fast forward to the 2010s,  when she published two more critically acclaimed records with NY-based MPress Records. Over the past twenty-five years, she’s unleashed a whopping seventeen albums, earning a ton of awards for her songwriting, production, and electrifying performances. She’s shared the stage with legends like Morrissey, Joan Armatrading, Weezer, Tegan and Sara, Bob Dylan, Ani DiFranco, k.d. lang, and many more. But Melissa’s talents don’t stop there. As a Professor of the Practice at Northeastern University, she teaches the next generation of music business pros about everything from songwriting and demo production to the psychology of creativity. Before that, she spent six years shaping minds at Berklee College of Music. Oh, and did we mention she’s got an Ed.M from Harvard? Yeah, she’s that impressive. Melissa also runs the Drive Music Agency (DMA), a booking agency and consulting company that’s all about empowering indie artists. DMA helps musicians with everything from publishing and royalties to touring and creative development, connecting like-minded creators with industry experts. NERFA is beyond excited to have Melissa Ferrick sharing her wealth of knowledge and passion. Her keynote address promises to be nothing short of inspiring. Don’t miss out on hearing from one of contemporary music’s most influential figures! Register Now