Click here to see the 2019 winners

The FreshGrass and No Depression Awards celebrate and reward emerging artists who offer innovative interpretations of bluegrass and roots music traditions. With five categories and prizes totaling more than $30,000 cash — plus brand new instruments and studio time at Compass Records — we’re proud that our awards are among the most ambitious of their kind.

Submission Form

FreshGrass awards

If you are an unsigned band, duo (it’s back in 2020!), banjoist, guitarist (new in 2020!), fiddler or mandolinist, have wicked skills, and are performing music that’s deeply informed by bluegrass even as it tests boundaries, we want to hear you.

The submission window opens every year on November 1st. Guitar and duo submissions are due by FEBRUARY 15th. These competitions will take place at FreshGrass Bentonville. The remaining categories’ submissions (band, banjo, fiddle, mandolin and No Depression Singer/Songwriter) are due by MAY 15th and will take place at Freshgrass North Adams.

NO DEPRESSION SINGER-SONGWRITER AWARD

We have been so fortunate to feature some of the best singer-songwriters in the world as part of the No Depression Singer-Songwriter Award at FreshGrass! For 2020, we will be taking the year off from offering this award while we reimagine how to present it in the future. Stay tuned for updates about the 2021 No Depression Singer-Songwriter Award!

Contest rules and more details:

Band

Duo

Fiddle

Mandolin

No Depression Singer-Songwriter Award

Banjo

Guitar

Submissions are open from November 1st – May 15th

Guitar and Duo Submissions are due February 1st as they take place at FreshGrass Bentonville. Band, banjo, fiddle, mandolin and No Depression singer/songwriter submissions are due by May 15th.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at: [email protected]

Submission Form

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