Chris Austin finalists

Besides all being gifted roots music performers, what do Gillian Welch, Tift Merrit, Adrienne Young, Chris Stuart, and Martha Scanlon have in common? They are all past winners of the MerleFest Chris Austin songwriting competition.

The writers listed below were named today as finalists for the 2006 contest, selected from among 1172 entries by a panel of songwriting professionals led by Jim Lauderdale. The final round of the competition will take place during MerleFest on Friday, April 28, from 2 to 3 pm on the Austin stage. Good luck to all.

General Category Finalists: “Under My Skin” by Maura Fogarty, Bronx, NY; “Rather Have Sooner” by Billy Deiz, Portland, OR; “Short Time Here” by Scott Pearce, Winterville, NC

Bluegrass Category Finalists: “That’s As Close to Lonesome” by Jimmy Moore, Marlboro, NJ; “Guns, Coins, Jewelry & 2nd Hand Hearts” by Timmy Massey and Rick Pardue, State Road, NC; “Rita Mae” by Connie Leigh, Newport, AR

Country Category Finalists: “Light at the End of the Bottle” by Megan Laurie, Lubbock, TX; “Losing Faith” by Audrey Auld Mezera, Stinson Beach, CA; “12 Gauge Education” by Wake Eastman, Polk Shelton, Jay Cook, and Jill Gilliam, Hamptonville, NC

Gospel Category Finalists: “Hallelujah Time” by John Milroy and C.J. Milroy, Ferndale, MI; “A Little Deeper” by Paul Kelly with Salvador Guida, Jr., Santa Fe, NM; “Truth Cries Out” by Mary James with Dan Barker, Lakeside, CA.