Shadowgrass plays the Acoustic Kids Ambassadors’ set on MerleFest’s Cabin Stage in 2016. Photo by Dr. Burns. ©MerleFest 2016
Acoustic Kids Ambassadors is a spin-off of Andy May’s Acoustic Kids Showcases. First presented in 2014 at MerleFest, the Ambassadors set gives young emerging artists a spotlight as they represent the Acoustic Kids program to a broader audience. At MerleFest, the Ambassadors’ set is held on the Cabin Stage and plays to the main stage (Watson Stage) audience. As of 2017, both the Walnut Valley Festival and Guitar Town Ambassadors’ sets will be held on the festival’s main stage: The Ambassadors will open Guitar Town’s “Acoustic Day” Saturday on the Main Stage, and at the Walnut Valley Festival, they will play Stage 1 on Friday afternoon.
How to Apply: Ambassadors are chosen from among the regular Acoustic Kids Showcase participants. You don’t have to do anything special to apply to be an Ambassador, but you do have to show us that you are serious about a career in music. One way to do that is by sending us to your website or social media page that is about you as a musician. It can be your band’s or your own, but it should show us what you do with your music. Be sure to provide the url on your Acoustic Kids application. If you don’t have a web presence, just let us know in the comments section of the application what your musical goals are and what you are doing to pursue them.
