A Door County-based singer-songwriter and playwright is a winner in a competition at one of the biggest and most prestigious folk music festivals in the world.
Katie Dahl of Baileys Harbor was named one of six winners of the 2025 Kerrville Folk Festival New Folk Competition. Held as part of the festival in Kerrville, Texas, the New Folk Competition focuses on songwriting, judging entries for “outstanding songcraft and compelling performance.”
Hundreds of songwriters from around the world enter the competition, and judges narrow the field to 24 finalists who perform two songs over two days of the two-and-a-half-week-long festival, after which the six winners are named and play a set for the festival.
“There is no professional accolade I have dreamed of more,” Dahl wrote in a post on her Facebook page. ” I’ve never hoped for TV appearances or record deals — but I’ve hoped to win Kerrville ‘a lot.’ Ever since I first heard about this festival and the incredible names who’ve passed through this contest, I’ve wanted to be part of it.
“Finally being up on that stage feels even better than I thought it would, honestly. I am nothing short of thrilled.”
Dahl performed with the 23 other finalists over the May 24-25 weekend, then played a full set at the festival May 31 after being named one of six winners. Joining Dahl as winners were Sara Beth Go and Abigayle Oakley, each from Nashville; Cindy Kalmenson of Ojai, California; Martin Gilmore of Denver; and Madeleine Roger of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
The Kerrville Folk Festival was first held in 1972, with its first New Folk Competition held the following year. In those 52 years, winners have included songwriting luminaries such as Tish Hinojosa (1979), Hal Ketchum (1986) and James McMurtry (1987), while finalists have included Nanci Griffith (1978), Steve Earle (also 1978) and Lyle Lovett (1980 and ’82).
With this honor, Dahl joins a list of other singer-songwriters who’ve often been seen and heard performing in Door County. Those include one of the 2024 winners, Robin Bienemann (also a three-time finalist); Johnsmith, a 1990 winner who’s several times played the offseason dinner concert series at White Gull Inn; Buddy Mondlock, a 1987 winner; three-time finalist Karen Mal; and finalist and Northern Sky Theater co-founder Doc Heide.
Dahl not only has played for years on Door County stages but also tours nationally and internationally. She’s recorded five albums of mostly original songs and an album with Eric Lewis and Rich Higdon of songs by the late Northern Sky Theater co-founder and playwright Fred Alley, “Solid Ground.” Dahl also wrote the musical “The Fisherman’s Daughters” and co-wrote with Emilie Coulson and James Valcq the music “Victory Farm,” both of which premiered at Northern Sky.
For more on Dahl, visit katiedahlmusic.com.
Contact Christopher Clough at 920-562-8900 or cclough@gannett.com.
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This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Door County musician wins prestigious international songwriting competition
Reporting by Christopher Clough, Green Bay Press-Gazette / Green Bay Press-Gazette
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