BATON ROUGE, LA (March 22, 2022) - The 5th Annual Baton Rouge Soul Food Festival is pleased to announce this years’ Pioneer Award Recipient is Deborah Dickerson of D’s “Southern Soul” Café in Plaquemine, Louisiana. The award was established to honor outstanding contributions to the soul food industry. Miss D, as she’s called, founded the café in 2015. In addition to serving great food, it also provides a safe haven for youth by providing free meals and tutoring. Some of her most requested dishes are Chitterlings, Smothered Liver and the only place you can get Peppergrass in the world.

The Cooking Contest is also now open to entrants. The five categories are Meats, Vegetable and Side Dishes, Breads and Desserts, Appetizers and Soups, Beverages and Ices. Criteria is Presentation, Taste, and the Story or History behind each entry. Ten contestants in each category will be pre-selected by the judging committee. Entry fees are $20.00. $30.00 for walk-ups, if slots are available. Contestants need to bring enough food for six people the day of their category judging. First, second and third place prizes will be awarded in each category.

The talent lineup features soul, blues, gospel, R&B and spoken word artists. Performers to date include Henry Turner, Jr. & Flavor and the Listening Room All-Stars featuring singer/songwriter Larry “LZ” Dillon, spoken word artist ‘Nspire and the Inspiration band, comedian Eddie “Cool” Deemer, R&B singer Xavie Shorts and blues rocker Owen Scott. Returning gospel acts include The PEW (Prophetic Encounter Worshipers), House of God Ministries, Belwin J. Bruins and Pastor Leon Hitchens. Also joining the lineup are blues greats SmokeHouse Porter and Miss Mamie, along with poet Sir AP, songstress’ April Nicole and Katrina, Lisa Harris’ Tina Turner Tribute show and Kasey Ball Presents Soul Loop. Stage times and more acts will be announced closer to the date.

The 5th Annual Baton Rouge Soul Food Festival is being held Saturday, May 14, and Sunday, May 15 from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm at River Front Plaza, 300 River Road South, in downtown Baton Rouge. The festival is family-friendly, free to the public, and also features a Vendors Village. VIP tickets, available on the website, include food, beverages, photo ops, and additional perks. For more information on D’s “Southern Soul” Café, the cooking contest, and VIP tickets please visit www.brsoulfoodfest.com or call 225-802-9681.

New Orleans: Cutting Edge CE Conferences and Events is back with its in-person conferences and events hosting musicians and entertainment professionals, July 7 - 9, 2022, at the InterContinental New Orleans Hotel. Pre-Conference events July 6th.

Thirty years ago, Cutting Edge committed to bringing music business education to musicians and music professionals. Over the years, it has become a multi-faceted event producing activities year-round on all aspects of music, entertainment business, and culture.

Along the way, we have made great friends and received excellent advice.

Thank you to the many speakers, musicians, and sponsors who contributed to our mission and helped us keep our commitment made all those years ago. Join us as we continue to become the best boutique music conference.

Cutting Edge CE (formerly the Cutting Edge Music Business Conference) will again discuss Hot Topics and Current Trends in today's entertainment business. Attend conference sessions on Entertainment Law, Music Business, Film financing and production, Tax Credits, and Roots Music.

The Cutting Edges performance series, the NewWorks Showcases, the NOLA Downtown Festival, and the New Orleans Songwriters Summit will return to the streets of Downtown New Orleans' Central Business District, the French Quarter, Frenchmen Street, and St Claude Street. Cutting Edges virtual events, Cutting Edge REDUX, and the North American Virtual Song Video Contest will produce LIVE from the InterContinental Hotel.

Founded in 1993, Cutting Edge Entertainment Law Seminar examines the latest in Entertainment Law, including litigation trends, publishing, trademark, current contractual agreement safeguards as well as film contracts and digital agreements. Staffed by some of today’s top practicing entertainment attorneys.

With 2020 U.S. Music Publishing royalties in excess of $4 billion dollars and SoundExchange collections exceeding $1 billion dollars, the U.S. financial marketplace for songwriters, music publishers, recording artists, and labels is in a very positive place. But what are the sources of this revenue and how are these rates being determined and for how long and most importantly, how much money are we talking about? This panel will dissect the three main sources of Music Publisher/Songwriter income and the Artist/Label lucrative world of Interactive Streaming as well as what the future looks like for all $areas-both positives as well as challenges.

Early Bird Registration ends April 3; REGISTER HERE!

They will feature successful music professionals who address current music industry opportunities, everything from getting your music in films to booking, touring, and post-pandemic publicity. Crafting songs in the songwriter's segment will be “Don't Miss” sessions for songwriters and composures. This year, Cutting Edge REDUX and the Virtual Song Contest, virtual sessions, interviews, and showcases. These events will coincide with the in-person sessions. Attendees can attend Mentoring and One-On-One Consultations.

Bring on the Bands! Play for the professionals. A band’s best publicity is performance. Also, these artists get an opportunity to attend panels and network at the conference. Including the New Orleans Songwriters Summit…

The Roots Music Gathering is about the world communities that, like New Orleans, produce music as a part of their cultural expression. This year we recognize sustaining cultural activities in an in-demand neighborhood is the new struggle of Cultural Bearers

The Cutting Edge Film and Interactive Media Workshops will discuss the future of filming in tax-subsidized locales and producing a repeating TV production, podcast or radio show. Filmmakers, TV producers, and government officials will weigh in on the discussions. Those interested can apply to have their film screened in the Cutting Edges “Music In Movies” film series.

The 11th NOLA DOWNTOWN music and arts festival is part of the Cutting Edge CE. With revolving locations between the French Quarter, Central Business District, and the Warehouse Arts District, the festival celebrates the revival of Downtown New Orleans.

The North American Song Competition promises those who submit opportunities for knowledge and direction in their journey in the music business, powered by the decades of music industry activities of Cutting Edge CE Conferences & Events, its sponsors, collaborators, and speakers.

New Orleans North American Song Competition’s “Virtual Song Contest” uniquely allows songwriters from all genres to submit their video for FREE (Your original song, PLEASE). We will review your submission; a select number of artists will be invited to upload their songs to the competition platform, documentation verifying ownership is not due until an invitation is delivered.

New Orleans North American Song Competition will provide evaluations of their songs, performances, and video production for those who submit songs. For more information, contact: North American Song Competition HERE.

ROUNDS

The New Orleans North American Song Competition is a multi-round contest comprising Qualifying, Semi-Final, and Final rounds. The winner will be chosen solely from the submission process; however, a Live performance opportunity will be offered to selected songwriters for the Virtual Song Challenge category. This is a virtual event; audience voting is the critical element (ballot loading is discouraged). For More information, click HERE 

Additionally, each artist selected for the final round will receive a Full Registration (valued $350.00) to the Cutting Edge CE Conferences and Events http://cuttingedgenola.com/

The ultimate prize is the involvement, evaluations, and mentoring of each artist that takes place at every Cutting Edge CE Conference.

CONTACT US FOR THE 1ST ROUND INFORMATION HERE

April 3: Cutting Edge CE EarlyBird Registration ends April 3 Register HERE

Need a hotel room? The InterContinental Hotel Cutting Edge rates are $89.

Cutting Edge would to thank our Friends and Supporters: Mayor LaTonya Cantrell, Chelsey Richard Napoleon Clerk of Civil District Court, Councilmembers’ Lesli Harris, Eugene Green, and Joe Giarrusso III and the New Orleans City Council, Mayor’s Office of Cultural Economy, Louisiana Economic Development’s Louisiana Entertainment Office, Downtown Development District Industry: American Federation of Musician Local 174-496, Recording Academy Memphis Chapter, ReverbNation. New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation, 2112 Music Incubator Chicago, gitmit, Groovelist, Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP, Entertainment Law Section of the Louisiana State Bar Association, Rabadash Recording Studios, We The Collective, New Orleans Jazz Museum, Carver Theater Foundation, Henry Turner Listening Room Foundation, New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation,

Media: Music Connection Magazine, OffBeat Magazine, New Orleans Agenda, BreakThru Media, Shive Magazine,

Business: SignsNow, Richards Disposal, Metro Service Group, InterContinental New Orleans Hotel, and

Venue Partners: Santos Bar, The Art Garage, Allways Lounge, Buffa’s, Sidney’s Saloon, Carnaval Lounge, New Orleans Jazz Museum, Duncan Plaza and Julius Kimbrough’s Prime Example Jazz Club.

"Lady Jazz!" 

with such supreme depth and understated soul." 

30^th Annual Cutting Edge CE Music Business Conferences and Events

EXCELLENCE     INNOVATION     RESPONSIVENESS 

Metro Service Group, located in New Orleans, Louisiana is a multi-faceted corporation with specific expertise and certifications in the areas of Environmental Services, Construction/Demolition and Disaster Response and Recovery. Metro Service Group is a licensed Contractor, certified in Building Construction; Heavy Construction; Highway, Street and Bridge Construction; Municipal and Public Works Construction and Solid Waste Management.

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