The ACB will return to regular posting in January 2011. In the meantime, some news bits:

-The Shipyard Sings is an a cappella competition based in Hingham, MA. It’s open to all area a cappella groups, with the winners earning a $500 cash prize and the chance to open for the Tufts University Beelzebubs on September 18, 2010.

There will be two rounds of competition, the first of which is underway now, the second of which will start later in the summer. Entrants submit videos here between June 8 and July 16, and the five text-to-vote winners will compete live on July 31 at a show in which the live audience will pick the winner. The second edition runs from July 17 to August 17, with a live show on August 31. Both winning groups will get cash and the chance to perform alongside the ‘Bubs.

You can get more information at the contest’s website here.

-Saint Louis University Bare Naked Statues is trying to raise money to create a new CD in the fall. You can support their cause by purchasing some group merchandise or unique services (telephone serenade, anyone?) here.

The A Cappella Blog is proud to announce the top finishers in our first annual ICCA Bracket Contest.

The second runner-up is Ben Haist, from Tulane University’s THEM, who will receive five ACB VH1 Save the Music wristbands, for which five dollars will be donated to the Save the Music Foundation.

The first runner-up is Susan LaBarr who will receive a copy of the 2010 Best of Collegiate A Cappella CD.

And, our grand prize winner is Jacob Schwartz who will receive a Best of Collegiate A Cappella prize pack with every CD from 1999 through 2009. Jacob is the now-former director of Lehigh University’s A Whole Step Up, who will be singing with Celebrity Cruise Lines on their boat The Infinity from July through mid-January with his vocal quartet On Tap.

Congratulations to the winners, and thank you to everyone who entered!

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You can support music in our schools through the VH1 Save The Music Foundation by purchasing a wristband from our site. Go to our Donate to Save the Music page for more information!

-The winner and top runners up of the first ACB ICCA Bracket Contest will be announced this Friday on the site. Be sure to check back to see who won out!

-According to a representative of the website, MakeAStar.com will sponsor an ongoing contest for a cappella groups, starting soon. Interested groups will be able to submit video entries through the site, after which point a judging panel and fan votes will determine which groups ultimately earn cash prizes.

-DC-based a cappella group The Suspicious Cheese Lords were the center of attention in a recent Washington Post article on non-profits struggling with a change in tax law.

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Want to write for The A Cappella Blog? Want to have your photos posted on the site? Want to join The ACB team in another capacity? You’re in luck because we are looking for new staff! Go to our contact page and write to us about what you would like to do.

-AcaPolitics is a serialized novel about the collegiate a cappella scene at a fictitious college. It’s written by Washington University After Dark alum Stephen Harrison, and certainly worth a look.

-We’re a little late in getting to the video, but the rumors The ACB reported on earlier proved true, and the UC San Diego Tritones joined Taylor Swift for her performance at the 2010 Country Music Awards show. The group first appears just before the 4 minute mark.

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Trying to find a group? Search or sort The ACB Group Directory–the most comprehensive and up to date directory of collegiate a cappella groups anywhere on the Internet!

The ACB will be live blogging The ICCA Finals via our Facebook page on Saturday night! If you can’t join us in New York, be sure to keep up with all the latest through our reports.

A full event review and photos will follow here on the main site!